HOW OUR EXPERTS FROM THE TOP CONTENDERS RATE THEIR CHANCES OF SUCCESS IN RUSSIA
ARGENTINA Ariel Cukierkorn Football writer, Argentina
What does Argentina expect?
Argentina are currently and exclusively depending on Lionel Messi’s brilliance. The coach, Jorge Sampaoli, is a long way from having really made his mark on the team, as he did with Chile and then Sevilla in La Liga, and the result on the field is usually chaotic and unbalanced. While the coach is always doing tests with players and positions, Messi (right) is the only certainty to give Argentina some sort of weapon. The main problem is that the team have no fluency or coherent tactical plan. Despite having sorted out the painful qualification process, alarms are still ringing.
Can they win it?
You never know in a World Cup, but this time Argentina go to Russia surely in the second group of candidates. The old guard of stars (Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain) are nearing the end for Argentina, while the next generation (Mauro Icardi, Ever Banega, among others) are not yet the answer.
Who should we look out for?
Messi and perhaps Di Maria if he is inspired — and not injured. In the last qualifying and friendly games, three from the domestic league (Enzo Perez, Cristian Pavon and Marcos Acuna, now at Sporting Lisbon), looked good.
BELGIUM
Kristof Terreur Football correspondent for HLN newspaper
What does Belgium expect?
Some fans think Belgium will bottle it, others have high expectations after an unbeaten qualification. In Brazil, a young squad reached the quarterfinals. Now, with more experience on board, they should get to the semis. Still there are tactical concerns: under Roberto Martínez we still haven’t found a rock-solid organisation at the back.
Can they win it?
We have top quality in the squad — Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Romelu Lukaku, Radja Nainggolan (Roma) and Dries Mertens (Napoli). However, the squad is still unbalanced, with too much quality in the same positions. Another issue: are there enough leaders who can carry the team?
Who should we look out for?
Romelu Lukaku, our top scorer, Eden Hazard, our creative spark, Dries Mertens (right) and right-back Thomas Meunier stood out.
Are you looking forward to facing England?
We’re happy. It’s a fixture we are already looking forward to: England vs the continental England. Many connections.
BRAZIL
Paulo Freitas Brazilian football expert
What does Brazil expect?
Despite the fiasco in 2014, the team are expected to fight for the title again as a lot of progress has been made since Tite became the manager. Brazil had no trouble qualifying for the World Cup, so expectations are high, and more worryingly, so is the hype. Brazil only lost one game under Tite and many fans expect this form to continue until the World Cup.
Can they win it?
Brazil have one of the three strongest squads on paper, along with France and Germany, so winning the title is possible. The team are solid and feel confident. The goalkeeper and the midfield are the main reasons for concern, but neither have disappointed since Tite came. Alisson is the main goalkeeper and is trusted by Tite and goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel. Ederson is less known in Brazil as he left the country very early, so it has taken him much longer to earn his place in the squad.
Who should we look out for?
The squad for 2018 includes many who are stars at their clubs, such as Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho. During the qualifiers they learned how to play as a team without relying too much on any single player. The defence is very solid and the team are more compact than previous Brazil formations.
FRANCE
Julien Laurens Football correspondent, Le Parisien
What doe France expect?
Noel Le Graet, the president of the French FA, has set the semi-finals as the minimum objective for Didier Deschamps and his players. However, after reaching the quarter-finals last time (beaten 1-0 by Germany) and losing the Euro 2016 final against Portugal, everyone in France, including the head coach and the players, expect more.
Can France win?
Of course. This World Cup comes at the right time for the Paul Pogba generation. There is the experience of older players (Hugo Lloris, Laurent Koscielny, right, Blaise Matuidi and Olivier Giroud) and the insouciance and incredible talent of the younger ones in Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona) Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Anthony Martial and Adrien Rabiot (PSG).
Who should we look out for?
This is going to be Mbappe’s first senior international competition. He has taken Europe by storm in 2017 first with Monaco and now with PSG and is ready to do the the same with the world. He is the biggest talent to emerge since Lionel Messi.
GERMANY
Raphael Honigstein German football writer
What does Germany expect?
The coach Joachim Low was supremely relaxed before and after the draw in Moscow — and why shouldn’t he be? The prospect of first-game opponents Mexico, on paper the strongest group rivals, would be a lot more troubling if Germany’s B team hadn’t destroyed them 4-1 at the Confederations Cup.
Can Germany win?
They can. The Nationalmannschaft might not quite boast the attacking talent of the French nor the fluidity of Spain, but the depth of talent at Low’s disposal has only become greater since edging out Argentina 1-0 in the 2014 final in Rio de Janeiro. Finding the best starting XI from this embarrassment of riches will be his greatest challenge.
Who should we look out for?
In Timo Werner (RB Leipzig), Germany have a clever, pacy striker the likes of which they have been missing in recent years. Manchester City’s Leroy Sane, a beneficiary of Pep Guardiola’s finishing school, is also tipped to have a huge impact while Toni Kroos (right) always impresses.
SPAIN
Guillem Balague co-author with Mauricio Pochettino of Brave New World
What does Spain expect?
It is time to enjoy ourselves again. Fans want the team to compete while also respecting the style that made us World Cup winners. Nobody will demand the title, but we do not see many other nations with so much talent and the harmony that manager Julen Lopetegui has installed in the group
Can Spain win?
Of course Spain can win. But for that to happen, we will need to be strong defensively, effective up front and we will need to be lucky in certain moments — perhaps even have one or two refereeing mistakes in our favour. Look at the 2010 world champions in South Africa. That team enjoyed a bit of all of the above.
Who should we look out for?
Real Madrid’s Isco has become a leader of the team, but he is playing so much for the Spanish champions that we hope he is not burnt out by the summer. The presence of David Silva, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Alvaro Morata and Gerard Pique mean there is a big group of players who will be competing for domestic and European titles this season, so rest will be important. There is a balance to a side full of midfielders who now score goals. That is our strength again.