Top 5 contenders to win the FIFA World Cup

5. Belgium–England (Group G)

#5. Belgium–England (Group G) 

 England still are a very beloved team. On the other hand, Belgium are one of the strongest teams going into the 2018 World Cup with the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Cortouis, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembélé in their ranks.

 

What makes this match-up special is that all of the aforementioned Belgian players play for English clubs in the Premier League and are very familiar to England's players. The English would give it their all in a concerted effort to make it past the group stage, unlike in 2014 when they crashed out after finishing fourth in their group.

#4. Germany–Sweden (Group F, 23 June)

#4. Germany–Sweden (Group F, 23 June)

Defending champions Germany, also the current 1st ranked team, come into the World Cup as favourites after being the only team to win all 10 matches in their qualifying campaign. Joachim Löw's men play as menacing as ever. Sweden finished second in their group, below leaders France, and above Netherlands.


The last time these two teams met, in 2013 during the qualifiers for the Brazil World Cup, André Schürrle scored a hat-trick helping Germany vanquish Sweden 5-3. In 2006, Germany knocked Sweden out in the Round of 16, when they won 2-0 in front of home fans. Another classic encounter was all the way back in UEFA Euro 1992, when Germany beat Sweden 3-2 to reach the final.
This will be a fine opportunity to judge Germany's prospects of a title defence, in their attempt to join Italy and Brazil in being the only teams to ever successfully defend the World Cup.

#3. Brazil–Switzerland (Group E)

#3. Brazil–Switzerland (Group E)

With the wounds of their worst loss ever in a World Cup match still healing, Neymar Jr. and his team will be looking to start afresh come June 17th. However, it will be no walk in the park to defeat this Swiss team. Currently, Brazil are ranked 2nd in the FIFA World Ranking and Switzerland, 8th.

 
This was evident in their qualifying campaign, and there is not lack of individual talent either: Arsenal's Granit Xhaka, Stoke City's Xerdan Shaqiri and Juventus' Stephan Lichtsteiner are familiar names. As for Brazil, the priceless experience of veterans Thiago Silva, Dani Alves and Marcelo will be beneficial for some of the younger players like Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus. The last time the teams met, in 2013, the Swiss beat Brazil 1-0 in an international friendly.

2. Argentina–Iceland (Group D)

#2. Argentina–Iceland (Group D, 16 June

Argentina have a lot to prove in their opening fixture. Iceland will be playing their first ever World Cup match, after they became the lowest-populated nation to ever qualify for a World Cup. After topping their qualifiers group, and knocking England out of UEFA Euro in 2016, Aron Gunnarsson and his fellows teammates are a team to reckon with. Of course, Iceland's special fans and their Viking-styled cheering in unison is a sensory delight!

This will be the first time these two teams play each other in history. Group D is the closest to a 'group of death' in this World Cup, Nigeria and Croatia being the other two teams. A victory will be essential for both teams, and it will be interesting to see in what form and spirit Messi and the rest of La Albiceleste open their World Cup.

5 special group-stage matches at Russia 2018 well worth the wait

 

#1. Portugal–Spain (Group B, 15th June)

Portugal and Spain have been rivals since the time the Pope divided the unexplored world into two halves, and granted one part each to these Iberian countries. This tradition of rivalry has maintained itself in football too and goes back a long way, to 18 December, 1921, when Portugal lost its first ever international football match to Spain at Madrid, 3 goals to 1.

 In more recent times, Spain defeated Portugal in their UEFA Euro 2012 Semi-finals encounter on penalties after the full-time score was a nil-nil draw. They then went on to win the tournament. Two years before that, at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, a sole David Villa strike helped Spain see off Portugal and proceed to the quarter-finals. Now ranked 3rd by FIFA, the reigning European champions, led by their five-time Ballon d'Or winning captain Cristiano Ronaldo, will be looking to bury the ghosts of their past meetings with La Roja, and sparks are sure to fly.
 

#1 - Lionel Messi (Argentina):

                                       #1 - Lionel Messi (Argentina):

 

Lionel Messi has been terrorizing European defences for over a decade now, and has proved himself with FC Barcelona times and times again. His trophy cabinet speaks for itself. However, what the Barça star is still missing, is a major achievement with Argentina's first team.
Messi will be motivated more than he has ever been throughout his glorious career, as Russia 2018 will almost certainly be his last chance to win the World Cup. Lionel will be 31, more experienced, and determined, than ever.

Everybody knows that when the Tango star is on fire, it would be extremely complicated for any defence to stop. Messi fans will be hoping that he inspires Argentina to a victory against Ecuador on Tuesday, before starring for them in June and July.


Despite all the disappointing moments he has been through with the national team, there is one last golden chance to achieve the biggest title in world football, which is El Mundial.
Messi, who has scored 61 goals for Argentina, has never found the net in the knockout phase of any World Cup edition. 

#2 - Neymar (Brazil):

                                             #2 - Neymar (Brazil):

 Neymar shocked the whole world when he completed his move from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint Germain in the summer, but the Brazilian is proving every week, why this controversial decision could be exactly what he needed in order to reach the next level of stardom.

Following the appointment of Tite, Brazil have cemented themselves as the stronger side in South America, and are leading the CONMEBOL qualifiers with a gap ten-point gap over Uruguay, at second place. And Neymar is, without any doubt, the star of this eye-catching Brazil side.

The 25-year old is set to guide PSG in the UEFA Champions League, as the main man. This will be a great preparation for him, ahead of leading his national team in the FIFA World Cup. Everything hints that Neymar, who is on 52 goals in 80 games, will be one of the most phenomenal performers of the tournament set to be held in Russia.

 

#3 - Toni Kroos (Germany):

    

Top 10 players to look out for in the 2018 FIFA World Cup 

#3 - Toni Kroos (Germany):

Germany v Argentina: 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final

Toni Kroos has won it all, at both club level and international football. It is crazy to think that despite all his achievements, he is still only 27-years old and is heading for the next World Cup as Germany's midfield architect.
Germany are, as always, one of the biggest favorites to emerge victorious in any tournament they take part in. The reigning world champions are motivated more than ever, because a triumph in Russia would mean matching Brazil's record as the only country to have won the competition on five different occasions.

They would then have a stronger case for being the greatest national team in history. 

 Kroos was regarded by many as the best player in the 2014 World Cup, without him, they may not have even reached the final.

#4 - Isco (Spain):

                                                 

                                               #4 - Isco (Spain):

 Spain's national team have come a very long way since their last three disappointing tournaments namely - the 2013 Confederations Cup when they lost 3-0 to Brazil, the 2014 World Cup when Netherlands smashed them 5-1, and the Euros in 2016 when they were eliminated by Italy.
La Furia Roja is one of the favorites to conquer the next World Cup in Moscow, as they have a very balanced side, with arguably, the best midfield controllers in the world. But one man who stands out in specific, is Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez.

Isco has been spectacular to watch, not just for Real Madrid, but also with Spain. Italy star Marco Verratti has bowed down to the Spanish magician after the clash between the two countries, and has admitted that he felt like clapping for him during the game.


The 25-year old is on 6 goals for the national team, and his role keeps growing with every new call-up. There is not much doubt that he will be WONER.

#5 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal):

#5 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal):

                                         #5 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal):

 

Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the most dominant figures in world football in the past decade, and has won all possible cups at club level.
But, in the summer of 2016, the Portuguese was able to guide his nation to the first major title in its history, upon claiming the Euro Cup. An achievement which no doubt, cemented Cristiano's legacy as one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game.

After helping Portugal top their qualifying group, ahead of Switzerland, on goal difference, Ronaldo will be aiming higher this time around, in Russia. The 4-time Ballon d'Or winner, who is regarded by many as the best player in the world, alongside Argentina's Lionel Messi, is expected to captain Portugal in his 4th World Cup participation as a player.



In 2006, Portugal ended fourth, in 2010 they were eliminated by Spain in the round of 16, whereas in 2014, they could not even make it out of the group stage. A superstar with Cristiano's glorious legacy will be demanded to play a bigger role. All eyes will be set on the Real Madrid icon to deliver on the world's biggest footballing stage.

#6 - Luis Suárez (Uruguay):

                               #6 - Luis Suárez (Uruguay):

 

                                

Uruguay v England: Group D - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

Uruguay have managed to retrieve a bit of their glorious past, in the last couple of years, as they were able to reach the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, before eventually claiming the Copa América title on Argentinian soil, in 2011.
A lot of La Celeste's success was without any doubt, thanks to the brilliance of the one and only Luis Suárez. The 30-year old has scored 47 goals in 94 appearances, and was decisive enough on the big occasions, more often than not.

Suárez is arguably the best striker in the world in the past few years, and has shown his worth in the English Premier League with Liverpool, and then in La Liga with FC Barcelona, where the Uruguayan has basically won it all.

 Uruguay are defensively solid and can cause a hard time for any traditional powerhouse in the knockout phase of the competition. They can always count Luisito to score the all-important goal.

#7 - Gabriel Jesus (Brazil):

                                       #7 - Gabriel Jesus (Brazil):

 

The question is yet to be answered as to whether Gabriel Jesus is the best rising talent in the world. While he is very impressive at club level, he may not be "the" most impressive one, among a galaxy of other stars.
But, when it comes to international football, it is hard to think of any other youngster who is as crucial for his country-side, as Gabriel Jesus is. The 20-year old has already scored 7 goals and provided 3 assists in just 10 games for the Seleção, all in official World Cup qualifiers.The influence that Gabriel has had is just immense, and he is now considered a permanent entity in Tite's lineup. As a matter of fact, Brazil's national team is being touted as one of the top three favourites, if not the number one favourite, to lift the World Cup trophy in Russia.
If the Brazilians manage to do so, it would be for a record 6th time. However, this will be easier said than done, and Gabriel Jesus of all people, is aware of the challenge.
The Manchester City star dreams to emulate the footsteps of his number one idol Ronaldo, who in 2002, was the hero of the final, after scoring a brace against Germany. And, if there is any Brazilian striker who has a bit of Ronaldo in him in recent years, then it would have to be Gabriel.
Whether he will go down in history just like his role model, remains to be seen.

#8 - Kylian Mbappé (France):

                           #8 - Kylian Mbappé (France):


 


With his heroic performances and a full debut for France's national team, it was no surprise that French giants Paris Saint-Germain were quick to acquire his services, for what could add up to a transfer fee of around €180 million, making him the world's second most expensive player in football history, behind his new club-mate, Neymar JR.
Les Bleus are a factory of talents, but Mbappe might well be the most promising one among a galaxy of rising gems.
 Kylian Mbappé has conquered the hearts of all the lovers of French football team. He is considered to be the biggest rising sensation in Ligue 1 at the moment, And how can he not be, with all these bags of potential within him.
The 18-year old scored 6 goals in the UEFA Champions League last season, to guide AS Monaco to the semi-finals of the edition, for the first time since 2004.
 We are  waiting for his best performance in FIFA WORLD CUP-2018.

#9 - Paulo Dybala (Argentina):

#9 - Paulo Dybala (Argentina):

Juventus FC v Udinese Calcio - Serie A

Paolo Dybala is so ridiculously good, that it is so easy to forget the fact that he is only 23-years old and still has a lot of room for development. The Argentinian has already won the hearts of Juventus fanatics, as well as that of all admirers of Italian Calcio.
In 7 league games this season, Dybala has already found the net on 10 different occasions. These stats are no doubt, Messi-esque ones. And it is precisely Lionel Messi, to whom the genius of the young rising Argentine, is being compared to.


With his tremendous movement, dribbling, passing and shooting technique, Paolo is reminiscent of his idol and is being compared to him week in, week out.
While he is admittedly still not in contention to be compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, if the Juventus star continues displaying such performances until the end of the season.
Argentina's national team is in desperate need for a new hero to emerge out of the blue and help them get out of their current miserable state.
History is waiting for Paolo Dybala's performance.
be their mWill Dybala an, come Russia 2018?

Top 10 players to look out for in the 2018 FIFA World Cup .

Timo Werner (Germany)

                                      Timo Werner (Germany): 

Timo Werner might only be 21-years old, but he has already proved his worth by guiding Germany's national team to Confederations Cup triumph in June. Really, a sign of what could happen next year, as the Germans make their comeback to Russian capital Moscow, for the World Cup this time.

Werner will be looking to challenge for another Golden Boot award, and who can blame him for being ambitious, when he possesses such fascinating finishing skills and when he is the focal point of Germany's attack. So everybody is waiting to see the secret techniques of this legend.If he can show  his  best performace in this  tournament  everybody will never forget him.

RUSSIA WORLD CUP-2018, GROUP LISTS

                                               RUSSIA WORLD CUP-2018
                                                          GROUP LISTS

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