Tag: World Cup

  • Brazil At World Cup 2018

    Brazil At World Cup 2018

    Tite and Brazil will seek some redemption in Russia

    Overcoming the disappointment and humiliation of the semi final exit at home at World Cup 2014 will haunt Brazil forever. This, a country, which still lives with the 1950 final loss to Uruguay. The still unbelievable 7-1 loss to Germany four years ago is something few but locals understand and even after reading tales and books on it and on the 1950 World Cup and their aftermath one is told that it is impossible to feel how the people and country feel.

    Fast forward to 2018 and a new much heralded coach is finally in charge. Tite, finally accepted and left his job at Corinthians to take charge of the Selecao in 2016. The team surged up the CONMEBOL (the South American Football Confederation) qualification group to reach Russia 2018 comfortably. He brought in players like Paulinho (now at Barcelona and playing in the Chinese league at that time) seen by most as a flop while at Tottenham in the English Premiership. He created a not so much new look team but one which played differently. His loyalty and personality that focuses on team moral seems to have played a major part in the change and probably just as much as any tactical changes (Brazil play a 4-1-4-1 or a 4-3-3).

    One surprising aspect of that loyalty is that Tite has announced that he knows at least 15 of the 23 players going to Russia, some four months before the World Cup starts.

    • Alisson, Roma Goalkeeper
    • Dani Alves, PSG
    • Marquinhos, PSG
    • Thiago Silva, PSG
    • Miranda, Inter Milan
    • Marcelo, Real Madrid
    • Casemiro, Real Madrid
    • Fernandinho, Manchester City
    • Willian, Chelsea
    • Renato Augusto, Beijing Guoan
    • Paulinho, Barcelona
    • Coutinho, Barcelona
    • Neymar, PSG
    • Roberto Firmino, Liverpool
    • Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City

    These 15 will be complemented by the likes of Ederson (Manchester City), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Jemerson (Monaco), Casemiro (Real Madrid) and Fred (Shakhtar Dontesk) to form a great team, on paper and on the pitch. A lot will still depend on the form and temperament of Neymar but Russia provides one early chance at overcoming the pains of 2014.

  • Best Non-European/South American Team

    Best Non-European/South American Team

    Can Mexico do better than round of 16 in Russia?

    In soccer or football European and South American teams are the strongest of course. At the World Cup all winners and teams that dominate have come, with few exceptions, from these two continents. But outside of these regions which team can be considered the best or strongest?

    Historically the most consistent answer has been Mexico, currently ranked 17th in the FIFA rankings. Being the strongest in the CONCACAF Central/North American zone has allowed the team to qualify for the World Cup regularly but the team’s record at the World Cup has not been much to brag about. The furthest the Mexicans have advanced is the quarter finals in the two times they hosted the World Cup, 1970 and 1986. In the last six World Cups the Mexican team has fallen in the first knock out round after the group stage. World Cup 2018 might not be any different. The team didn’t have the easiest of qualifications and even though that often means little the team’s group will be a tough one. Mexico drawn in Group F with Germany, Sweden and South Korea will likely have to settle for second at best and that could mean a meeting with Brazil in the first knock out round (Group E features Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia)

    What about the other teams? The latest January 2018 FIFA rankings, such as they are, rank the other qualified teams as follows:

    23-Tunisia
    24-Senegal
    27-Costa Rica
    30-Egypt
    34-Iran
    36-Australia
    39-Morroco
    51-Nigeria
    53-Panama
    56-Japan
    59-South Korea
    65-Saudi Arabia

    It is hard to see any of these teams making it far in Russia. It is not impossible that only Mexico makes it out of the group stage. Senegal, in form, could create a minor shock and survive at the expense of one of Poland or Colombia in Group H. The other groups don’t leave much hope. Perhaps Egypt can create another shock and survive instead of the hosts or Uruguay in Group A? Not very likely.

    World Cup 2018 might go according to conventional form and leave all non-European and South Americans behind.

  • Best Players Not At World Cup 2018

    Best Players Not At World Cup 2018

    Alexis Sanchez and Chile missing from World Cup 2018

    A number of high profile teams or those with history at the World Cup failed to qualify for World Cup 2018. Any World Cup includes a few such teams and this time is no different. Of course Italy is number one in this edition’s list but others like the USA, Holland, Chile, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana are surprising missing teams too.

    Italy fell to Sweden in the UEFA playoffs. Holland finished only third in the qualifying group that included Sweden and France. USA missed out by finishing a shocking fifth, behind Honduras, in the CONCAFAF hexagonal. Chile finished 6th in CONMEBOL qualifying. Cameroon finished third in the CAF final stage behind Nigeria and Zambia, Ivory Coast fell at the same stage to Morocco and Ghana was third behind Egypt and Ghana.

    The following are some of the best players that are missing out on possible glory in Russia.

    Italy
    Lorenzo Insigne. Not often used by various coaches but a creative force for the Azzurri nevertheless.
    Ginaluigi Buffon. Missed out on a chance to leave the pitch at the highest level.

    USA
    Christian Pulisic. One of the young stars of world football, the now 19 year old could have made a bigger name for himself.

    Holland
    Virgil van Dijk. Lost the chance to showcase why he is the world’s most expensive defender, having just joined Liverpool (from Celtic) for €85 million.

    Chile
    Alexis Sanchez. Only just joined Manchester United (from Arsenal). One of the best creative and goalscorers in his country’s history.

    Cameroon
    Clinton N’Jie. Marseille striker could be a bigger star.

    Ivory Coast
    Eric Bailly. Not always a starter at Manchester United but a solid defender with youth on his side.

    Ghana
    Thomas Partey. A solid defensive midfielder at Atletico Madrid who can help any team defensively.

  • Coaches At World Cup 2018

    Coaches At World Cup 2018

    Longest serving coaches: Oscar Tabarez and Joachim Low

    Here is a list of the coaches that will guide the 32 teams at World Cup 2018 in Russia. A number of nations are notorious for changing coaches even within months of major competitions. For example Saudi Arabia are on their third national team coach since September 2017. The current coach Juan Antonio Pizzi succeeded Edgardo Bauza who lasted only weeks and was preceded by Bert van Marwijk.

    The competition begins on June 14, 2018 and further changes are unlikely but not impossible.

    Russia: Stanislav Cherchesov, coach since August 2016, 54 years old. Previously at Legia Warsaw, Dynamo Moscow and others.
    Saudia Arabia: Juan Antonio Pizzi, 49. Previously coach of Chile’s national team and several clubs in Mexico, Chile, his native Argentina and a season at Valencia in Spain.
    Egypt: Hector Cuper, since March 2015, 62. Previously a successful coach in Europe with Inter Milan, Mallorca, Valencia and others, also briefly coached the Georgia national team.
    Uruguay: Oscar Tabarez, since 2006, 70. One of the longest serving coaches at any level. Brief Uruguayan and European club stints in the years prior to 2006.
    Portugal: Fernando Santos, since 2014, 63. Many years in the Portuguese and Greek leagues. Has been at all three big Portuguese teams (Benfica, Porto, and Sporting Lisbon) and the Greece national team as coach.
    Spain: Julen Lopetegui, since July 2016, 51. Formerly coach of Spain’s U21, U20 and U19 teams.
    Morocco: Herve Renard, since February 2016, 49. Coach of two Africa Cup of Nations winners (Zambia and Ivory Coast)
    Iran: Carlos Queiroz, since April 2011, 64. Coached Real Mardrid for a season and was assistant at Manchester United under Alex Ferguson. Also coached Portugal and South Africa’s national teams.
    France: Didier Deschamps, since July 2012, 49. World Cup winner as player. Coached Monaco, Juventus and Marseille.
    Australia: Bert van Marwijk, since this month. Coached his native Holland to the final of World Cup 2010. Replaced the departing Ange Postecoglou.
    Peru: Ricardo Gareca, since 2015, 59. Numerous coaching stints around his native Argentina and elsewhere in South America.
    Denmark: Age Hareide, since December 2015, 64. A Norwegian who has had success at club level with Rosenberg. Coached his native country in the 2000s.
    Argentina: Jorge Sampaoli, since summer 2017, 57. Left the high profile job of coaching Sevilla in Spain to rescue his native country’s faltering qualification for World Cup 2018. Succeeded Edgardo Bauza and Gerardo Martino. Previously coached Chile’s national team.
    Iceland: Heimir Hallgrimsson, in sole charge since summer 2016, 50. Previously co-coach with Lars Lagerback.
    Croatia: Zlatko Dalic, since October 2017, 51. Controversially replaced Ante Cacic.
    Nigeria: Gernot Rohr, since August 2016, 64. Relative unknown who nevertheless has plenty of experience around the African continent.
    Brazil: Tite, since June 2016, 56. Wanted as the coach long before he finally accepted following disasters of previous coach, Dunga.
    Switzerland: Vladimir Petkovic, since 2014, 54. Previously coached Lazio and clubs in Switzerland and Turkey.
    Costa Rica: Oscar Ramirez, since 2015, 53. Short stint as national team assistant and clubs around Costa Rica.
    Serbia: Mladen Krstajic, since October 2017, 43. Controversially replaced Slavoljub Muslin after the latter helped secure qualification.
    Germany: Joachim Low, since July 2006, 57. Succeeded Jurgen Klinsmann and has won the World Cup and been runners up and semi finalists too.
    Mexico: Juan Carlos Osorio since October 2015, 56. Colombian who has held on to his job despite constant pressure. Previously an assistant at Manchester City.
    Sweden: Janne Andersson, since 2016, 55. Previously assistant and head coach at several clubs in his native land.
    South Korea: Shin Tae-yong, since 2017, 48. Replaced Uli Stielike after the German was on the verge of failing to get the team to World Cup 2018.
    Belgium: Roberto Martinez, since August 2016, 44. Surprise choice to replace Marc Wilmots. Brought in Thierry Henry as assistant.
    Panama: Hernan Dario Gomez, since February 2014, 61. Colombian previously in charge of the Colombia, Ecuador and Guatemala national teams.
    Tunisia: Nabil Maaloul, since April 2017, 55. Succeeded the highly experienced Henryk Kasperczak. Previously coached the national teams at senior and Olympic levels.
    England: Gareth Southgate, since September 2016, 47. Former England U21 coach appointed after Sam Allardyce resigned.
    Poland: Adam Nawalka, since October 2013, 60. One of the stars of the 1978 World Cup.
    Senegal: Aliou Cisse, since 2015, 41. Formerly the U23 coach. As a player some experience in England and France.
    Colombia: Jose Pekerman, since January 2012, 71. Highly regarded Argentinian with extensive experience and somewhat strange coaching style, including time as Argentina’s U20 and national teams.
    Japan: Vahid Halilhodzic, since March 2015, 65. Replaced Javier Aguirre after the Mexican had to leave due to match fixing issues in Spain. Had success with Algeria at World Cup 2014

  • World Cup 2018 Serie A Based Players

    World Cup 2018 Serie A Based Players

    Italy didn’t qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. The administration of Italian football has been backward, racist and unable to adapt or see the problems that are in plain site. Having chosen a top level inexperienced national team coach in Giampiero Ventura to lead the national team after Antonio Conte the resulting disasters were almost unbelievably clear and many have been ignored for years before the current failure. The state of the Italian league and the larger questions facing Italian football deserve their own analysis of course.

    The Serie A has fallen down the pecking order in European football, from its heights of the 1990s, but still features many stars of world football and is still ranked highly in UEFA tables.

    Below is a list of some of the players that are likely to feature for their national teams this summer in Russia. The Azzurri are not going to be there but many Italian based players will be.

    Juventus
    Medhi Benatia Defender Morocco 30
    Juan Cuadrado Midfielder Colombia 29
    Gonzalo Higuain Forward Argentina 30
    Mario Mandzukic Forward Croatia 31

    Napoli
    Arkadiusz Milik Forward Poland 23
    Piotr Zielinski Midfielder Poland 23
    Kalidou Koulibaly Defender Senegal 26

    Roma
    Radja Nainggolan Midfielder Belgium 29 (Player has been in and out of Belgium’s team under coach Roberto Martinez)
    Aleksandar Kolarov Defender Serbia 32
    Alisson Becker Goalkeeper Brazil 25

    Inter Milan
    Ivan Perisic Winger Croatia 28
    Yuto Nagatomo Defender Japan 31
    Mauro Icardi Forward Argentina 24

    AC Milan
    Andre Silva Forward Portugal 22
    Cristian Zapata Defender Colombia 31
    Ricardo Rodriguez Defender Switzerland 25

    Lazio
    Nani Winger Portugal 31
    Sergej Milinkovic-Savic Midfielder Serbia 22

    Udinese
    Emil Hallfredsson Midfielder Iceland 33

  • Russian Premier League Based Players

    Russian Premier League Based Players

    Zenit’s Argentinian Contingent

    With the 2018 World Cup taking place in Russia for the first time it is perhaps useful to look at the number of players who play their club football in Russia and specifically the Russian Premier League. It could be that a player who is more familiar with the stadiums, the infrastructure and the nature of football in Russia can feel more comfortable and confident at the World Cup and give his national team a small edge.

    Russian football is dominated by the more traditional Moscow based teams like Lokomotiv Moscow, Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow. Post Soviet big money and rich ownership has propelled teams into the heights of European football with, briefly, Anzhi Makhachkala, FK Krasnodar and Zenit St. Petersburg helping Russia to 6th place in the UEFA country ranking.

    Below is a list of some of the foreign players who play for the aforementioned clubs and others in the Russian Premier League and may represent their country there starting on June 14, 2018.

    Manuel Fernandes Central Midfielder Portugal 31 years old Lokomotiv Moscow
    Eder Forward Portugal 30 Lokomotiv Moscow
    Milad Mohammadi Right back Iran 24 Akhmat Grozny
    Sardar Azmoun Forward Iran 23 Rubin Kazan
    Jefferson Farfan Winger Peru 33 Lokomotiv Moscow
    Emanuel Mammana Defender Argentina 21 Zenit St. Petersburg
    Leandro Paredes Central midfielder Argentina 23 Zenit St. Petersburg
    Matias Kranevitter Central midfielder Argentina 24 Zenit St. Petersburg
    Emiliano Rigoni Winger Argentina 24 Zenit St. Petersburg
    Ragnar Sigurdsson Defender Iceland 31 FK Rostov
    Sverrir Ingi Ingason Defender Iceland 24 FK Rostov
    Mario Pasalic Central midfielder Croatia 22 Spartak Moscow
    Vedran Corluka Defender Croatia 31 Lokomotiv Moscow
    Bryan Idowu Left back Nigeria 25 Amkar Perm
    Aaron Olanare Forward Nigeria 23 CSKA Moscow
    Branislav Ivanovic Defender Serbia 33 Zenit St. Petersburg
    Andreas Granqvist Defender Sweden 32 FK Krasnodar
    Sebastian Holmen Defender Sweden 25 Dinamo Moscow
    Viktor Claesson Midfielder Sweden 26 FK Krasnodar
    Maciej Rybus Midfielder Poland 28 Lokomotiv Moscow

  • A Look At A 48 Team World Cup

    A Look At A 48 Team World Cup

    In January 2017 the FIFA Council approved a 48 team World Cup for the 2026 edition. Up from the current 32 teams.

    A lot of time is left of course and the host(s) are not chosen yet, though a joint bid by USA, Mexico and Canada is the leading candidate. However increasing the number of countries is almost certain to lower the quality of matches. It is also very difficult to come up with a good format that is not as straightforward as 32 (and other numbers that are power of two)

    FIFA has already agreed on the format and the plan is to have 16 groups of three teams with two team advancing. This already  makes the group stage meaningless and arguably unfair. A three group means three games per group, take for example,

    Group

    Team A

    Team B

    Team C

    Matches

    Team A vs Team B

    Team B vs Team C

    Team A vs Team C

    How will a group like this be scheduled without team having more rest days than the other? Or that the last match can have both teams qualifying with a mutually beneficial result.

    The allocation is another issue and as mentioned can cause a weakening and dilution of the tournament.

    Asia will have 8 slots instead of the current 4.5

    Africa 9 instead of 5

    North, central America 6 instead 3.5

    South America 6 instead of 4.5

    Oceania 1 instead of 0.5

    Europe 16 instead of 13

    Plus 2 more slots in as yet undetermined playoffs, which can depend on the number of hosts as well.

    An existing football infrastructure or hosts capable of  building it is another barrier that is at least not lessened by this kind of expansion. It remains to be seen if this effects the number of serious bids that are already few enough as it is. FIFA already requires at least one 80,000 capacity stadium and more with 60,000. The final decision on the hosts is expected in 2020.

  • World Cup 2018: Stars Of The Group Stage

    World Cup 2018: Stars Of The Group Stage

    Mohamed Salah & Harry Kane are set to star at the World Cup

    Eight groups and 32 teams. Not necessarily world wide stars but some players will shine in the group stage even though their team might not make it out of the group or perhaps fade after reaching the last 16. Below is a list of sixteen such players, two for each group.

    Group A
    The hosts, Russia, are not favorites to go far in the World Cup and that would be a failure for the country. Alan Dzagoev could be a star and needs to be for Russia to be a hit.
    Egypt’s Mohamed Salah is on fire in the English Premier League and if does anywhere near as well in Russia he will be remembered and revered even more.

    Group B
    Cristiano Ronaldo led his team to the Euro 2016 championship, though he missed most of the final. His World Cup form has been mixed but he will be the star for Portugal.
    Isco is Spain’s rising star and primed to leave a mark at the World Cup stage.

    Group C
    Antoine Griezmann will likely make a very big move after the World Cup. He can also lead France in the group stage and beyond.
    Christian Eriksen can score spectacular goals and his goals can come in bunches as they did in the UEFA qualifying playoffs.

    Group D
    Lionel Messi left his national team mark when his hat trick rescued the Argentina team. Now he can and will do the same in Russia.
    Luka Modric, late in his career, will pull the strings in midfield for Croatia.

    Group E
    Neymar is now the undisputed star of the Brazil national team. The selecao will live by his tricks and goals.
    Keylor Navas in the Costa Rican goal will inspire and lead his team in the group stage.

    Group F
    Manuel Neuer is the leading figure of the German team. The goalie, sweeper will be one of the headliners of the group stage.
    Javier Hernandez will score the goals to lead Mexico in the three group matches and beyond.

    Group G
    Kevin De Bruyne is at his peak for Manchester City. His pace and talent will create and finish for Belgium.
    Harry Kane is the prolific goal scorer than can over English disappointments at the World Cup.

    Group H
    Robert Lewandowski will star and overcome his national team’s shortcomings to be one of the early stars in Russia.
    Juan Cuadrado will create and cross from the midfield and wing for Radamel Falcao, Carlos Bacca et al to score the goals for Colombia.

  • FIFA World Cup 2018: Top Two Forwards Of Each Team

    FIFA World Cup 2018: Top Two Forwards Of Each Team

    The 2018 World Cup in Russia is just over five months away. Many bigger and not so bigger names have the chance to shine on the world stage, each of 32 teams’ forwards will try to make a bigger name for themselves and help their team advance to the knockout stages and play into July.

    Below are two forwards from each qualified team with the best chance to become (bigger) heroes in their country and around the world.

    Russia
    Fyodor Smolov: 27 years old Krasnador forward with almost dozen goals to his name while playing for his national team. Regular scorer at club level and European club competitions.
    Artem Dzyuba: Zenit player struggling with injuries. One of the stars of Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

    Saudi Arabia
    Mohammad Al-Sahlawi: Top scorer for club (Al-Nassr) and country with a more than one goal every two games goal scoring record over his career.
    Nasser Al-Shamrani: A veteran on the team who featured for his national team as long ago as 2005.

    Egypt
    Mohamed Salah: One of the stars of the 2017-2018 European season leading the way for Liverpool after moving to England from Roma.
    Ahmed Hassan Mahgoub: Not a regular for club (Braga) but still young at 24.

    Uruguay
    Luis Suarez: The infamous player still going strong for Barcelona and his national team.
    Edinson Cavani: The owner of many missed chances is still a crucial part of the puzzle for the teams he plays for.

    Portugal
    Cristiano Ronaldo: Needs no introduction of course, heading towards the end of his career and it is his last chance to make as strong an impact at a World Cup.
    Andre Silva: Young forward with a very good national team record (11 goals in 18 caps) and praised by many but struggling for minutes and goals in his first season in Italy.

    Spain
    Alvaro Morata: Almost super star level scoring regularly for Chelsea and his country.
    Diego Costa: Hot headed but important player who fulfills certain characteristics, back in Spain after over three years in England.

    Morocco
    Khalid Boutaib: Regular scorer for club (Yeni Malatyaspor) and country. French born.
    Youssef El-Arabi: Plays in the Qatar Stars League, also French born.

    Iran
    Sardar Azmoun: 22 goals in 30 caps. The hope of the national team.
    Karim Ansarifard: Regular scorer in the Greece Superleague and the national team. A rising star in his mid 20s.

    France
    Antoine Griezmann: In demand forward likely to move from Atletico Madrid after the World Cup.
    Kylian Mbappe: One of the most expensive players in the world, still only 19.

    Australia
    Tim Cahill: Still going strong at 38. His country is very reliant on him.
    Mathew Leckie: One of the stars of his national team’s qualification for the World Cup.

    Peru
    Jefferson Farfan: Top scorer for country, one of the key reasons Peru are back at the World Cup.
    Raul Ruidiaz: Good scorer in his native land and in the Mexican league.

    Denmark
    Nicklas Bendtner: Lord Bendtner is still a key player for the national team.
    Kasper Dolberg: Rising star for Ajax and Denmark. In demand across Europe.

    Argentina
    Lionel Messi: Needs no introduction. Scored the goals that rescued Argentina from a near World Cup miss.
    Sergio Aguero: Super star. Prolific scorer everywhere.

    Iceland
    Alfreo Finnbogason: One of the national team’s leading scorers.
    Kolbeinn Sigthorsson: Scorer of a historic goal – the winning goal vs England – at Euro 2016.

    Croatia
    Mario Mandzukic: Key man for Juventus and country. Tall center forward.
    Nikola Kalinic: Poor form at club a concern.

    Nigeria
    Ahmed Musa: Not always at his best but crucial for country.
    Kelechi Iheanacho: Some important goals for Manchester City before moving to Leicester City last summer.

    Brazil
    Neymar: Record transfer holder and prolific scorer, now his own star at PSG.
    Gabriel Jesus: A rising star at Manchester City.

    Switzerland
    Haris Seferovic: Not always consistent but his goals are needed for country.
    Admir Mehmedi: The same as Seferovic. Can be inconsistent and miss chances.

    Costa Rica
    Marco Urena: MLS player who plays an important role up front.
    Bryan Ruiz: Veteran captain who has starred in several European leagues.

    Serbia
    Aleksandar Mitrovic: One of the stars of World Cup 2018 qualification.
    Aleksandar Prijovic: A good goal scorer at club level.

    Germany
    Thomas Muller: Can play anywhere in the front line. Typical strong German player.
    Timo Werner: At 21 a rising star of the Bundesliga, Champions League and the national team.

    Mexico
    Javier Hernandez: Back in England after time in Spain and Germany. Divides opinion but a pure goal scorer.
    Raul Jimenez: Experienced forward. Super sub at his club (Benfica).

    Sweden
    Marcus Berg: Veteran who plays an important role in the post Ibra era.
    Alexander Isak: Youngest goalscorer for the Swedish national team.

    South Korea
    Son Heung-min: Doing well for Tottenham in England. A key player for the national team.
    Ji Dong-won: Not the most prolific at Augsburg in Germany but important for his native country.

    Belgium
    Romelu Lukaku: His country’s big hope. Strong and experienced at only 24. Subject of a big move to Manchester United last summer.
    Dries Mertens: Almost a late bloomer. A star in the Serie A for Napoli.

    Panama
    Blas Perez: 36 years old veteran still going strong for the first time qualifiers.
    Gabriel Torres: Scorer of important goals to qualify for World Cup 2018.

    Tunisia
    Youssef Msakni: Qatar based top scorer.
    Ahmed Akaichi: Saudi Arabia based forward whose goals will be needed in Russia.

    England
    Harry Kane: Outscored everyone – including Messi and Ronaldo – in the 2017 calendar year with 56 for club and country.
    Jamie Vardy: His pace and work ethic will be needed in Russia.

    Poland
    Robert Lewandowski: One of the world’s best will carry his country forward.
    Arkadiusz Milik: Injury has hampered his progress but is very capable.

    Senegal
    Sadio Mane: An offensive star for Liverpool and country.
    Moussa Sow: UAE based veteran whose contribution is required.

    Colombia
    Carlos Bacca: Highly experienced goal scorer. Sometimes struggles in Europe.
    Radamel Falcao: Back to his best at Monaco after years of injury and falling form.

    Japan
    Shinji Okazaki: Valuable experience in England has helped this veteran.
    Takuma Asano: Once of Arsenal now based in Germany. He can and must step forward and add important goals.

  • FIFA World Cup 2018 Group Stage Draw

    Group A
    Russia
    Saudi Arabia
    Egypt
    Uruguay
    Group B
    Portugal
    Spain
    Morocco
    Iran
    Group C
    France
    Australia
    Peru
    Denmark
    Group D
    Argentina
    Iceland
    Croatia
    Nigeria
    Group E
    Brazil
    Switzerland
    Costa Rica
    Serbia
    Group F
    Germany
    Mexico
    Sweden
    South Korea
    Group G
    Belgium
    Panama
    Tunisia
    England
    Group H
    Poland
    Senegal
    Colombia
    Japan