The Wildcard’s Big Ol’ 2018 FIFA World Cup Preview – Part 1
GROUP A
RUSSIA
2014: Knocked out in the groups without a win.
The Gaffer: Stanislav Cherchesov (RUS)
Main Man: Injuries have bruised an already limited Russian squad, with striker Alexander Kokorin’s ACL surgery the most gutting. But they do still have goalkeeping extraordinaire Igor Akinfeev, who deals in stunning saves and horrendous mistakes in equal measure, plus CSKA midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, only 22 years old, is another quality player whose performances will have a lot to do with how Russia goes at this World Cup.
What to Watch For: Cherchesov took over for Leonid Slutsky after their pathetic Euro 2016 campaign and pretty much immediately set about reshaping the squad, working with tactics that better suited the way the top clubs in Russia play and, as important as anything, getting some young blokes in there. It’s a fresh-smelling Russian team that’ll host the 2018 World Cup and their progress (or lack of) will be very closely monitored.
The Big Question: Usually the groups are pretty stacked towards the hosts, seeding them in the top tier for a helping hand. No different here – Portugal, France, Argentina, Germany and Belgium would swap groups with Russia in a heartbeat. But you can’t underestimate how much Russia has sucked recently. Their big question is can they even get out of this group, or does Uncle Vlad have to have a little word with a few blokes? There’s a mining camp in Vladivostok looking for new employees…
Prediction: Something makes me think they’ll get out of this group, one way or another. Like a dodgy penalty decision goes their way in the third game, perhaps. Won’t go beyond the R16.
SAUDI ARABIA
2014: Didn’t even qualify, mate.
The Gaffer: Juan Antonio Pizzi (ARG)
Main Man: Some combination of forwards/wingers Salem al-Dawsari, Yahya al-Shehri and Fahad al-Muwallad, a trio of young-ish and fairly exciting talents who all spent the last half of the season on loan with Spanish clubs, albeit not getting a bunch of games. The rest are all domestically based.
What to Watch For: Dunno. They famously lost 8-0 to Germany at the 2002 tournament but safe to say not only will they be a lot tougher this time, they are also in a pretty soft group. Although they’re the worst team in that group so… watch for the possible upset, probably.
The Big Question: Argentine manager Juan Antonio Pizzi has only been in charge since November, taking over for Bert van Marwijk who qualified them automatically but then couldn’t agree on a new contract and left to eventually end up with the Aussie gig. Pizzi had won Copa America with Chile but resigned when they missed qualification to this tournament. Okay, that’s the background. The foreground is that van Marwijk enjoyed a defensive, counter-attacking approach while Pizzi is more focussed on possession. They’ve had heaps of friendlies lately but is six months enough to find success in a new style of play?
Prediction: Not buying them to make the knockouts. Not even buying them to win a game, to be honest.
EGYPT
2014: This is the first time they’ve made it since 1990. Grown men cried.
The Gaffer: Héctor Cúper (ARG)
Main Man: If you even have to ask then you haven’t been paying enough attention. Mohamed Salah is the beginning and the end. He’s the master of ceremonies. He might be the greatest player this nation has ever produced, the most famous citizen of Egypt since Tutankhamen. His fitness has the whole country holding its breath.
What to Watch For: Mo Salah’s health is the main thing but don’t overlook the rest of these guys, who are just the third Egypt team to represent their country at the World Cup. This is a bit of a golden generation. Players like Ahmed Hegazi, Mohamed Elneny, Ahmed Elmohamady and Ramadan Sobhi are all capable of doing big things too. This team’s very decent.
The Big Question: Hate to linger on the same old bloke but the big question is Mo Salah’s shoulder. He’ll play, don’t worry about that, but how inhibited is he going to be?
Prediction: The Pharaohs will give it a good swing but a tired Salah and some home town favouritism towards Russia will leave them in third place in the group.
URUGUAY
2014: Knocked Italy out in the groups but lost 2-0 to Colombia in the Round of 16.
The Gaffer: Óscar Tabárez (URU)
Main Man: Not much point in looking past Luis Suárez, although Edinson Cavani makes for a decent backup. There is an argument that centre-back Diego Godín is the most important player here.
What to Watch For: Uruguay are clinging to the end of the golden generation that took them to fourth place in the 2010 World Cup – only about a third of that squad remains. So definitely keep an eye on the younger blokes and how this team evolves through them. Rodrigo Bentancur of Juvenus and Matías Vecino of Inter Milan in particular. Also… Luis Suarez might bite someone.
The Big Question: Can long term manager Tabárez overcome that generation gap and get the best out of both ends of the squad? Will Suarez and Cavani finally get the best out of each other in partnership? Will those two be invigorated or threatened by a youthful midfield? There are a few questions, to be fair.
Prediction: Uruguay came through that brutal South American qualifying and got a tasty group as a result, though are likely to get Spain or Portugal in the R16. But Uruguay are good enough to beat either on their day. It’s not out of the question that they could get as far as the semi-finals but probably gonna settle on a R16 exit instead.
GROUP B
PORTUGAL
2014: Bit crap, didn’t make it out of the groups. Thrashed 4-0 by Germany and never recovered.
The Gaffer: Fernando Santos (POR)
Main Man: Cristiano Ronaldo. If it’s not him then he’ll make it him.
What to Watch For: Two years on from finally winning a major tournament, Portugal can officially count themselves among the big dogs… but this team will look a little different from the Euro 2016 champs. Jose Fonte turned to trash at West Ham, Ricardo Carvalho has retired and Pepe is now 35 years old and playing in Turkey. Not to mention the head-scratcher that is Renato Sanches. But they do have some enticing attackers coming through in the form of Bernardo Silva, André Silva and Gelson Martins, giving them far more attacking options than in the recent past.
The Big Question: At the Euros they were ultra-defensive and won by being tough to beat but that style doesn’t really suit the squad they have now. Are we going to see an entertaining Portugal again?
Prediction: Hard to say given a few of these odd dynamics but they do have that tournament mode mindset to help them along. Should qualify from this group simply enough and then you never really know. At best they’re contending for the whole thing. I’ve got them eliminated by France in the quarters.
SPAIN
2014: Got smoked 5-1 by Holland in their first game and exited as defending champs in the groups.
The Gaffer: Julen Lopetegui (ESP)
Main Man: Can’t hate a bit of David de Gea, quite possibly the best goalie in the world these days. You always need a great goalkeeper if you’re going to go far at the World Cup.
What to Watch For: Four players remain from the Euro 2008 champs: Sergio Ramos, Andrés Iniesta, Pepe Reina and David Silva. Spain have a new manager these days but they still bring the tiki taka to the party, expect the usual immaculate possession from Sergio Busquets and the gang. Lopetegui has done a pretty brilliant job in the last couple years of rejuvenating this team without having to change the way they play and Spain hit this one up with hopes of going all the way.
The Big Question: Same question as always with Spain, do they have the striker that’ll score them goals from what tends to be a false nine position? Diego Costa is the best of their centre forwards but Iago Aspas is a better fit in the system. Hmm…
Prediction: If they play to their potential then the quarter-finals are the minimum. Once you make it that far it’s all up to fate. My pick is they lose in the semi-finals.
MOROCCO
2014: DNQ – this’ll be their first appearance since 1998.
The Gaffer: Hervé Renard (FRA)
Main Man: Gotta be Hakim Ziyech, one of those fellas with massive talent known mostly only to the footy hipsters who watch Ajax and prefer the Europa League. But the playmaker is Morocco’s best and most influential player and one of those dudes who could be about to drop a major exclamation mark on his reputation.
What to Watch For: Frenchman Renard has won the African Cup of Nations with Zambia and Ivory Coast and now has gotten Morocco back to the World Cup after twenty years. He’s got a reputation for building gritty, organised teams who are tough to beat. They conceded only once in eight qualifying games. Not always pretty but usually effective in tournament play. Captain Medhi Benatia is the heart of that defence, so check out Morocco for a little bit of all of that.
The Big Question: How well can that formidable defence hold up against the prowess of Portugal and Spain?
Prediction: It’ll take something heroic for either Morocco or Iran to topple Spain or Portugal and make the next round. Both Spain and Portugal have had their shockers in the past but they’ve also got big tournament experience on their side. I reckon Morocco could steal a draw against one of them (Portugal most likely, who tend to be slow starters) but won’t progress.
IRAN
2014: Went home winless with only one goal scored in three games. But they did almost draw with Argentina until Lionel Messi scored in injury time.
The Gaffer: Carlos Queiroz (POR)
Main Man: Reza Ghoochannejhad scores plenty of goals at Heerenveen in Holland while Sardar Azmoun is a player on the rise at Rubin Kazan who has been linked to some very decent clubs but the top of the pops in this team is AZ forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh who just took the Dutch league by storm, scoring a hatty in the final game to book the top scorer’s title - the first Asian player to win a golden boot in a major European division.
What to Watch For: Carlos Queiroz has been managing Iran since 2011 and has now taken them to consecutive World Cups. He’s never had them in a better state. They were the third team to qualify for Russia 2018 after the hosts and Brazil. Certainly a team with upset potential in them.
The Big Question: Nothing too complicated. Iran has been Asia’s best for a few years now but can they turn that into success on the biggest stage in a group that includes Portugal and Spain?
Prediction: Same as Morocco which is a shame. Like I said, Iran’s a team that could upset a few countries if they do sneak into the round of 16.
GROUP C
FRANCE
2014: Beaten 1-0 by Germany in the Quarters, having looked pretty sharp up until then.
The Gaffer: Didier Deschamps (FRA)
Main Man: This squad is rivalled for talent only by Germany and Brazil yet with all those world class players available it might be the teenaged Kylian Mbappé who is their talisman. And if you’ve seen him play much then you know exactly why. The dude’s insane.
What to Watch For: France made the final of Euro 2016 and have gotten even better since. The weaknesses at the back have been eased by the development of Raphaël Varane and Samuel Umtiti while they’ve got more options than ever in that attack. Ousmane Dembélé can barely get in the team with the likes of Mbappé, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Thomas Lemar around.
The Big Question: Does the whole package match up to the sum of its individual parts? Because this French team is absolutely stacked… but that doesn’t always help. Also Deschamps probably needs to make the final just to keep his job what with Zinedine Zidane now available. Preeeessure.
Prediction: The thing is, every one of the contenders has too much counting against them to wanna pick them. France, on paper, are as good as anyone and yet I don’t think they’ll win. I don’t think Germany will go back to back either. Gonna say Les Blues lose to Brazil in the semis.
AUSTRALIA
2014: Three games, three defeats.
The Gaffer: Bert van Marwijk (NED)
Main Man: Tim Cahill has carried this team for a lot longer than many fans are willing to admit but at 38 years old he’s rather washed these days. So peep at Aaron Mooy, the Huddersfield general, to make things happen from the midfield alongside Mile Jedinak’s defensive covering.
What to Watch For: Aussie football’s a bit of a mess, we all know that. BVM’s only been in charge for a short period after Ange Postecolgou walked out so you can’t expect too much tactical freedom. They don’t really have the team for that anyway. Tim Cahill’s 38 year old noggin might still be their best chance at goals, although in-form Hibs striker Jamie Maclaren’s got a lot of fans. Check out the Gerrard/Lampard thing with Tom Rogic and Aaron Mooy too.
The Big Question: How much Daniel Arzani are we going to get to see and how amazing is it gonna be? The youngest player at the tournament, by the way.
Prediction: Three games, three defeats.
PERU
2014: Weren’t there. This is their first time at the big dance since 1982, so paki paki for Peru.
The Gaffer: Ricardo Gareca (ARG)
Main Man: We got to know a fair bit about Peru when New Zealand played them in the interconfederational playoffs but one bloke who wasn’t there was Paolo Guerrero. His excessively long drug suspension’s been lifted now (remember kids, always check your coffee mugs for cocaine remnants!) and he’ll step straight back in as Peru’s favourite son, tying the XI together like a fine rug to a room.
What to Watch For: We didn’t see the best of Peru against New Zealand, with the occasion a little inhibitive to that. But they’re playing with house money now that they’re back on the highest stage. Expect some top notch flowing attacking football mixed with good old fashioned South American pragmatism. Renato Tapia is a superb midfielder. Edison Flores is their next superstar, a speedy and skilful winger. And they’re much better with Guerrero up front.
The Big Question: Will Andy Martin ever forgive the country of Peru for that infamous military flyover?
Prediction: Big fan of Peru right here. I think they make the knockouts. A likely matchup with Argentina when they get there might not be too generous, granted.
DENMARK
2014: Missed out. But they made three of four tournaments before that.
The Gaffer: Åge Hareide (NOR)
Main Man: Christian Eriksen, also known as King Christian in his homeland, scored a hat-trick against Ireland to qualify the Danes for this tournament. The Spurs midfielder is delightfully brilliant and there’ll be a fair bit of pressure on him to carry this side.
What to Watch For: Eriksen is the talisman but this is a sneaky good team the moment, with the likes of Kasper Schmeichel, Andreas Christensen, Mathias Jorgensen, Simon Kjaer and Thomas Delaney all worth a few things. They’re a hard-working and endearing side built around the talents of their best players. Also, Vikings and stuff. Only drama is that there’ll be no Lord Bendtner because of injury.
The Big Question: Same as a few of these teams, you can’t fault the effort but does Denmark have a genuine centre-forward capable of scoring multiple goals at this World Cup?
Prediction: Don’t think they qualify for the second round but they’ll beat Australia.
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