World Cup 2018: Who’s going to make it through and who’s not — Robbie Slater’s Ultimate Guide
FORMER Socceroo Robbie Slater looks at each team at the World Cup and rates their chances.
32 TEAMS * 64 MATCHES * 12 VENUES *1 WINNER
GROUP A
RUSSIA
A lack of experience after a number of key retirements has Russia wallowing in world football rankings.
KEY MAN: Central midfielder Alan Dzagoev.
ROADBLOCK: You don’t have to look much further than their ranking — at 66th, they’re the lowest-ranked team in the tournament.
PREDICTION: Won’t make it out of the group.
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SAUDI ARABIA
Qualified ahead of Australia, but they’ve appointed three coaches since qualifying: firstly Bert Van Marwijk, followed by Edgardo Bauza and now Juan Antonio Pizzi, who has been in the role for just six months.
KEY MAN: Left winger Yahya Al-Shehri.
ROADBLOCK: How well does the new coach know his players?
PREDICTION: Will exit the tournament along with Russia.
EGYPT
This team is capable of being the surprise package of the World Cup. Not only do they have Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, but another quality player is Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny.
KEY MAN: Right winger Mo Salah, the EPL’s top scorer.
ROADBLOCK: They have never won a game at a World Cup — and their over-reliance on an injured Salah is an issue.
PREDICTION: Round of 16, with Salah to light up the tournament.
URUGUAY
This is a side full of quality, terrific players and are deservedly the group favourites. It’s the last tournament for the generation of Uruguayan players who reached the semi-finals at South Africa 2010.
KEY MAN: Striker Luis Suarez.
ROADBLOCK: They need to keep their discipline.
PREDICTION: Top of this group.
GROUP B
PORTUGAL
Despite being regarded as a one-man team, Portugal are the European champions and have shown they can deal with the pressure.
KEY MAN: Ronaldo. The World Cup is the only trophy he hasn’t won!
ROADBLOCK: It really does come down to Ronaldo — if he fires, they fire.
PREDICTION: Quarter-finals.
SPAIN
Can the ageing stars reproduce their 2010 form that saw them win the World Cup, or will they resemble the team that crashed out of the tournament in 2014?
KEY MAN: Midfielder Isco.
ROADBLOCK: This side lacks the pace and cutting edge of 2010.
PREDICTION: With their experience, they’ll get out of the group.
MOROCCO
Defence and structure is the key for a Moroccan side that didn’t concede a goal in their six qualifiers. If they can beat Iran in their opener, it would put pressure on the big two in the group.
KEY MAN: Defender Mehdi Benatia.
ROADBLOCK: A solid side, but their final third is a problem.
PREDICTION: Could sneak through the group if either Spain or Portugal slip up.
IRAN
Iran only conceded two goals and kept 12 clean sheets in their qualifying campaign and will be difficult to beat.
KEY MAN: Striker Mehdi Taremi.
ROADBLOCK: Where are their goals going to come from?
PREDICTION: Spain and Portugal are too strong for them to progress out of the group.
GROUP C
FRANCE
When you can afford to leave out the likes of Karim Benzema, Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Martial, it shows the depth of quality this side has. It’s no wonder they’re the favourites to win the World Cup.
KEY MAN: Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann.
ROADBLOCK: We’ve seen France self-implode at previous World Cups, so the culture of the team is key under Didier Deschamps.
PREDICTION: There is a feeling in France that this team can emulate the legends of 1998 and win the World Cup. I see them making the final, where they’ll meet Germany.
AUSTRALIA
We saw the Socceroos limp into the tournament through playoff matches against Syria and Honduras, then their campaign was thrown into chaos when Ange Postecoglou announced his shock departure. There isn’t much passion towards Bert Van Marwijk because this is purely a business relationship, so just about anything that happens in Russia would be unexpected. The 4-0 spanking of Czech Republic is promising ahead of the Russian assignment.
KEY MAN: After a sensational season for Huddersfield in the English Premier League, midfielder Aaron Mooy is going to be crucial. But does he play in a defensive-midfield or attacking-midfield role?
ROADBLOCK: The reliance on 38-year-old Tim Cahill to score goals is a concern. There’s an abundance of midfielders, but a shortage in the striker department.
PREDICTION: Heart says yes but the head says no. Let’s hope the heart wins.
PERU
This might surprise many people, but Peru are ranked ninth in the world. They also had two good wins in Europe recently despite the belief that they’re not good travellers. The return of captain Paolo Guerrero, who had his doping ban put on hold, is a big plus.
KEY MAN: Andre Carrillo, who plays for Watford, provides speed down the right flank.
ROADBLOCK: They don’t have much in the way of strikers outside Guerrero.
PREDICTION: Too close to call between them and Denmark as to who progresses alongside France.
DENMARK
They’re strong, organised, have good structures and under coach Age Hareide there’s a fantastic culture. Denmark’s destruction of Ireland in the playoffs showed the world just how dangerous they can be and just how good Christian Eriksen is.
KEY MAN: Christian Eriksen. The attacking midfielder had another excellent season for Tottenham.
ROADBLOCK: They play one-dimensionally and have difficulty changing their tactics.
PREDICTION: As above, it’s between them and Peru as to who makes it out of the group.
GROUP D
ARGENTINA
Think Argentina, think Lio Messi. Everything is built around the sublime Barcelona star. Memories of their World Cup final loss to Germany four years ago will weigh heavily on them.
KEY MAN: Lionel Messi, of course.
ROADBLOCK: The weight of expectation from football-mad Argentina.
PREDICTION: Top of the group and with Messi, anything is possible.
ICELAND
The smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup shocked England at the 2016 European Championship, so write them off at your peril, especially as they will be playing in conditions that suit them.
KEY MAN: Everton attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.
ROADBLOCK: The trouble for Iceland is that the surprise factor has now gone.
PREDICTION: Fan favourite after quarter-final heroics at Euro 2016, but their final likely to be against Croatia, who ended their World Cup 2014 dream in the playoffs.
CROATIA
The Croatian footballers are not popular with fans back home after they failed to stand up to the Croatian FA and the stench of corruption, but on the field they were impressive with a 4-1 win over Greece in the playoff.
KEY MAN: He’s 32, but Real Madrid central midfielder Luka Modric is still a vital presence.
ROADBLOCK: How will the players be affected by the off-field drama?
PREDICTION: Croatia will find it tough to get out of the group.
NIGERIA
Making their sixth World Cup appearance, the Super Eagles are being tipped to do well at this one. They’re brilliant on the counter-attack and are always a formidable opponent.
KEY MAN: Chelsea’s Victor Moses.
ROADBLOCK: Discipline and defence.
PREDICTION: Will progress with Argentina.
GROUP E
BRAZIL
They are the only non-European team to have won the World Cup in Europe. That was way back in 1958, when a certain Pele dazzled at just 17 years old. This Brazil side does possess tremendous quality, even if it is on the young side.
KEY MAN: PSG superstar Neymar, so long as he can prove his fitness.
ROADBLOCK: Burying the ghosts of their semi-final match four years ago, when they were humiliated 7-1 by Germany.
PREDICTION: Semi-final.
SWITZERLAND
Always competitive and hard to beat.
KEY MAN: Stoke winger Xerdan Shaqiri.
ROADBLOCK: Where are the goals going to come from?
PREDICTION: With a heavy defeat first-up to Brazil, the World Cup could be over before it starts for Switzerland.
COSTA RICA
Having been together since 2014, this is a team full of experience.
KEY MAN: Striker Joel Campbell.
ROADBLOCK: They’re on the way down, not up.
PREDICTION: Bottom of the group.
SERBIA
Back at the World Cup after eight years, Serbia were impressive in getting to Russia with wins over Wales and the Republic of Ireland to top their group.
KEY MAN: Newcastle/Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
ROADBLOCK: They’ve never made it our of their group.
PREDICTION: An early flight home.
GROUP F
GERMANY
Germany have about 40 players who could make the starting team — there’s an abundance of world-class players everywhere. Solid at the back, strong going forward, this is the team to beat — again.
KEY MAN: Always pulling the strings, Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira.
ROADBLOCK: Complacency, but this never happens.
PREDICTION: Final.
MEXICO
Mexico breezed through a weak qualifying group and look a complete team. Unfortunately, they’ve been drawn with Germany and if they do finish second in the group, they could go on to meet Brazil.
KEY MAN: Andres Guardado, the central midfielder dictates the tempo.
ROADBLOCK: Remarkably, Mexico have never won a World Cup knockout match on foreign soil.
PREDICTION: Second in the group, then knocked out again.
SWEDEN
When Zlatan Ibrahimovic retired, one wondered whether Sweden could go on without him. But they qualified for the World Cup and are now about being a team of players, rather than being about one big personality.
KEY MAN: RB Leipzig midfielder Emil Forsberg.
ROADBLOCK: Most of their starting players haven’t been playing regularly for their clubs.
PREDICTION: Not going to make it out of the group.
SOUTH KOREA
Like most Asian teams, it will be a struggle for Korea in Russia, especially after a difficult qualifying campaign.
KEY MAN: Son Heung-min had a great season for Tottenham. He’s a player who makes and scores goal.
ROADBLOCK: They’re too reliant on the Spurs forward.
PREDICTION: Going home early.
GROUP G
BELGIUM
This is the golden generation’s last chance to win a major trophy. Belgium have a team full of fantastic individual players, but they’ve never looked likely to win a tournament.
KEY MAN: Eden Hazard. He didn’t have a great season for Chelsea, but he can perform at big tournaments.
ROADBLOCK: With Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, they have world-class matchwinners, but the so-called golden generation failed miserably at the 2014 World Cup and this team must handle the pressure a lot better.
PREDICTION: They’ll make it out of the group.
PANAMA
Tiny Panama qualified for their first World Cup with a dramatic win over Costa Rica that eliminated the USA.
KEY MAN: Forward Blas Perez.
ROADBLOCK: Can’t see them scoring many goals, which is obviously crucial for progression.
PREDICTION: Just happy to be there.
TUNISIA
After missing the past two World Cups — and being so close to making them — Tunisia will be relieved to have made it to Russia. They have several foreign-born players in the squad, mainly from France.
KEY MAN: France-born attacking midfielder Wahbi Khazri.
ROADBLOCK: They have never won a World Cup match.
PREDICTION: They’ll allow Harry Kane to score a hat-trick against them.
ENGLAND
There are none of the usual high expectations surrounding this England team and that will actually help them this time, but they will rely heavily on Harry Kane.
KEY MAN: Prolific goalscorer Harry Kane
ROADBLOCK: There’s a lack of creativity in the middle of the park, which is why Gareth Southgate’s decision to leave out Jack Wilshere is baffling.
PREDICTION: Quarter-finals, and that would be seen as a success.
GROUP H
POLAND
Much the same as Peru, most wouldn’t realise that Poland are ranked in the top 10, which tells you they’re favourites to win this group. They’re a fast, counter-attacking side who are good in defence
KEY MAN: Robert Lewandowski. His glittering club career hasn’t transpired on the international stage, but this is a big chance for the Bayern Munich marksman.
ROADBLOCK: Many of the star players haven’t had regular game time at their clubs, which is always a concern for a coach coming into a major tournament.
PREDICTION: They’ll make it out of the group.
SENEGAL
This is only Senegal’s second appearance at the World Cup and they will hope to emulate what they did in 2002, when they stunned the world by beating champions France to reach the quarter-finals.
KEY MAN: Sadio Mane. His pace in attack saw him enjoy a fantastic season for Liverpool, scoring in their Champions League final defeat.
ROADBLOCK: They’ve clearly struggled with big-game pressure, having failed to qualify for 16 years.
PREDICTION: It will be difficult for them to progress, and they won’t.
COLOMBIA
There are some excellent players in this squad who have plenty of experience, such as striker Radamel Falcao and attacking midfielder James Rodriguez. Then there’s the coach Jose Pekerman, who took his native Argentina to the World Cup in 2006.
KEY MAN: James Rodriguez. How far Columbia go will depend on the 26-year-old’s form during the tournament. He took the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup.
ROADBLOCK: With so many attacking options, sometimes the coach doesn’t get the right mix.
PREDICTION: Will get out of the group and go further.
JAPAN
Topped their group in qualifying, but they are not favoured to progress. Somehow you always get the feeling there’s more in them.
KEY MAN: Keisuke Honda, 31, is Japan’s Tim Cahill. It seems like he’s been around forever and he’s never let his country down.
ROADBLOCK: The final third.
PREDICTION: They won’t make it out of the group.
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