Russia World Cup 2018 Power Rankings Ranking every teams chances from 1 to 32

Worst case scenario:Out in round of 16

Why ranked here:Russia isnt close to having the talent of a semifinal team, but at home, the hosts are always dangerous. Nobody thought South Korea would make the semis in 2002. While Russia is more likely to go out in the group stage than make, say, the quarterfinals, never underestimate the power of being the host.

Worst case scenario:Out in round of 16

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Both of these teams need three points if they are to stand a chance of moving on

It was an eventful day at the World Cup in Russia on Sunday as two favorites stumbled out of…

Why ranked here:A slightly better version of Saudi Arabia. Just not good. No way this team moves on.

Russia World Cup 2018 Power Rankings: Ranking every teams chances from 1 to 32

Worst case scenario:Takes an L in all three games

Why ranked here:Not a whole lot to be excited about here. Lots of guys who dont have a ton of experience playing again top competition. One win would be a good tournament.

Why ranked here:Kind of like Peru, they are just happy to be there. But it is their first time at the World Cup and their pressure and physicality can be disruptive for some teams. If they can win a game, then it has been a good tournament.

Why ranked here:Barely got to the World Cup, needing to beat Northern Ireland in a playoff. Some fine players here in Ricardo Rodriguez and Breel Embolo, but the Swiss top out at getting through the group stage.

Worst case scenario:Loses every match and scores no goals

Why ranked here:Dont tell me they should be higher. Sure, this team won Euro 2016, but they were only in the knockout stage due to that ridiculous cup expansion that resulted in some third-place teams advancing. With Cristiano Ronaldo you always have a chance, but this team is no favorite to win. Pepe is getting up there and the central defense has some questions, so there probably isnt enough there to win it.

Worst case scenario:Getting a rude welcome to the World Cup, blown out in every match

Worst case scenario:Crashes out in knockout stage

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Why ranked here:A group that works well together but isnt tested much in the Asian region. Shows the ability to control the ball well, but will have loads of trouble against teams that also like to dominate possession. A chance to get through, but thats about it.

England is looking for three points and momentum in its World Cup opener

Why ranked here:Heres a GIF of the national team.

Why ranked here:Defender Kalidou Koulibaly will be a busy man. If he can play out of his mind and make up for the other defensive shortcomings, Senegal can move on if in a manageable group.

The 2018 World Cup field is set after Peru became the last team to qualify with its 2-0 victory over New Zealand on Wednesday night in the intercontinental playoff. Now, we are seven months away from the World Cup starting, but it is never too early to be thinking about this glorious competition, which brings joy to each and every country and captivates everyone who loves the game.

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage.

This has been the best team in World Cup qualifying and just dominated the most challenging region. With Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and veterans at the back, Brazil is back and looking as strong as its been in quite a while. Dont be shocked if the South Americans are the last team standing next summer.

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Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Best case scenario:A point and not conceding four goals a game

There are about 7-8 teams that can realistically win this thing

Why ranked here:Nothing will compare to the magic of the 1998 team, but this French team is up there with the best in the world and is absolutely stacked in attack. With Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann,  and more, scoring goals shouldnt be a problem. If the defense can find consistency and a centerback pairing that can show unity, watch out.

So here are the final 32 teams that qualified ranked from biggest contender to least likely to contend:

Why ranked here:Tons of momentum after getting past Italy in the playoff, but this team really lacks anything of quality in attack. Now if Zlatan Ibrahimovic comes out of international retirement, watch out…

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Yeah, its Lionel Messi and pretty much everybody else. Jorge Sampaoli has a lot to figure out before this team can actually content. As much talent as any other country, there are problems in the midfield and concerns at the back. The three defender system was exposed against Nigeria just the other day. If Sampaoli can get the defense figured out, Argentina can win it. Until then, they are just a second-level contender but dont be shocked if they make a run to the final and win it.

Why ranked here:Roberto Martinez has his work cut out for him. There is no shortage of amazing players on this team, but getting them on the same page is another story. Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard will be the engines in the final third, and this is a darkhorse pick to win it all. Which means they wont get to the semis.

Why ranked here:Iran has made back-to-back World Cups for the first time ever. Only once, out of 12 matches, have they ever recorded a victory, against the U.S. in 1998. About as good a chance of advancing as Aston Villa winning the Premier League (Spoiler – Aston Villa is currently in the Championship, not the Premier League. Therefore, they have no chance. Get it?)

Why ranked here:Kind of like Poland in the sense that there is one superstar (Christian Eriksen), but a lot left to be desired. Kasper Schmeichel in goal will keep them in matches, but Eriksen cant do it all.

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Worst case scenario:Out in knockout stage

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Worst case scenario:Loses all three matches by three-plus goals

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Why ranked here:A team with some guys past their prime, Australia is just happy to be there. Four straight World Cups is a tremendous accomplishment, but anything more than getting out of the group, which is a stretch, isnt likely.

Why ranked here:Spain is back after that horrific display in Brazil, but is there enough talent up top? Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo) and Rodrigo (Valencia) have starred for their clubs and have made big impacts with the national team as of late, giving Julen Lopetegui some flexibility. Its always all about the midfield in Spain, and Iscos emergence at Real Madrid has been a great sign.

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Why ranked here:Robert Lewandowski and little else. A quality European team that at the end of the day doesnt have the talent to contend for much.

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Why ranked here:They are the reigning champs. Loaded with talent but maybe not as good as the 2014 World Cup team, they still have what it takes to win the cup, and this could be the coming out party for striker Timo Werner. Germany is Germany. Theyve made the quarterfinals every year since the 1982 World Cup, making at least the semis in the last four, finishing second in 2002, third in 2006 and 2010 and winning the 2014 edition.

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Why ranked here:Back in the World Cup for the first time in 36 years, I dont think Peruvians will be all to upset to see this team out in the group stage, considering expectations. Now, it can certainly make it out, but they are just happy to be back, something many Peruvians probably thought they would never see again. Enjoy it, Peru. You deserve it.

Worst case scenario:Out in knockout stage and Lionel Messi retires from national team

Roger Gonzalez is an award-winning writer based in Virginia that has covered pro soccer from Europes top clubs to Argentinas first division. Roger started out his pro soccer writing career with …Full Bio

Why ranked here:A lot of Americans will be cheering for Iceland after their amazing performance at Euro 2016 and the U.S. mens national teams failure to qualify (sorry for the reminder). This team isnt super skilled by any stretch of the imagination, but heart, passion and determination can take you far, as weve seen. Dont be surprised to see Iceland in the knockout stage.

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Worst case scenario:No points and few happy moments

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

World Cup: Explaining refs hand signal

The Belgians are one of the darkhorses to win it all in the competition

Why ranked here:This is where people start seeing just how good Hirving Lozano is. He wont be at PSV long, especially with a great showing here. Mexico is the top team in CONCACAF and should get to the knockout stage. But can these team continue to get away playing some players who are past their prime?

Why ranked here:Croatia has one of the worlds best players in Luka Modric, but this isnt the 98 Croatia that was absolutely tremendous, with guys like Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Jami and others. Good enough to get to quarters but probably wont.

Why ranked here:The second best team in South America during World Cup qualifying, when you have Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani in attack and a world class defender like Diego Godin at the back, you will always have a chance to contend. But the question will be in the teams midfield, where there is a lot of ability but a whole lot more youth as the team takes on a generational and philosophical shift there. Matias Vecino has impressed at Inter Milan,  Rodrigo Betacur is developing at Juventus and youngsters Federico Valverde (Deportivo La Coruna – on loan from Real Madrid) and Nahitan Nandez (Boca Juniors) are the next generation of stars. If the youth can mesh well with the vets, as manager Oscar Tabarez is attempting to do following the qualifying stage and Uruguay transitions successfully from a defensive-minded team to a team that creates volume of play for the two monsters up top, there is no reason why Uruguay cant make a run at this thing.

Why ranked here:Its England, which means disappointment is expected. While the English have seemingly won every tournament this year at the youth level, the national team is far from super. There are questions at goalkeeper, but Harry Kane up top means this team can make a run. With Dele Alli in the middle, this team just needs to get the most out of Raheem Sterling to have enough in the final third to make a run.

Worst case scenario:No points, no goals

The official motion for VAR is the referee making the outline of a rectangle with the index…

Why ranked here:Always a menace to deal with on the pitch, the Serbians give it their all. But they are led by Branislav Ivanovic, who is way past his prime and has lost more than a step at the back. Not enough good players to do much of anything in this cup.

Worst case scenario:Out in knockout stage

Why ranked here:Its James Rodriguezs team, and this is a squad with a fantastic coach is Jose Pekerman, who got them to the quarterfinals at the last World Cup. Radamel Falcao is back in fine form, Juan Cuadrado continues to shine at Juventus and the defense has young, hungry talent in the likes of Yerry Mina, Davinson Sanchez and Eder Balanta. Los Cafeteros shouldnt have trouble getting out of their group, as long as it isnt the group of death.

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Why ranked here:Not the Super Eagles of old, Nigeria is still very dangerous. Probably the African team contenders will want to avoid, Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) are both just 21 and rising stars and they always have speed. John Obi Mikel is somehow only 30 years old, and hell captain this team and be the heart of the midfield. Nigeria has experience and talent to make a run here.

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Best case scenario:Finishing third in group

Why ranked here:Son Heung-Min is a fine attacking player and Ki Sung-yeung holds down the midfield well. Another team that plays together and with tons of heart, they can move on. Out in the group stage is most likely scenario though.

Why ranked here:Made the quarterfinals at the last World Cup, so why not again? Keylor Navas in goal and Bryan Ruiz creating in the final third, Los Ticos are always dangerous and will be one of the more smaller nations creating the most buzz entering the cup.

Worst case scenario:Zero points and an early ticket home

Best case scenario:Getting three points and maybe sniffing a spot in the next round

Worst case scenario:Zero points, zero goals scored.

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Worst case scenario:Out in quarterfinals

Best case scenario:Not finishing with a -10 goal differential and getting a point

Why ranked here:Saudi Arabia made every World Cup from 1994 to 2006, and in the last three of those, the team never finished higher than 28th. This team has a very, very small chance of moving on.

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Worst case scenario:Out in group stage

Russia World Cup 2018 Power Rankings: Ranking every teams chances from 1 to 32

Worst case scenario:Out in round of 16

Why ranked here:Mohamed Salah and 10 more. The Liverpool man is going to have to put the ball away plenty for the Pharaohs to even have a chance of advancing.