2018 World Cup Squads: 5 Most Experienced World Cup Teams in Russia

When teams kick off their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign, one thing they will bank on is their combined experience in big tournaments. It's not easy to maintain the same core for a number of international tournaments.

But a cursory look at history suggests that teams that are able to retain their core usually go far in tournaments. It is the difference between top teams and those that are deemed world class.

Experienced squads always count on the grandest stage of all. They handle pressure better and know their roles without being told what to do.

So which teams have the most cumulative World Cup finals experience? Here are the top five.

Stats courtesy of Opta

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#5 Spain: 55 appearances

It's understandable to have Spain on the list considering most of their core from the 2010 World Cup will be travelling to Russia. Any team that reaches the final of the World Cup in its current format is guaranteed to play seven games.

Four players from La Furia Roja have played more than 100 international games. Of the lot, the most experienced player is their captain Sergio Ramos.

The Real Madrid defender recently played his 150th game for Spain and was even feted before the game. Ramos will be playing in his fourth World Cup after making his debut in the competition in 2006.

Other experienced campaigners include Andres Iniesta who is also playing in his fourth World Cup. The other two players who have made at least 100 appearances are David Silva and Sergio Busquets while Gerard Pique (97) will hit that mark when he plays in the group games.

Spain's 23-man squad selected by coach Julen Lopetegui has an average age of 28 years and 178 days (on the day the World Cup begins). That is much older than other favourites such as Germany and France but younger than Brazil.

Spain could easily have been higher up the list if they had not exited the 2014 World Cup at the group stage. But they certainly wouldn't have topped the list as they have selected a number of players who are going to their first ever World Cup.

#4 Uruguay: 66 appearances

Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are playing in their third World Cup

Uruguay have always gone into the World Cup as dark horses. A small South American country with less than 4 million people, they have done well to produce and develop footballers capable of competing on the world stage.

Although La Celeste did not qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, they made their presence felt in 2010 in South Africa and 2014 in Brazil.

The two-time champions (way back in 1930 and 1950) finished fourth in 2010 but they were disappointed when they made a Round of 16 exit in 2014.

Uruguay also have four players who have made at least 100 appearances. Defenders Maxi Pereira and skipper Diego Godin are their most experienced campaigners while midfielder Cristian Rodriguez and Edinson Cavani have reached a century of caps.

Luis Suarez (97), too, will make 100 appearances when he plays in the group stages of the World Cup. Other experienced players include goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and defender Martin Caceres.

The average age of Uruguay's squad is 28 years and 47 days.

#3 Mexico: 70 appearances

Can Mexico get past the Round of 16 in Russia?

Mexico have been an ever-present side in the World Cup since the 1990s. However, they have also shown remarkable consistency in getting past the group stages only to fall at the next hurdle in the Round of 16.

That means El Tri have played exactly four games in every World Cup since 1994. They somehow never seem to get to the quarter-finals - a round they have reached twice before in 1970 and 1986 (their best ever finish).

Nevertheless, what Mexico have in their squad are players who have played in World Cups before. In fact, 39-year-old Rafael Marquez is the only player in this World Cup who is playing for the fifth time in the tournament.

Captain Andres Guardado is playing for the fourth time at the World Cup. Both players have both received 144 caps for the national team.

Two other centurions in the squad are midfielder Giovani dos Santos and forward Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez. Other experienced players include goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and defender Hector Moreno.

Mexico's average age at the World Cup is 29 years and 132 days - one of the oldest.

#2 Argentina: 76 appearances

Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano are Argentina's most experienced players at the World Cup

If there is one thing that has been assured when Argentina are at the World Cup, it is their presence in the knockout stages in recent editions. 2006 and 2010 saw them reach the quarter-finals while 2014 saw them finish as runners-up after a 1-0 loss to Germany in the final.

Of course, a lot of it has to do with the presence of Lionel Messi. A man who has won everything possible with Barcelona has found success on the international stage hard to come by - what with three consecutive losses in finals of the World Cup and two Copa Americas.

Messi (124 caps) will be playing in his fourth World Cup as is his teammate Javier Mascherano (143 caps). The defender is the most experienced member of the squad and the two are the only players with more than 100 caps.

Other experienced players include Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, and Gonzalo Higuain. All three attackers will be playing in their third World Cup.

Argentina's average age at the World Cup is 29 years and 93 days.

#1 Germany: 86 appearances

Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, and Thomas Muller are playing in their third World Cup

No team has been more consistent at the World Cup than Germany in the 21st century. Die Mannschaft have finished as runners-up in 2002, in third place in 2006 and 2010, before finally winning the trophy in 2014.

It was the culmination of a long-term plan put in place after they suffered embarrassing exits in the '90s. They developed a style of play and trained youth players who eventually came together to win the World Cup in Brazil.

Among these players, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller (90 caps each) are their most experienced players. Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Sami Khedira, and Jerome Boateng are the other players who are all playing in their third World Cup.

As you can see, their entire spine from front to back have the experience of playing on the big stage and it is one of the main reasons why they are so successful.

Germany's average age at the World Cup is 27 years and 50 days - one of the youngest squads in Russia. But do they have what it takes to become the first team since the 1962 Brazil squad to defend their World Cup crown, though?