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The FIFA World Cup 2018 is a while away, but it's never too early for football analysis. The World Cup Qualifiers have almost concluded, with only the playoffs remaining. Most of the teams set to be in the reckoning for the crown come 2018 have gotten through, while some of the big guns a.k.a. the Netherlands and Chile narrowly missed the ticket to football's biggest tournament. I've already had a lot of conversations with my friends about who the favourites are, but isn't it always better to back it up with some solid facts and stats? So let's analyse the teams tipped to take the crown of world champions next summer, based on the qualifiers that have concluded.
The Dark Horses:
Iceland topped Group I of the Europe qualification, beating Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey. The team has taken the footballing world by storm since Euro 2016 (partly due to their Viking chant), and neutrals would definitely love to see the team succeed in Russia. Although consisting of a team of relatively unknown names (save for Gylfi Sigurdsson), they definitely have the potential to spring a surprise and give the bigger teams a tough time.
Croatia is a challenger for the title, mainly due to the talent oozing in its midfield. Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mateo Kovacic make up a brilliant midfield trio, and with Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic up top and a never-say-die attitude within the team, they can give the big teams a run for their money.
Colombia had a difficult qualifying campaign as was generally for most teams in the CONMEBOL qualifiers. But the team does know how to perform well on the big stage, with a run till the Quarter-Finals in 2014 in Rio before being knocked out on penalties by the host, Brazil. The team comprises of many stars - Radamel Falcao who has started the season with a bang for AS Monaco (12 goals in 8 games), James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado, and a strong defence with Davinson Sanchez, Cristian Zapata and Yerri Mina at the back. Watch out for Colombia, they can do some damage.
Honorable mentions: Poland, Switzerland, Mexico, Sweden
#10 Portugal
Portugal make it to this list just because of one man - Cristiano Ronaldo. Although he has not hit top form this season, his goal-scoring ability is beyond doubt. The team's triumph in Euro 2016 was definitely a result of great defending rather than attacking (and also the luck of an easy draw!), and that has been the case in the qualifiers as well. Only 4 goals conceded, and 32 goals scored, with about half of those coming from Cristiano Ronaldo (15 goals). William Carvalho pulls the strings with crucial interceptions and breaking attacks in the midfield, ably supported by Joao Moutinho, Joao Mario and Andre Gomes who are more attacking in nature. The midfield has been criticised regularly for their lack of attacking initiative though, which is something they need to work on.
Nelson Semedo has looked like a revelation, donning new colours at Barcelona at the right back position, while Pepe has been lauded at Besiktas as well. Hence, the defence seems to be in good hands, with the composed Rui Patricio in goal, who played a major part in last year's Euro victory. Andre Silva could prove to be an able partner to Cristiano Ronaldo upfront; the latter considers Silva to be his heir, which is an incredible compliment. Ricardo Quaresma and Nani can play the supporting roles well in attack, giving the team a complete look. All in all, Portugal could prove to be a team others would not want to face in Russia 2018.
Defence: 8/10
Midfield: 6/10
Attack: 7/10
Key players: Cristiano Ronaldo, William Carvalho, Pepe
#9 Italy
Italy did not have the best qualifying campaign, mainly because of the one match that exposed its flaws, a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Spain in August. Italy has regularly been lauded for its defending, with incredible displays in Euro 2016 against Spain and Germany. With the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, and Andre Barzagli marshalling its defence, there is no doubt about its quality at the back. With either Gianluigi Buffon or Gianluigi Donnarumma likely to be the keeper, there are no problems in that position as well. But the aforementioned defeat to Spain exposed the chinks in the midfield. They were regularly outnumbered by Spain's midfielders and that is crucial to their philosophy of defending deep.
The intelligent Marco Verratti is the lynchpin in the midfield, but he needs able supporters in the middle of the park to break up opposition attacks and start attacks for themselves. The attack has enough firepower to put away chances in the final third with Ciro Immobile (11 goals at one goal/64 mins this season), Andrea Belotti and Lorenzo Insigne forming a deadly front three. Italy make it above Portugal due to their experience in big competitions and a formidable backline.
Defence: 9/10
Midfield: 6/10
Attack: 7/10
Key Players: Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Marco Verratti, Ciro Immobile
#8 Uruguay
Uruguay had a relatively simpler qualifying campaign than most of the other teams in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, with its fate all but sealed before the last game. But it was not a very convincing display, due to its lack of wins against the big teams like Brazil, Argentina and Chile. The 4-1 loss to Brazil at home was definitely a worrying sign. The fact though, is that Uruguay has the team to reach the summit in next year's World Cup. With an attack comprising of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, the team has the quality to beat any goalkeeper on any day. Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez form a strong backline, who are capable of keeping out any opposition attack. Muslera in goal has been lauded for his performances in the qualifiers, with the maximum number of saves among all goalkeepers.
Their victories generally depend on their attack and defence, with no midfielders particularly pinning their position in the team. Luis Suarez hasn't set the season alight just yet with Barcelona, but his two goals in the last qualifier and a satisfying performance against Atletico Madrid in La Liga would give him some much-needed confidence. Edinson Cavani has been menacing in Ligue 1, forming a fearsome attack along with Neymar and Mbappe, and has been racking up the goals. Watch out for Uruguay in 2018.
Defence: 8/10
Midfield: 6/10
Attack: 8/10
Key Players: Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Godin
#7 England
England had a good qualifying campaign, overcoming almost every obstacle that it faced with ease. It has a good young squad, but the main issue is its lack of performance on the international stage. Its performance in international competitions is dismal - knocked out in the group stage in the 2014 World Cup, and knocked out by a determined Iceland in the Round of 16 of Euro 2016. Its world ranking of 12 subtly tells the story of its performance. Almost all positions are covered for the current England side, with lots of young players taking the reins. In goal, Jack Butland and Joe Hart are their options, and both have proven to be able goalkeepers. In defence - John Stones and Kyle Walker have been impressive for Manchester City, Gary Cahill solid for Chelsea, Phil Jones an important member contributing to Manchester United's excellent defensive record in the Premier League, and a flurry of options for the full-back positions. In the midfield, Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling provide an attacking outlet, with the defensive duties controlled by Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson. Jack Wilshere's return to the fore for Arsenal could also prove to be an option that could be used by England.
The attack is spearheaded by the free scoring Harry Kane, who is having an impressive season at Tottenham once again. They have many other options with Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge, all having proved their worth at their respective clubs. England has the might to go all the way in Russia 2018. The ranking of 7 in this list is justified only by the history of their performance when it matters.
Defence: 8/10
Midfield: 7/10
Attack: 8/10
Key Players: Harry Kane, Dele Alli, John Stones
#6 Argentina
Argentina had an extremely disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign, although it did manage to qualify on the last day without the need for a play-off. All thanks to, arguably, the greatest footballer ever, Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi's hattrick on the last day of qualifying against Ecuador was sublime, and a treat to watch. But it created a veneer over the flaws of this Argentine team, which are aplenty. The team with the best attack among the international teams ending up with 19 goals from 18 games (second least, only above Bolivia who scored 16 goals) is a shame. Messi played 10 out of the 18 games, in which the team secured 21 out of their total of 28 points, losing only once. (6W 3D 1L) The rest of the games were a drag, with Argentina struggling for goals and innovative attacks. The defence comprising of Otamendi, Mascherano, Mercado and Marcos Acuna was generally not a letdown, allowing 16 goals in 18 games which is not a very bad show. The 3-0 defeat to Brazil was an exception though, where they were torn apart by Neymar and co. Lucas Biglia in the midfield has been consistent, and has become an integral part of this team. Ever Banega, Angel Di Maria and Enzo Perez are good players in the midfield, but they need to improve drastically for Argentina to win the cup. The attack consists of superstars - Messi, Dybala, Aguero, Icardi, Higuain etc. But they haven't worked together very well so far, with Messi almost always taking the burden of creating as well as scoring the goals. Jorge Sampaoli needs to figure out a way to play Messi, Dybala and Aguero together, which could be devastating for opponents if it works. Argentina have not showed how well they can play in the qualifiers. But, their international showings have been very good in the last few years, being runners-up in the 2014 World Cup and Copa America 2015 and 2016. This is probably the last time Lionel Messi will get a chance to get his hands on the trophy, and with his incredible form and desire, Argentina are always strong contenders to get the trophy.
Defence: 8/10
Midfield: 7/10
Attack: 9/10
Key Players: Lionel Messi
#5 Belgium
Belgium's rise in football in the last few years has been amazing. They were at the pinnacle of the rankings for a few months, reflecting the quality of the side. Granted, they are not pioneers in the big tournaments, but the talent in the squad and an excellent qualifying campaign (9W 1D) puts them right into the mix of favourites for next year's competition. A strong defence, a talented midfield, and a ruthless attack (watch the 9-0 hammering of Gibraltar) make for a very well-balanced side. Toby Alderweireld, regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League, alongside Vincent Kompany, Thomas Meunier and Jan Vertonghen make up a solid back four. Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the best attacking midfielder in the game currently. He is the glue holding the midfield, supported by the exciting young midfielder Youri Tielemans, Radja Naingollan, Nacer Chadli and Marouane Fellaini.
Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku are the target men in attack, with great backups in Yannick Carrasco, Dries Mertens and Michy Batshuayi. This could be one of the sides that neutral supporters would be backing to win the title as they are relatively new on the international stage. This could be the tournament where Belgium announces itself as a footballing superpower.
Defence: 8/10
Midfield: 8/10
Attack: 8/10
Key Players: Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Toby Alderweireld
#4 Germany
Placing Germany at fourth place in this list is probably surprising. They had an incredible qualifying campaign, winning all their matches scoring 43 goals and conceding only 4. The reason for them being at fourth place is the drop in form of Bayern Munich, which definitely could change in due course of this season. The defence of Hummels and Boateng has not started in a while for Bayern Munich, and is worrying for Germany as well. Germany's defence works so well because the international teammates are club teammates, as in the case of Hummels and Boateng currently or with Lahm and Boateng previously. The entire team, in fact, as seen in the 2014 World Cup, was so in sync due to this. That scenario has changed now. The defence is still solid - Boateng and Hummels along with Kimmich, Hector, Mustafi, Rudiger, Niklas Sule and Howedes form a good backline with several options. Manuel Neuer has had injury problems for a while, but if available, is undoubtedly going to start. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has improved drastically since the 2016/17 season for Barcelona and is an excellent backup goalkeeper for Neuer. The midfield is controlled by Toni Kroos, and the attacking outlets in midfield is something a team would crave for with Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Julian Draxler, Leroy Sane, Leon Goretzka and many more options available.
The rise of RB Liepzig in the previous season of the Bundesliga has benefited Germany a lot, with Timo Werner a great goalscoring option along with Sandro Wagner and Lars Stindl. The Confederations Cup victory over Chile with a so-called "B Team" was enough to convince anybody who had doubts about this Germany team. Germany, as usual, would be a force to reckon with in the FIFA World Cup 2018.
Defence: 8/10
Midfield: 9/10
Attack: 8/10
Key Players: Toni Kroos, Jerome Boateng, Mesut Ozil
#3 Spain
Spain edge out Germany in this list only due to the recent form of the crux of its players. With an excellent qualifying campaign, including a resounding 3-0 win over Italy, Spain has provided reassurance to its fans that it will challenge with all its might for the trophy in Russia, after underwhelming performances in the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016. The players at disposal for Spain is incredible. In defence, they have Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Dani Carvajal, Juanfran, Cesar Azpilicueta, Nacho Monreal, Marc Bartra, Nacho Fernandez - each one of them are integral parts of their clubs' defences. A meagre 3 goals were conceded in the entirety of their qualifying campaign, assisting the solidarity of their defence. And they have a wall in goal in David de Gea. They have a huge amount of talent midfield - Thiago Alcantara has resurrected and taken the mantle of one of the best central midfielders of the game, Sergio Busquets is a player who cannot be done away with, and Andres Iniesta seems to have got back his magical touch in the current season for Barcelona. Cesc Fabregas has been doing well this season, with more opportunities at Chelsea since the departure of Matic, while David Silva is in the form of his life for Manchester City. The huge Xavi-sized hole that affected them heavily in the previous two tournaments seems to have been filled as of now. The excellent form of Real Madrid in the last season's final stages can be attributed highly to one man - Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez. That's Isco. He's been a delight to watch this year, as displayed in the 3-0 drubbing of Italy. The sweet nutmeg in the following video on Marco Verratti sums up his year:
Isco has been so effective for both Spain and Real Madrid, and can definitely be expected to make waves during next year's competition. The attack of Spain is prolific as well - the free scoring Alvaro Morata, Pedro Rodriguez, Marco Asensio and his insane left foot, ably backed up by Iago Aspas. Spain edges out Germany because almost all of the aforementioned players have been playing extremely well. Eight years on since the 2010 World Cup, Spain could very well lift the trophy again next year.
Defence: 8/10
Midfield: 9/10
Attack: 8/10
Key Players: Isco, Thiago Alcantara, Sergio Ramos
#2 France
France was arguably the deserved winner of Euro 2016, and this was coupled with exciting and engaging football. A team of youngsters, pace and superstars, France will be expected to go all the way in Russia mainly because of its incredible squad depth in every single area of the pitch.
The rise of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in the last season has provided the team with exciting prospects, and very efficient attacking outlets. As seen in the above image, the attack is filled with talent, and as they have shown, they gel very well together. Griezmann is a superstar striker who has delivered at the big stage in Euro 2016 for France. The second runner-up in the Ballon Dór this year, he is an effective striker when supported well. Even if he isn't available, France can turn to quality options upfront.
There is absolutely no dearth in the midfield as well. One of the main reasons they did well in Euro 2016 was their midfield brilliance. With Kante, they can be assured of a man who gives his 100% on the field for the full 90 minutes. Pogba has burst into life for Manchester United this season, although sadly getting injured just when he was doing so well. Adrien Rabiot has started regularly for PSG since Matuidi's departure, as well as Corentin Tolisso for Bayern Munich.
The depth in defence is immense as well. Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti could be the center-back pairing that Didier Deschamps might be looking to, as seen in the selection and their solid performances in the last few qualifiers. Djibril Sidibe seems to have nailed his place in the side, while Kurzawa and Mendy will fight it out for the left back position. Hugo Lloris is the undisputed No.1 in goal.
France looks like a solid team, definitely one of the strong favorites to win the title in Russia.
Defence: 8/10
Midfield: 8/10
Attack: 9/10
Key Players: Griezmann, Kante, Pogba
#1 Brazil
Brazil takes the number one spot because of its impressive qualifying campaign, and a squad filled with superstars and important players for their respective clubs. They never faltered in their qualifying campaign, scoring an impressive 41 goals and conceding just 11 goals in what was a horrendous campaign for the other CONMEBOL teams.
In attack, Neymar has been the undisputed leader for a while, and rightly so. He has been sensational in the past three seasons, rising to a status where he's being compared to Messi and Cristiano. He needs to be firing on all cylinders for Brazil to have a good chance of winning the tournament. Gabriel Jesus has made the centre forward position his own, while Coutinho is becoming more and more impressive with every appearance. Willian, Roberto Firmino and Douglas Costa are backups who would have made the first team in any other squad.
In midfield, Paulinho has been impressive this season for Barcelona and Brazil, after not being expected to do well. Casemiro has become indispensable for Real Madrid, while Renato Augusto has consistently done well for Brazil. They have more options in Fernandinho and Fabinho.
In defence, every position is covered with at least two first team club players. David Luiz, Miranda, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos - an enviable set of center-backs. Dani Alves is the frontrunner to start at right back, while Marcelo, Filipe Luis and Alex Sandro could start at left back. The goal is guarded by either Alisson or Ederson, depending on this season.
Brazil has a brilliant squad who play attacking and exciting football. The 3-0 win over Chile, 3-0 vs Argentina, 4-1 vs Uruguay - each of these victories in the qualifying campaign would have made a Brazilian fan dance, Samba style! Brazil has a great chance to win the trophy in 2018, and is my favorite for the tournament based on the qualifying campaign.
Defence: 9/10
Midfield: 8/10
Attack: 9/10
Key Players: Neymar, Coutinho, Marcelo
