World Cup 2018: Predicted Dream Group Stages XI 

The 2018 World Cup in Russia commences in a week and the world's top professional footballers will display their skills on the biggest showcase event of the year.

All the 23-man squads of the nations participating at the World Cup have been announced and the tournament is ready to get underway. There are some interesting group stage battles to look forward to and a number of individual duals as well.

Here we take a look at the possible best XI of the group stages. A prediction of the dream XI from the group stages of the tournament has been listed below with a number of stars from various countries making up the XI.

Goalkeeper- Allison

Allison is expected to start ahead of

Ederson

for Brazil

Brazilian goalkeeper, Allison topped the charts for keepers in the Champions League with the most saves in the competition with 47 made in total. Roma's shot-stopper has been in superb form and guided the club to the Champions League semi-final and earned himself a place in Brazil's squad for the World Cup.

An excellent shot-stopper with great positional sense between the sticks, Allison also has a wide range of passing skills making him one of the most complete keepers of the tournament. He will be vital for Brazil and the manager Tite who prefers the Roma player as his number one keeping option.

Allison is Brazil's number 1 and had a good season at club level as well for Tite to select the player without any hesitation. With a number of rumours claiming the player might leave to join former teammate Salah at Liverpool, Roma will have to fend off interest from a number of clubs to keep their man post the World Cup.

Central Defenders

Godin at a presser

Diego Godin

Uruguayan defender Diego Godin has been in sensational form again this season at club level for Atletico Madrid. He guided the club to the Europa League title and will be crucial for his country in the upcoming tournament. One of the best defenders in the world, Godin is an experienced veteran and a goal threat from set pieces.

Drawn with hosts Russia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Uruguay will fancy their chances of topping group A. Godin at the heart of the defence will be vital for Oscar Tabarez who will be positive with his attacking options in the squad.

Lovren in action for Croatia in the international friendly against Brazil

Dejan Lovren

Croatia are one of the dark horses to win the FIFA World Cup, although they have never gotten out of the group stages since their third-place finish in 1998. At the heart of their defence, Dejan Lovren commands the back four that's a mix of youth and experience. A strong defender and good distributor of the ball, Lovren could marshall his country into the next round.

With Iceland, Nigeria and Argentina in Group D, the Croats face a tricky test to advance in what's a difficult group. However, with an experienced squad of players playing in Europe's top clubs, they will like their chances. Liverpool's Lovren will be crucial to their progress in both boxes for Croatia.

Fullbacks

Walker doing media rounds for England

Kyle Walker

An experienced defender, Walker has also provided assists going down the right flank in his preferred right-back position. The player has also improved his positional play and can play on the right side of a three-man central defence making him a versatile option for club and country.

A strong, quick, and smart footballer, Walker will be crucial to England's World Cup run. Drawn with Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group G, England should qualify unless something outrageous transpires in Russia.

Guerrero in action for Portugal

Raphael Guerrero

Portuguese left fullback, Raphael Guerrero impressed greatly in Euro 2016 guiding the nation to their first major international triumph. He earned himself a move to Borussia Dortmund and will be eager to replicate his 2016 Euro form to help Portugal to another good campaign.

With Spain, Morocco and Iran in the group, Portugal will have to be decisive at both ends to avoid a repeat of the 2014 group stage collapse. Guerrero is also an attacking option for the country and is a strong defender who will be an important asset for the side.

Midfielders

Kante is a massive player for France

N'golo Kante

French central midfielder N'golo Kante is a huge player for the Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps. A tirelessly hard-working player, Kante was part of the agonising Euro 2016 final defeat will be eager to have a good tournament again this time around.

A ferociously quick player with great ability to read the game and make interceptions as well as set up play, Kante is vital to the likes of Pogba and Tolisso and Greizmann who play up ahead of him on the field. France is a favourite to progress from their group and go far in the World Cup.

Silva is a key player for Spain

David Silva

Spanish magician, David Silva will be eager to impress on the world stage for his country on the back of an extremely successful league season. In the form of his life and in the prime of his career, Silva is all geared up to put behind the horrors of the 2014 Rio showing and guide Spain to another good run in the competition.

Drawn with Portugal, Iran and Morocco, the Spaniards will face another tricky group this time out and players will need to be focused and prepared for the task at hand. They should progress and Silva will be a vital part of the team's success.

De Bruyne in action for Belgium

Kevin de Bruyne

Belgian playmaker and midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne like his City teammate David Silva, is in the form of his life and prime of his career. With huge responsibility on his shoulders and prior World Cup experience, de Bruyne is primed and set to play his heart out in Russia.

Drawn along with England, Tunisia and Panama, Belgium should make it out of the group with De Bruyne leading the charge. Martinez will rely heavily on the City playmaker as his go-to creative outlet. Belgium will be dark horses to go on to win the competition and will be boosted greatly by his contribution.

Strikers

Lionel Messi

Argentina Training Session at a familiar training facility for Messi

Argentine captain and frontman, Lionel Messi will be carrying the hopes of every Argentinian in Russia at the World Cup. A runner-up from the 2014 edition, Messi will be eager to go one step further and bag the most coveted trophy in football.

With Iceland, Nigeria and Croatia in the Group along with Argentina, Messi and co are favourites to progress and win the tournament. The player will have to get into his groove early on and showcase his class and guide the country and team to the title.

Captain in high spirits as Poland prepare for the World Cup

Robert Lewandowski

Polish captain and talisman, Robert Lewandowski will be primed and ready to go in World Cup. Drawn with Senegal, Japan and Columbia in Group H, Poland will find it difficult to qualify to the next round but if Lewandowski is in form, he will be a hard man to stop.

Playing in his first World Cup, Lewandowski will look to guide Poland into the round of 16 and set the world stage on fire. Capable of producing the goods on big occasions, Lewandowski will cherish the World Cup and display his attacking prowess.

Werner in action for Germany

Timo Werner

Defending world champions Germany will be going to Russia confident of defending their title. Low has selected a strong, young but experienced squad, with a major emphasis on the balance of the squad resulting in some surprise exclusions.

Timo Werner could be a huge threat for Germany as the young striker is a clever inside forward with an eye for goal. The German player has been in good form this season although it has dipped a bit since the start of the campaign.

However, Werner is a goal machine and will be a huge threat to Germany. Werner could cause teams massive problems with his pace, skill and all-round intelligence.

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