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The 2018 World Cup in Russia is just knocking at the door and the best 32 countries will battle it out for the ultimate glory of being the World Champions. Some of the best players in the world will lead their sides in the quest to become the champions of the world.
Here, we take a look at the Captains XI, a strong and formidable lineup on paper.
Hugo Lloris (France)
Lloris is undoubtedly one of the finest goalkeepers in the world. Over the years, he has been exceptional for France and Tottenham Hotspur, both as a reliable keeper and as a prominent leader.
France has arguably the most talented and stylish team for the tournament. Even their reserve squad could pull off an upset against the top teams and nothing less than the title would be acceptable from the Les Blues.
Lloris needs to be extremely vocal and influential to turn his superstar outfit into a well-oiled machine. Goalless draws against Belarus and Luxembourg in the qualifiers indicate that they are not unbeatable. They need to have the winning mentality to go all the way, and the captaincy of Lloris will be highly crucial for the 1998 World Cup Champions.
Sergio Ramos (Spain), Diego Godín (Uruguay), Medhi Benatia (Morocco), Aleksandar Kolarov (Serbia)
Sergio Ramos should be the obvious choice for being the Captain of the Captains XI. He may not be the nicest guy around and may have often been criticised a lot for his red cards, but when it comes to those crucial matches, he is the most dependable player for his side.
The Real Madrid talisman is very experienced, and Spain will rely on him to step up and guide them past the finish line. A formidable centre-back for both the club and the country, Ramos will be the enforcer in this lineup.
Uruguay have a great leader in Diego Godin, and the La Celeste will look to replicate their early days on the grandest stage. They have a world class player in all the departments and the presence of Godin, who is a leader of men and a winner, will be crucial for them to mount a serious threat against the top teams.
Godin is probably his side's most important player along with Suarez and has made 116 appearances so far. He is a complete centre-back - one who plays like a fighter and leads from the front.
Kolarov and Benatia are two proven defenders and should lead their side to perform to their fullest. Both Serbia and Morocco have immense potential, and for them to go deep in the tournament, their more experienced will have to step up.
Kolarov will play in his preferred left-back position, while Benatia, a proven centre-back, needs to make way for Ramos and Godin and operate as a right-back in this lineup.
Luka Modric (Croatia) and John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)
This duo may not be the best possible combination, but they can surely boast of a vast amount of experience, which could turn out to be the most decisive factor in making it big at the grandest stage.
Luka Modric will be at the heartbeat of Croatia's midfield alongside Ivan Rakitic. The former has so often played the role of controlling the tempo of the game for Real Madrid and considering the players Croatia have at their disposal, if Modric plays well, the whole attack could tick.
Obi Mikel, the former Chelsea star, has been around for quite some time. He may not be among the top midfielders in the world right now, but he has the know-how that could benefit Nigeria to spring a surprise or two. The 30-year-old Tianjin Teda star prefers to play as a defensive midfielder and he has figured prominently in Nigeria’s qualifying campaign, playing a crucial role as their captain, leading them from the front.
Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Eden Hazard (Belgium)
This trio have the capability to tear apart any defence in the world. Even if the most defensive of coaches parks an aeroplane in front of the goal, these three have the firepower to find the back of the net.
Lionel Messi is arguably the most gifted footballer that the world has ever seen. He has achieved everything in his career, except, an international trophy. The Argentinian lineup has always been a formidable force on paper, but the reality is the exact opposite. Often we see them becoming a one-man army and the players like Higuain, Dybala, and Aguero have always disappointed.
Argentina need to win this for Messi. He needs to be more influential and should have a greater impact on his teammates. Messi will be making the runs through the right wing in this lineup.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a physical phenomenon. He is an epitome of pure dedication and hard work, and he is in sublime form this season. Having netted 15 times for Real Madrid in the Champions League alone, the World Cup is the only title that stands between him and immortality.
Ronaldo captained his team to an infamous Euro 2016 victory where they toppled the favourites France in the final. Unlike Argentina, Portugal has lesser firepower but has the mentality to crush any team's hopes.
Eden Hazard is a class act altogether. He is arguably one of the best midfielders in the world. He has been so impressive for Chelsea, and his influential runs will be the key to Belgium's success in this edition. They have been associated with the dark horse tag most of the times recently.
Belgium have a well-balanced squad and will leave no stones unturned in their quest to become the best. Having so many world class players, Hazard's ability to influence each of them will be extremely crucial. He needs to bring his A-game to the pitch to bolster his side's chances in Russia.
Harry Kane (England)
Harry Kane will be the striker for the Captains XI. Gareth Southgate chose Harry Kane to sport the captain's armband for Russia 2018, and the Three Lions would be desperate to end their miserable run at the grandest stage. Having a young but formidable side, Gareth Southgate's squad has some of the best playmakers in the world right now.
Kane needs to repay the trust that has been placed on his shoulders. The honour of captaincy could impact Kane’s game massively and bring out the best in him. His inexperience could also lead to problems, but he will be the driving force for England's success in Russia.
The likes of Gary Cahill and Jordan Henderson should support Kane in motivating the squad. Could this be the year for England? Only time will tell.
