Innehållsförteckning för World Cup 2018 från World Soccer

Welcome to our World Cup special edition! I hope it provides you with the information and analysis needed to follow the tournament in Russia. Certainly, there are no shortage of contenders. On paper, the “big three” of Germany, Brazil and Spain look to be ahead of the pack, but there is no shortage of strong contenders from Europe: France, Belgium, Portugal and, yes, even England. The African challenge looks strong this year, with Nigeria and Senegal in particular looking intriguing prospects. From South America, Uruguay and Colombia have developed from four years ago, while Argentina look brilliant but unpredictable. A personal hope for this tournament is to see more attacking football. Sadly the trend from the 2016 European Championship was for greater defensive efficiency. Iceland, far greater than the sum…

After a marathon 22-match qualifying campaign, Australia finally fell over the line as the last qualifiers for Russia, and coach Ange Postecoglou fell on his own sword almost as soon as it was over. His decision to quit left the FFA in limbo, and the patchwork solution of a short-term appointment for the World Cup (Bert Van Marwijk), and then a longer-term option (Graham Arnold), has only further muddied the waters. Arnold was actually unveiled as Van Marwijk’s successor before the Dutchman had taken charge of a game. While this Australian squad has some talent, collectively they are a level below the “golden generation” that reached the round of 16 in 2006. While there was cautious optimism following the draw for the group – with Peru and Denmark both being…

How good are Belgium? I think we are a very good team with the ball, that we can look at every opponent right in the eyes and that they fear us. Defensively, I think we must still be tighter, more compact. That’s the most important thing to work on. But if you look at these last two years, there has been an evolution. What are you most proud of when you think about your team evolving? We used different systems and I love the flexibility of this group. We can play three at the back or four. We could even switch to five too, it depends on the opposition. What I especially like is that, today, Belgium attack as 11 and defends as 11. The system is not essential –…

Qualification from South America is really tough,” gasped James Rodriguez after helping secure Colombia’s first consecutive finals appearance for more than 20 years with a final-day point away against Peru. “To get out of this group you need massive balls.” That this talented Colombia side should have to rely upon a gutsy performance to stumble across the line for Russia is testament to the problems coach Jose Pekerman has battled against since guiding the team to a last-eight finish four years ago. Tricky generational transitions, undulating player form and key stars unable to nail down regular starting spots at their clubs have all contributed to Colombia’s toils. While the potential and quality is clearly present, they still remain a work in progress. “Whenever we’ve a player missing it has hit…

You are in a group with two European teams and Brazil again? Are there echoes in these finals of Italia ’90? Yes, there are some nice parallels. In 1990 we beat Scotland in our first game, lost to Brazil then beat Sweden to finish second in the group. Since 1990 there has been a big development of Costa Rican football and, of course, our closest reference is what we did in Brazil in 2014. Did those events in Genoa 28 years ago against Scotland contribute to that? It was important historically. It was a very important game in the history of Costa Rican football, being the first match we had at the World Cup. Scotland had been to lots of finals and had top players in England but we won…

Denmark have all the ingredients for a good tournament: Schmeichel in goal, Poulsen in attack, strong defenders, a robust team ethic, a world-class talent to inspire them, and, oh yes, France in their group. That was the recipe for the famous fairytale triumph at Euro 92 – and much of it is there on the dish again. Kasper, rather than Peter, is the keeper; Yussuf, rather than Flemming, is the striker; and it’s safe to argue that Christian Eriksen is even more influential than Brian Laudrup a quarter of a century ago. Just like then, Denmark’s passage to the finals came at the last moment. And just like then, nobody gives them a chance of success this time round. But that’s how the Danes like it; they prefer to be…

What are your thoughts on your World Cup group, with Uruguay to start, then the hosts Russia and lastly Saudi Arabia? Uruguay is the best team in the group, although the outcome of the matches are never obvious. I think we will fight for second place to qualify and, if someone thinks otherwise, I will be ready to listen to their arguments in my office. All the games will be difficult, so we have to avoid mistakes. And what are your ambitions at the tournament this summer? To get past the first round because I believe then that anything and everything could happen. Egypt can, and must, win the respect of every opponent we go up against. Egypt have qualified after a long absence and amid much relief, making you…

France head to Russia with the bookies making them the third-best bet to win the competition, just behind joint-favourites Brazil and Germany. And, with the raw talent coach Didier Deschamps has at his disposal, it’s not hard to see why. Since the 49-year-old took over from Laurent Blanc in 2012 following a disappointing European Championship campaign, France have posted an impressive 62 per cent win ratio. Deschamps’ no-nonsense management style may not be to everyone’s taste, but it has helped the former national-team captain and 1998 World Cup-winner create a disciplined squad that not only has a nice balance between youth and experience, but is also imbued with the kind of team spirit that was missing prior to his arrival. France gave notice on home soil two years ago that…

How do you assess the team’s progress since 2014? In qualification we were not pushed to the limit, but the Confederations Cup campaign has given us more strength in depth. What’s obvious is that we have to keep on progressing. We must aim to play better than we did in 2014. We have to be lucky with suspensions and injuries. There’s always likely to be the sort of match we had against Algeria in 2014, when we really had to battle through. We have to hold our nerve and composure in difficult situations. At Euro 2016, we needed too many chances for every goal we scored. Since then we’ve become more efficient in this regard. Is it hard to keep evolving? Our team and the way we play has become…

“Done” was Carlos Queiroz’s reaction to the World Cup draw on his Facebook page. When Brazil legend Cafu picked Iran in the draw at the Kremlin, there were mixed emotions for Iranian fans. While it was an enticing prospect to see their side face the likes of Ronaldo, Isco and David Silva, it was a challenge too, as Spain, Portugal and Morocco make up the toughest group that Iran have even been drawn in. But Queiroz soon rallied everybody to do their best, saying: “It is time to show commitment and support. “The team’s preparation should be delivered on time, with no doubts and no hesitations. This is the only way.” It was the start of seven months of preparation in what is Queiroz’s seventh year in charge. He has…

Tell us about your appointment… Originally, my role as the JFA’s technical director was to support the coach and his staff and that was all I ever thought of doing during the past two years. I felt personal responsibility for this managerial change directly before the World Cup, but have resolved to prepare the team for Russia. I have been out of coaching for these two years and must first make the mental switch back to being a coach again. How will your team be different from what we have seen so far? I think Mr Halilhodzic demanded things that Japanese football has lacked so far. He asked for powerful one-on-ones and direct attacking play. These are things Japan lacks consistently, not only in the national team but in every…

The “Atlas Lions” are a confidence team who need to harness a positive mindset if they are to utilise all their talent This will certainly not be the first tournament in which Morocco will have a squad loaded with talented individuals and capable of exceeding expectation. They are, on paper at least, the best of the five African representatives at the finals, yet the vagaries of the draw have dealt them a horrible hand and a hard psychological blow. Paired with the past two European champions, Portugal and Spain, they have a tough task if they are to advance beyond the first round. But at least there is an opportunity to start the tournament on the right note as they begin in Saint Petersburg against Iran. The “Atlas Lions” are…

You were a surprise choice to lead Nigeria in 2016. Are you surprised about how the mood has changed in two years? The people of Nigeria are passionate about football. They love the game and the Super Eagles mean a lot to them. When we win they celebrate and if we don’t, like against South Africa, we saw the reaction. Losing has not happened very often and they see how the team has progressed. Right now I love our journey together with the fans. The big question in Nigeria is “who will be in goal in Russia”? We’ve been working hard on this position for one year. We were unlucky with Carl Ikeme’s sickness but we will have three good keepers for Russia. The decision on who will start will…

Ricardo Gareca will have to work overtime to ensure his side hit the ground running In early April, fights were breaking out in Peruvian shops over the absence of Panini stickers. The manufacturer had underestimated the demand, not realising the effect on the local population of making it back to the World Cup after 36 years. For a while it seemed that Peru would have to wait four more years. After seven qualifying rounds they were well off the pace and had just four points. Then they had a giant stroke of luck. Bolivia beat them 2-0 in La Paz but were later ruled to have fielded an ineligible player (a late substitute) and the game was awarded 3-0 to Peru. Without those points, and goals, the team would not…

At the age of 19 you played for Poland at the 1978 finals tournament in Argentina. How does it feel to have qualified for another World Cup? I am very happy that we got promotion to the World Cup and that I am coach of this team. We did it thanks to the hard work of not only of the players – the whole staff were involved in the qualifying campaign. Being a part of your national team, at the stadium with white-and-red stands, hearing fans’ support, it is something beautiful. It’s worth living just for such moments. I believe that the World Cup will be very successful and give us more great emotions. You should have ambitious aims and try to realise your dreams. The most important thing is…

There are also injury concerns up front – Alexander Kokorin’s partnership with Fedor Smolov was one of the few things that Russian fans could really count on When the 35-year-old Berezutski brothers finally said goodbye to the national team, the popular phrase in Moscow was that now it is time for the Miranchuk twins to take over. Unfortunately, Alexei and Anton will not be able to replace Vasili and Alexei because attacking midfielders, no matter how good, cannot cover the gap resulting from the biggest-ever deficit of defenders in Russian football. To make things even worse, Viktor Vasin and Georgiy Dzhikiya, who were supposed to cement the Russian defence in the absence of the Berezutskis and their long-time CSKA partner Sergei Ignashevich – who, at 38, also quit the national…

Was being put in charge of a World Cup team with such short notice your most unusual coaching experience? It’s the most different, but my work doesn’t actually change that much. It’s the same as what I usually do with a club or national team. Luckily I have experience at this level and more or less knew the structures needed. Has Saudi Arabia fallen behind some of the other Asian teams? Not having competed in the last two World Cups hasn’t helped; in that time other teams have improved. However, we’ve shown we can compete with Japan, Australia and Iran, and there was little difference between the teams. This gives us reason to be hopeful. What type of players have you worked with so far? They are players with great…

Few understood the decision of Krstajic to name Kolarov as captain and Matic as vice-captain, demoting Branislav Ivanovic In the past, when Serbia (or Serbia & Montenegro and Yugoslavia) qualified for a major tournament, there were big celebrations, euphoria and high expectations. This time it was all very different. After a 1-0 win over Georgia secured a place in Russia, street celebrations in Belgrade and other cities were practically non-existent. Not surprisingly, the Serbian FA cancelled a planned open-top bus parade as it would have been laughable to drive through empty streets. And even now, in the build-up to the finals, expectations from fans and media are rather reserved. But maybe it’s better this way. Nobody mentions quarter-finals, or semi-finals, as was often the case in the past. Getting beyond…

Are you concerned that your best player, Son Heung-min, might be burned out by the time he arrives in Russia? We’re trying to implement the same 4-4-2 formation that Tottenham use. Son gets a lot of chances when playing for Tottenham because they have great players like Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen. I hope Son can perform in the World Cup like he currently does for his club, but I’m concerned that Son’s red-hot form could cool down around the World Cup period. No player can maintain his best form all season long. I’m really worried that Son’s form might go down from May, with his concentration waning and him becoming physically fatigued. What sort of condition will your players be in when they arrive in Russia? The…

About to have their first taste of a World Cup finals since 2006, Sweden ostensibly seem ill-equipped to rub shoulders with the great and the good Despite all the rumours to the contrary, it was hardly earth-shattering news when Swedish federation sporting director Lasse Richt ruled out the possibility of iconic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic coming out of international retirement to lead the line this summer. After booking a ticket for Russia without their erstwhile talisman, the Swedish squad were not particularly keen on the idea. And nor, if truth be told, was coach Janne Andersson. The dynamic in a group is invariably a fragile commodity and bringing back the larger-than-life front man might well have thrown a spanner in the works. About to have their first taste of a World…

Since you took over, Switzerland have risen to sixth place in the FIFA ranking. How did you do that? Thank you for the recognition of our development. The recipe is fairly simple and it is no big secret. We were always focused on the next game and we declared the next opponent as the most difficult. We always kept both feet on the ground and we never wanted to make the second step before making the first. Of course we profited from very good generations of players. We have a good mix of class, experience and talent, and that allows us the aim to be dominant in each game. Have you brought the virtues of passion, improvisation and imaginative play from the former Yugoslavia? You take something from everything into…

Around half the current squad went to Brazil 2014 and almost a third go as far back as the semi-final campaign of South Africa 2010. But for all this apparent continuity, the keynote of Uruguay 2018 is change – a change of players and a change of style, leading to a change in fortunes and a dramatic change in the feeling around the camp. A year ago all was despair. After an excellent start, Uruguay’s World Cup qualification campaign had gone off the rails. In three successive matches the team took the lead only to lose. Rock bottom was reached in friendlies last June when they came to Europe looking to patch up their defence only to lose 3-1 to Republic of Ireland and 3-0 to Italy. At that point,…

It may have been an awful, nervy qualification, with some heavy defeats afterwards, but the warning lights have been flashing for a while. Between 1995 and 2007, Argentina were under-20 world champions five times and produced a quality production line of top talent. But since then their youth teams have been poor, and this has now filtered through to the senior ranks, especially with a lack of renovation in defensive positions. To cover over the cracks they have relied on flashes of individual brilliance, especially from Lionel Messi – and this dependence on the Barcelona star has come to take on absurd proportions. It was, therefore, a happy day in April for coach Jorge Sampaoli when Barca were knocked out of the Champions League. With domestic titles all but wrapped…

Why did you part company with Saudi Arabia after qualification? It was about different visions on how to continue, the preparation for the World Cup and with which staff members. There was so much euphoria after the qualification. Suddenly, a lot of different people popped up. I know from experience how important and how difficult it is to prepare for a World Cup. We had different visions, in particular about the staff we would use. In the end, I said: “If it can’t happen my way, then I won’t do it.” That was actually the only reason. So you don’t feel that you were in any way treated ungraciously by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation? No, I could have signed a three-year deal. I also said that that was a problem…

Two years after their astonishing 2014 collapse, Brazil had made no progress. The bizarre decision to reappoint Dunga had predictably backfired, and after a third of the qualification campaign had been played they were sixth. There were real fears that the five-times champions could miss out on the World Cup finals for the first time. Brazil were perhaps lucky that an extra, centenary version of the Copa America was played in 2016. When they crashed out in the group phase, Dunga was sacked and Tite, who had been so foolishly overlooked in 2014, came to the rescue. With 10 wins and two draws, 30 goals scored and just three conceded, Brazil not only cruised to Russia but they established themselves among the favourites. And this was all done with little…

You qualified with Argentina in 2006 and then Colombia in 2014. How does it feel to be back at the World Cup? To qualify for consecutive World Cups has been a big challenge but we’ve managed it despite needing to renew our squad. Of course there were a few ups and downs along the way because the South American qualifiers are incredibly difficult. But this has only given us more confidence and I think with the quality of players we have we’re going to do well at this World Cup. You made history in 2014 by reaching the quarter-finals. Are people expecting to go even further this time? That’s fine, football is demanding like that and so that’s the way it is. But it’s important our new players who are playing…

They have the luxury of an abundance of brilliance (Modric, Rakitic, Mandzukic, Perisic and Brozovic) and feature players from some of Europe’s biggest clubs (Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Juventus, Internazionale and Monaco). However, as Croatia have shown before, stardust alone does not cover the rent, with a lack of staying power and focus resulting in their first-round elimination from the 2014 World Cup finals, a round-of-16 exit at Euro 2016 and their many difficulties in securing a spot at this summer’s main event. Seemingly intent on making life hard as possible for themselves, the Croats accumulated missteps en route to Russia 2018: merely offering token resistance when beaten 1-0 in Iceland, carelessly dropping two points in a 1-1 home draw with Finland and only scraping a 1-0 victory…

What changes have you made to the team and their style since taking over from Morten Olsen? I want to attack the final third a bit quicker and exploit its space. That is perhaps the slight difference from what Morten had in mind. The players are also positioned a bit differently, but not that much. We play a 4-3-3 system, more or less, but with diverging styles. We play differently against different opposition. At times you favour a 3-5-2 shape. What is your coaching philosophy? It is pragmatic. It’s important that we can use different styles against different opposition. Today all teams analyse you and try to stop you. It is essential that you can change the shape of the team without destroying the philosophy. Playing three or four at…

A quiet revolution has slowly been taking place under Gareth Southgate over the past 18 months. England will travel to Russia with their youngest-ever World Cup squad. The manager, fortunate that expectations have lowered following a disastrous exit to Iceland at Euro 2016, can afford to gamble on youth, safe in the knowledge that his job is safe. Fears that the former under-21 boss would play it safe as a “company man” have proved unfounded. Although he took over in unusual circumstances, succeeding the disgraced Sam Allardyce early in the qualifying campaign, Southgate has quietly showed his mettle. England’s success at under-17s and under-20s has emboldened Southgate to usher in youth. The retirement of Wayne Rooney, the team’s key personality for more than a decade, has helped to lower the…

How much of a blow was it to have Laurent Koscielny ruled out of this World Cup? It was a very big blow because Laurent has a lot of top-level experience in the French team. But above all I’m sad for Laurent because he was really excited about this tournament. It would have been a big moment in his career. I am lucky in that I have had four central defenders – Laurent, Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Varane and Presnel Kimpembe – in my squad for a while now, all of whom can be starters without any worries. It’s true that “Kim” hasn’t had much game time with us, but he’s always been one of my four. And he really wants to play, same as they all do. On the other…

After their adventures at Euro 2016, Iceland’s great run of form continued as, incredibly, they topped their World Cup qualifying group, ahead of Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey. By far the smallest country ever to take part in the World Cup finals, Iceland only has around 340,000 inhabitants – the previous smallest being Trinidad and Tobago, in 2006, which has a population of around 1.3million. The same 11 players started all five matches at the Euros in France, and coach Heimir Hallgrimsson mostly stuck with the same side on the road to Russia. After clinching a place in the finals, Icelanders celebrated wildly and are full of optimism for the summer. The players, full of confidence, also seem to feel that there is a realistic chance of getting to the knockout…

You were born in Nampula, Mozambique. How did that influence your life? Very much. I can define myself as an African white boy, which is a little different from some white people who like to live in Africa. I was lucky to be born in that environment. I watched Portuguese and African players playing and working together – that combination is probably the genetic roots of Brazilian and South American football. What limitations and difficulties do you face in coaching Iran? One of the main problems is that we lack international experience and international exposure. Not many Iranian players have the opportunity to play international football. In the last few years we have been fighting for the opportunity to have more money and investment, international camps and international games. That’s…

As with every World Cup since 1994, Mexico want one thing above everything else: to go past the round of 16. Along with Germany and Brazil, they are the only team to have reached the knockout rounds in each of the last six finals – only to see their dreams crushed every time. After dominating the CONCACAF qualifiers, and with an interesting generation of players with experience in good European leagues, the goal of reaching the last eight seemed to be closer than ever, until the draw put them in a group with Germany, Sweden and South Korea – and then an extremely likely match against Brazil if they make it to their dreaded round of 16. Despite the tough road ahead, El Tri have some things going for them.…

You succeeded Badou Zaki as coach, but what did Moroccan football represent to you before your arrival? I remember the World Cup when Morocco played. I have the chance of having an assistant today who has played two World Cups, Mustapha Hadji, so we have talked a lot since I have arrived in Morocco. I remember Naybet, Bouderbala, Safri, a lot of players – and sorry for the players that I didn’t mention. Afterwards you had Chamakh. For a long time Morocco has had good players, but for 10 years there has been a problem of team spirit. Are you of the opinion that Morocco has underachieved in the past? They have done well, but it is always difficult to talk about the past – you remember the very, very good…

Supporters will just be happy to enjoy the experience and celebrate every goal and every point After narrowly missing out four years ago, Panama finally managed to qualify for the first World Cup in their history. The feat was hugely celebrated in a country in which, only a few years ago, football wasn’t even close to being the most popular sport – which is a testament to a generation that will head to Russia and that has taken the country to unprecedented heights. The qualification path had its fair share of ups and downs and ended up in the most dramatic fashion. To book their ticket, the team needed to defeat archrivals Costa Rica, while at the same time the USA had to lose at already eliminated Trinidad & Tobago.…

Why did you accept the offer from Peru? When the offer came to coach Peru I had doubts. But I liked the challenge, especially because I had some knowledge of Peruvian football. Peru has a style, and a lot of football history. How have you found your time in Peru? We have found a way of playing. We were fortunate that the Copa Centenario gave us the chance to work with the players over a prolonged period of time and get to know them better. What will be your target for Peru at this summer’s World Cup? We are not going to the World Cup to take part – we are going to compete. We can be a competitive team. Peru have to go out to win. For the history that…

Many Portuguese supporters have swiftly reverted to their traditionally pessimistic outlook Amid the euphoric celebrations in the wake of the European championship triumph, Portugal fans began dreaming that something even greater may be afoot. The Selecao had reached the semi-finals or better in four out of the previous eight major tournaments this century, and the historic victory in Paris finally shattered the glass ceiling. No longer could the national team be accused of lacking the mental toughness of winners. The fact that many of their best performers at Euro 2016 were young players nurtured the heady atmosphere surrounding the team. Two years down the line, expectations have been tempered. Raphael Guerreiro, Joao Mario and Andre Gomes have all suffered badly from injury and/or loss of form, while Renato Sanches’ decline…

As coach of the hosts, are you looking forward to the tournament or is the pressure too much? Honestly, I’m completely relishing the experience. Representing my country in a World Cup on home soil is a privilege and a wonderful challenge. According to the polls, Russian fans are not so optimistic about the team’s chances. Are they being realistic or overly pessimistic? That’s the situation for the moment. It’s a consequence of our results of late and the setbacks we’ve had with injuries. We’ve had to rebuild the team and bring in a lot of young players. Our last four games were all against top nations; we wanted to test ourselves. Because we didn’t win any of them, scepticism, inevitably, has grown. It’s something we have to live with. We…

Sadio Mane is the lead actor in the ensemble and adds a whole different dimension to their play with his pace and guile Senegal left an unexpectedly vivid impression on the World Cup the only previous time they participated, beating holders France in the opening game of the 2002 tournament and going on to become only the second African nation to reach the last eight. Some 16 years later they bring the potential of another golden generation – characterised, like the last, by strong individual talents and moulded together by a strong will to succeed. Drawn with Colombia, Japan and Poland they will feel, with good cause, that they have the ability to advance to the knockout phase. The freshness of Sadio Mane after a long season at Liverpool will…

Serbia did not qualify for the last four Euros and participation at the last two World Cup Finals ended with failures. So is it fair to say that qualifying for this World Cup is a fine achievement? Successful qualification for the World Cup is an enormous success; a success that we have to be proud of as a nation. There are times when I’m not quite sure if and to what extent Serbia’s supporters are aware how difficult it is to qualify for the World Cup and what we managed to achieve. It is very easy to forget our position and the positions of Wales, Republic of Ireland and Austria before these qualifications. I expect for us to give our best in Russia and to be dignified in every match.…

“The idea that we are favourites is a press thing”Koke, after the Argentina game In their last big friendly before the summer, Argentina came to the Wanda Metropolitano and were hammered 6-1. A hat-trick from Isco and a goal each from Diego Costa, Thiago Alcantara and Iago Aspas means Spain will head to Russia believing that they can be candidates to win the World Cup once more. Although Lionel Messi may have been absent for the visitors that night, the way the seleccion destroyed the South Americans had everyone getting excited – even if the coach, Julen Lopetegui, sought to reign in the euphoria. “Spain are flying into the World Cup,” one headline said. “The idea that we are favourites is a press thing,” Koke insisted. But that was natural.…

You took charge of the national side after Sweden had been eliminated at Euro 2016 and Zlatan Ibrahimovic retired. What was that like? It was very interesting. For me, the Sweden role is the most interesting job you can have as a coach. I had been a coach in the Swedish top flight for 19 years and got the opportunity after the tournament in France. Seven players retired – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but also six other players – from the national team, so I had to build a new team. It was an interesting and tough start as a coach. And how did you approach the job of rebuilding the team? My assistant and I listed how many players would be able to play for the national team for the next two…

While they cannot have realistic hopes of advancing, that is not to say they are pushovers Tunisia continue to punch above their weight in African football, riding the wave of a quality domestic league, good organisation and a virulent passion for the sport. The country has a population of about 11milion, yet this will be their fifth finals, stretching back to 1978 when they were the first nation from their continent to win a World Cup game. Admittedly Tunisia did have a weak qualifying group this time, with DR Congo their toughest opponent, and might not have made it to Russia had the draw not been as favourable. They have, therefore, reached the apex of their potential, and paired with Belgium and England they cannot have realistic hopes of advancing,…

What do you think of the group draw? I get annoyed when people say we’re in an easy group. I know the ways of the World Cup, and the margin between winning and losing is very small. And there are always surprises. There will certainly be surprises this time. Egypt could be one of them. I’m full of respect for those who supposedly are weaker. They are full of great feats in football. Look at the marvellous example of Iceland. Who do you see as favourites in Russia? The favourites are Brazil, Spain, France, Germany – and Belgium as well. They have players who are around their peak at big clubs. It is correct that this is a team sport, but the main resource that tips the balance is individual…

You are Argentina’s third coach since the World Cup four years ago. Has your work ended up being a race against time? Time is what it is and you just have to adapt to it. I’ve always said that in the last few friendlies we’ve played since qualifying for the World Cup, the result wouldn’t be the be-all and end-all, although a good result would have helped consolidate our idea of play. Precisely because we’ve had so little time to work together we’ve had to dedicate a big part of every friendly to observing different players. What are the roles of Sergio Aguero, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain? In Higuain’s case, there isn’t anything about his game that I don’t already know about. If he can play at the same…

Four years ago, Belgium were tipped as dark horses to win the World Cup in Brazil. In the event, that tournament was way too soon for the so-called “Golden Generation”. Marc Wilmots took the same squad to France for the Euros two years later, but there had been no progress. Now Roberto Martinez has taken over, and under his leadership Belgium qualified for Russia with a record number of goals. Overall the preparation has been perfect, with the one caveat being that they have not yet achieved any decent results against the world’s top teams in official matches. Martinez’s first game was a defeat by Spain, where the difference in quality was apparent from the first minute. The coach did successfully switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation for the qualifiers, but…

What have you changed since succeeding Dunga as coach of Brazil? I have to be honest in my position as coach and say that I have a legacy of Dunga’s work. He started the 4-1-4-1, using Renato Augusto, just as he bet on Alisson as a starter. I also have my merits in the positioning and the use of different pawns, but it is important to make this legacy clear, as I also got a legacy from Luiz Felipe Scolari. The works are not partial, they all merge in the end. How dependent is the team on Neymar? A world-class player enhances the team, makes it stronger. And Neymar is a world-class player. The expectation around Neymar isn’t human. The demands should be on the whole Brazilian team, its players…

After shocking the world four years ago, Costa Rica are hoping for a repeat this time around – but circumstances are different this time. While it’s true that the draw seems kinder, as Switzerland and Serbia in 2018 look less mighty on paper than Italy, England and Uruguay in 2014, the Ticos don’t seem to be arriving in the same form as they did to Brazil. In 2014, a young, hungry generation seemed to be at its cusp, ready to dismiss the critics that wrote them off even before the ball started rolling. Four years later, with the notable exception of Keylor Navas, the team’s big stars come off the back of disappointing seasons in Europe, while the rest of the squad is essentially the same, only four years older.…

Beating Greece made it five out of five. What makes Croatia so strong in play-offs? I don’t think there is any special secret, although it’s a fascinating statistic. I think it shows our quality before everything else, and our determination to reach the World Cup. The national team is so important to every player and to our nation, so everyone is willing to sacrifice in order for Croatia to reach major tournaments. There’s a special atmosphere in Croatia during such tournaments, everybody breathes and lives football and it’s so inspiring for players to be a part of that story. Maybe other teams feel certain pressure - our players are just so motivated. How do you assess your group? Is it the toughest in the World Cup? I said right after…

Egypt are Africa’s most successful footballing country with a myriad of continental titles at both national and club level, but during their recent period of dominance they have managed to repeatedly botch the issue of qualifying for the World Cup. Participation in Russia will be their first finals appearance since 1990, having been the first-ever African finalists, in 1934 in Italy – albeit in those days needing only to beat Palestine to qualify. So, after nervously seeing off the challenge of Ghana and Uganda in a qualifying group in which they looked most unconvincing, the Pharaohs will be taking part in their third World Cup. This generation of Egyptian players may lack the tournament experience of their immediate predecessors, who won three back-to-back African Nations Cup titles, from 2006 to…

What do you think of England’s group? When you’re a second seed you are expecting a game against a team ranked above you and performing well, and then two teams that you are expected to beat and will pose different problems. One of the keys has been getting up to speed on Tunisia and Panama. We didn’t know as much about them as we do about Belgium. They will arrive with high excitement and lower expectations, which of course makes them dangerous. Can you dare to dream? I think it depends what your dream is. But I think we know where we are – we’re a team ranked 13th in the world. We’re a team that we know is developing but we’re not at the stage that Brazil and Germany…

Never a group of footballers to be plagued by the slightest shred of self-doubt, Germany will only have one thought in mind this summer: a successful defence of their world crown. It’s a daunting task – no country has claimed back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 – but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Joachim Low’s men. Some 42 per cent of professional players in the Bundesliga told pollsters early this year that they expected the Nationalmannschaft to claim a fifth global title and their reasoning is not hard to follow. In Low they have one of the most experienced and shrewd national coaches on the planet; the squad is awash with world-class talent; the team plays with the understanding of a club side; and when…

What is the main difference between you and your former co-coach, Lars Lagerback? It is probably down to experience. I am probably more adventurous. I like to try new things, but I learned a lot. He has a very clear philosophy of how he wants to do things, how he wants his team to play. I like to change things between games to surprise opponents. Much comes down to experience. It is also down to age. When you are younger you hear and read a lot of things about how everybody else is doing it. You like to test if it works for you. When you have all his experience you don’t need to test. You have done it for 30 years, you know what is working. How would you…

Japan will arrive at the finals with a new coach who has only had three games to settle on a team and system after Bosnian boss Vahid Halilhodzic was fired at the start of April, following disappointing performances in friendlies against Mali and Ukraine. JFA president Kozo Tashima cited poor communication with the players in announcing the decision and spoke of having moved to improve Japan’s chances at the World Cup “even if by only one or two per cent”. Halilhodzic’s replacement is JFA technical director Akira Nishino, the former Olympic coach who won the Asian Champions League with Gamba Osaka and who was the man at the JFA responsible for co-ordinating with Halilhodzic on team matters. Nishino has all of the inside knowledge but precious little time to make…

Was qualification easy? From inside it doesn’t look like that. The CONCACAF section is very difficult for sporting and other reasons. Playing in Central America is complicated and Mexico knew how to do it not only at home, but against visitors where many circumstances and obstacles were against us. For many in Europe, that’s almost unimaginable. Your dream was to be in a World Cup. Will you enjoy it, despite the pressure? I will be more anxious and busy implementing how to execute the plan, but I will be happy to fulfill a professional goal and proud to represent a great country like Mexico. I will be excited and hopeful that we can not only play a great first game, but also a great World Cup. When you first saw…

Most of Nigeria’s previous attempts at World Cup glory have been sabotaged by their own intrigue and ineptitude, but it is a much-changed situation these days Being paired with Argentina in the opening round for a fifth time in their six World Cup finals appearances is somewhat exasperating for Nigeria, but their real concern is the challenge they will face in trying to get past Croatia and Iceland in what should be a tightly contested group. It is a tough draw, but one which finds the Africans brimming with confidence. That stems from the way in which they qualified out of an extremely tough group that included Algeria and African Nations Cup-winners Cameroon, plus their ability to more than hold their own against topquality opposition. In November, against an admittedly…

Why have Panama not qualified before? Panama were very close to qualifying for the Brazil World Cup after being minutes away from achieving a spot in the intercontinental play-off. For Russia 2018 we were able to go that bit further because we made up for it this time by being slightly more mature and we were able to forge a family between players, coaching staff and even federation directors. What have you learned from your previous World Cups with Colombia and Ecuador? In every country where I have been, I’ve learnt a lot. I’ve managed to combine my knowledge of football with the understanding of the idiosyncrasies of each country, of each town, and of their people. Having been at four previous World Cups – three with Colombia and one…

Poland will be one of the oldest teams in Russia…will they be fit enough to compete in three group games and further rounds if needed? Although being placed alongside Denmark and Romania meant Poland did not have the toughest of qualifying routes, they still topped their group, while reaching a best-ever fifth place in FIFA’s ranking last August. Amid the euphoria of qualification, fans and media began dreaming of “doing something more that two years earlier”, when the team reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. However, as the months have passed, a realistic expectation has developed – especially after the finals draw last December in which Poland were put in a group with Senegal, Colombia and Japan. Now, only a few still believe that this team will be strong contenders…

Of all your players, is Cristiano Ronaldo the only one confirmed for Russia? Yes. But we have more than 90 per cent of certainty. Rui Patricio, for example; he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Do you feel gratitude to all the players who won Euro 2016, including Eder? Gratitude, yes, but I’m not in debt to them. I will not call anyone for the World Cup just for sentimental reasons, including Eder. Will you continue to play as they did in France: first, to win, then to do it nicely? We always play nice football. Whoever doesn’t play nice, loses. But sometimes playing nice is not playing beautiful. Can Portugal win the World Cup? At Euro 2016 there was no Brazil, Argentina, Colombia or Uruguay. Let’s be…

Nobody disagrees that Saudi players need to play overseas in greater numbers but there have been plenty of questions about the timing Bert Van Marwijk had barely come back down to earth after being thrown in the air by Saudi Arabia players before he was on his way back to Holland. The Dutchman had led the Green Falcons to a first World Cup since 2006 but could not agree on a new contract. His replacement, Edgardo Bauza, only lasted until November, and so now Juan Antonio Pizzi is in charge. It has not exactly been a traditional preparation period for a World Cup, then. And it became even trickier as three of the team’s best players headed to Spain in January as part of a deal between La Liga and…

How would you describe your philosophy as a coach? You have to master good defending in order to attack better. It’s a proper talent; a desire, to preserve the balance of the team. I like to have ball possession but I also value the defensive aspect. A result is manufactured through players that are capable of managing defensive situations properly. They often remain in the shadows of the cameras but their work is of primary importance. Ball possession only has meaning when it creates the desired dis-equilibrium in the opponent. I do not look for sterile ball possession. I like the game to progress, to cause doubt among the opponent, to attack and to score goals. So, my philosophy is an alchemy between all these requirements. Which coaches inspire you?…

There are options going forward – the major question now is how to get the best out of Son Heung-min For South Korea, the objective at any World Cup finals is to reach the second round. Do that and the tournament will be viewed as a success. However, while that has happened twice in the last four finals, Brazil 2014 weighs heavy on the nation’s conscience as a relatively straightforward draw brought just one point in three games against Russia, Algeria and Belgium. Being drawn with Germany, Mexico and Sweden this time around at least takes the pressure off. Nobody expects South Korea to gain a place in the top two, so most supporters will be happy with an improved performance. And this is especially true after a dismal qualification…

What feelings do you have before your first World Cup as a coach? The first is the satisfaction of being among the 32. You have to value that, especially when taking into account the difficulties that some great teams have had in qualification, and that great powers such as Italy and Holland have been knocked out. The 6-1 win over Argentina has earned yet more praise for this Spain team… What happened in Madrid has nothing to do with what will happen at the World Cup. Of course we were happy, but we are aware that it was a friendly, nothing more. What does your gut instinct tell you? Nothing, because it doesn’t guarantee anything. If it worked, we would go out in each game to win 1-0, but the…

The Swiss are worryingly short of practice against top-level opposition The Swiss squad heading to Russia looks to be one of the strongest they have ever managed to assemble. An outstanding generation of players – many of them from families who arrived from the Balkans in the 1990s – are now in their mid-20s and what should be the peak of their careers. The team reached a best-ever sixth place in the FIFA rankings in March, the result of a qualifying campaign which saw them win nine out of 10 games despite losing top spot to Portugal. But there are still question marks over the side as they head to a fourth successive World Cup. Firstly, the Swiss are worryingly short of practice against top-level opposition as only the two…

Is discipline a key for your team? Not only for my team, but for everyone. It is very important for every competitive team. We have players who come from everywhere, so discipline and rules apply. You want to have a manner of behaviour. My players are very good. We don’t have technical problems, the most important thing is to create an ambience and homogeneity among the players. What is your coaching philosophy? Let’s say that our team tries to impose its game and style. During the World Cup qualifiers we played 4-3-3 and at times we changed to 4-2-3-1. Our normal concept is 4-3-3, with players like Naim Sliti on the wings. You ask me for my philosophy, but I haven’t decided yet when it comes to the World Cup.…