Innehållsförteckning för June 2018 från Australian FourFourTwo

1 “HELLO... IS IT NON-LEAGUE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?” USA Las Vegas If there’s one thing that Lionel Richie is known for, it’s his willingness to throw his weight behind clubs threatened by relegation from the Football League. Hartlepool, Aldershot, Kidderminster Harriers: Lionel has supported them all (probably). This season he posed with a Chesterfield top to support the ailing Spireites, ahead of a summer concert. “Good luck to Chesterfield for the rest of the season!” he said, in a quote that definitely wasn’t made up on his behalf. “Looking forward to performing at the legendary Proact Stadium in June.” Legendary indeed... 2 WHAT A PAIR OF CLOWNS England Accrington Strange times at Accrington Stanley, where two Ronald McDonalds turned up at the Wham Stadium after an odd dispute between the…

STRENGTHS CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN Club: Tottenham Hotspur Age: 26 Position: Attacking midfielder Tottenham Hotspur midfield maestro Christian Eriksen is one of the best players in the Premier League. Since moving from Ajax to London in 2013/14, the elegant Dane’s consistent form in Tottenham’s midfield has led to important goals and numerous assists that has inspired Spurs to be a regular top four EPL team. Armed with outstanding technique and an array of skills, the 26-year-old’s passing range is one of his biggest weapons. From short one touch passes, long floaters over the defence, whipped in crosses to killer through balls. Eriksen can also shoot like a boss. He can score from long range, acute angles and inside the penalty area. But his ability to arrive into the box and finish off…

THE DETAILS The former Real Madrid flop’s been a hit in Iran since taking over in 2011 Age 65 Birthplace Mozambique Current position Iran head coach Formation 4-3-3 Playing style Counter-attack Teams managed 9 World Cup qualifications South Africa (2002) Portugal (2010) Iran (2014, 2018) Biggest achievement Leading Iran to two World Cups in a row Lowest moment Sacked by Real Madrid in 2004 after finishing 4th in La Liga Carlos, you’ve been both a first-team coach and assistant manager. What is the difference between the roles? I’d say the main difference between the two is responsibility. The manager is the leader and the one who’s entrusted with making good decisions regarding every single aspect of the team. In both roles, you must not ignore your principles and always remain…

Ray Wilkins The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Milan midfielder passed away in April after a heart attack. Rest in peace, Butch. Riley McGree The young Newcastle Jet scored a Scorpion Kick in the semifinal that went round the world within seconds Cristiano Ronaldo CR7 scored a bicycle kick against Juventus in the first leg of Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final, before firing home a 97th-minute penalty in the return fixture. Gianluigi Buffon The Juve legend saw red in what was likely his final Champions League outing, after raging at the referee over the contentious spot-kick in Madrid. Sean Morrison Cardiff’s captain was videoed mocking the manhood of Derby’s Jason Shackell in an extraordinary tirade. Alan Pardew The 56-year-old was booted out of West Brom after winning only three of…

LIONEL MESSI Argentina Many neutrals are hoping this will be Messi’s World Cup and it couldn’t be set up any better for him, given his form and Argentina’s strategy. A Golden Boot would sit nicely next to his 2014 Golden Ball, though his face upon winning that suggested he’d rather lift the big one. CRISTIANO RONALDO Portugal CR7 has looked exhausted in the last two major international tournaments but he’s in much better nick now, and peaking in the second half of the campaign again. He has his best foil for Portugal yet in strike partner Andre Silva of Milan. NEYMAR Brazil His foot injury was a massive blow for PSG but may work out nicely for the Selecao, forcing their star to rest and focus on the World Cup.…

How are Russia looking right now? We played Argentina, Spain and Brazil recently, and those games showed we still have to improve, but we’re on the right path. We have got better since Euro 2016. What does it mean for Russia to play this World Cup on home soil? To play at a World Cup at home is something special – it’s an honour and a huge responsibility. We want to make our country’s fans happy. You were born in Ukraine and won two caps for Germany – why did you switch to represent Russia? I was really happy when Russia called me up, and since I wasn’t selected for Germany at the time, there wasn’t a conflict. My dad’s family is German and my mum’s family is Russian. They…

Egypt have had at least three golden generations over the previous three decades, but have somehow failed to qualify for the World Cup since 1990. Now this crop – seen as less talented than their forebears – have somehow managed to pull it off to reach Russia. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Try to spread the burden – this side are hugely dependent on Mohamed Salah for their inspiration. Egypt are not quite a one-man team, but other areas need to contribute, especially if the Liverpool goal machine gets injured this summer. STRENGTHS Egypt are defensively organised and do not lack attacking talent. Qualifying also showed them to be mentally strong and surprisingly calm during their difficult moments. It was a much-needed trait in a group that contained Ghana and a confident…

What is Uruguay’s aim this year? In 2010 we reached the semis and Uruguay have won the World Cup twice, so we have tradition and the capability to go all the way. But the first goal is to get out of the group. You have 96 caps. Would a World Cup make No.100 extra special? I’m so proud to be near 100 caps. Playing for La Celeste is pure love. We often travel 15,000km to play matches, and go full of happiness. Luis Suarez: Uruguay’s best ever? He’s definitely one of our best ever players. He’s also the best No.9 in the world, and a leader. He talks in the dressing room a lot and always gives everything – it’s so inspiring. And his World Cup controversies...? In 2010, anybody…

The Atlas Lions return to the World Cup for the first time since France 98 with a compact outfit, an ambitious manager and a nation giving its full backing. Now they just have to finish above Spain or Portugal in Group B. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Morocco enjoyed the benefits of a solid defence and united dressing room. The side didn’t concede in six qualifiers, all against tough opposition (Ivory Coast, Mali and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Gabon), and their togetherness is felt across an increasingly giddy country. STRENGTHS Herve Renard, Morocco’s nomadic French boss, has forged a mentally tough team. They’re well-balanced with a strong spine: Munir in goal and Medhi Benatia organising the back four, with Mbark Boussoufa pulling the strings in midfield and Ajax’s impressive Hakim…

This will be your second finals – how will it compare to 2014? The 2014 World Cup was a brilliant experience just to be in Brazil and share the stage with great players. It happened really quickly for me back then, when I was only 20. It will be different this time around, as I was a substitute in 2014 but will probably start in Russia, so I’ll be looking to use my experience. What are your expectations for Iran going into this World Cup? Group B is definitely the toughest. Everyone is talking about Portugal and Spain, but Morocco are also one of the hardest opponents we could have got in the draw [from Pot 4]. On the other hand, we have nothing to lose. After we qualified, expectations…

For the first time in 36 years, Peru have emerged from the fiendishly difficult South American qualifying group and reached the World Cup. With a blend of decent young talent and solid veterans, Los Incas now want to go one better and emulate Chile’s impressive showing in 2014. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Peru have got to score earlier – before half-time, at least – and then shut out matches when they’re on top. Ricardo Gareca’s men struggled in qualifying when they went behind, so being clinical will be key, as will Pedro Gallese’s performances in goal. STRENGTHS Paolo Guerrero is an attacking asset with Jefferson Farfan and Edison Flores helping to get the best out of him. Sao Paulo schemer Christian Cueva will play some incisive passes. Also, Peru’s last defeat…

You only made your international debut in May 2016, so where did you watch the 2014 World Cup? I was watching it from hospital in Basel after I had surgery on my Achilles. I was in hospital for a week watching the World Cup, then I watched the next month from bed at my grandma’s home in Serbia. You’ve come a long way in a short time, how exciting would it be to play at the World Cup? It’s very exciting. It’s something every footballer dreams about. I’m not going there just to participate, I’m going to play and to achieve the best we can as a country. The first step is to get out of the group and see where the road takes us. How far can Australia go?…

When they failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016, this generation was seen as anything but Danish Dynamite, but now fans are bouncing once again. Hopes are high following a favourable draw, and in Christian Eriksen, the Scandinavians have a genuinely world-class player. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Never give up. They lost two qualifiers in October 2016, but displayed fighting spirit to recover before producing two stellar results the following autumn. A 4-0 shellacking of leaders Poland and 5-1 play-off victory in Dublin showed the players are growing in confidence. STRENGTHS The dressing-room atmosphere is magnificent under manager Aage Hareide, and while teamwork has been key, it’s obvious that Eriksen can decide any game on his own – and that feeling is a major bonus. WEAKNESSES Hareide…

What’s the main objective for Argentina at this World Cup? For the squad we’ve got and the players we have, Argentina have the ability to achieve something great at the World Cup. In 2014, you were a goal away from lifting the trophy. What’s the key to going one better this time around? Winning the World Cup is a score all us Argentines have to settle. In Russia, it will be up to destiny to decide what will happen. Four years ago in Brazil we got to the final and were nearly the world champions, but it wasn’t to be. What we’ve got to realise is that if we reach the final again, it’ll be because we deserve it. For years, all the talk has been of how Lionel Messi…

The 2018 World Cup is the last shot at something big for this talented Croatian generation. However, the players’ troubled relationship with the fans, who resent them for not speaking up against what they see as a corrupt federation, means that support at home is quickly fading. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Shock tactics can produce immediate results, but not a permanent solution. For the third qualifying campaign in a row, Croatia changed manager ahead of a decisive game. Zlatko Dalic was given three days to acquaint himself with the players before having to beat Ukraine in order to secure a play-off place. Which, to be fair, he did. STRENGTHS They’ve been together for a long time. When properly motivated, Croatia can achieve on autopilot. WEAKNESSES There is a lack of balance,…

Nigeria qualified for Russia 2018 on your debut. How did that feel? To play for Nigeria for the first time was something that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. The match was a bit tense, but I came on and did a decent job, so it turned out well. Does representing Nigeria mean a lot to you? You’re London-born... Definitely. I was born and raised in Southwark but representing Nigeria is such a great thing for my family and close friends, who are Nigerian. Everyone’s happy for me. Having been loaned from Chelsea to Hull, you’ll be heading straight from the Football League to the World Cup. Will that be difficult? It will be, but I think it’s something I can handle – football is football. How keen…

After beating a Ronaldo-less Portugal to kick off their campaign, the Swiss didn’t drop a point until their group’s final game, where defeat in Lisbon – having failed to rack up goals against Andorra et al – dropped them into the play-offs. There, a phantom handball and their usual solid defence helped them to sneak past Northern Ireland. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING You make your own luck. Although the manner of defeat was deeply unfair on Northern Ireland, Switzerland arguably deserved to qualify for taking 27 points from 30 on offer, only to finish second. This squad is potentially stronger than at Euro 2016, with youngsters such as Breel Embolo, Manuel Akanji and Denis Zakaria (above) pushing for game time. STRENGTHS Their full-backs, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Ricardo Rodriguez, are tireless workers…

This is your second World Cup – is it more exciting than your first? This will be a special World Cup for me. I played in Russia for four years with Kuban Krasnodar. Russia was the first country I played in outside of Costa Rica and it helped to open many doors as a professional. Also, at my first World Cup I wasn’t able to break into the starting XI. That’s always been a huge dream of mine and I can’t wait for that first match against Serbia. Hopefully I can take advantage if I get the opportunity. In 2014, Costa Rica reached the quarter-finals. How did that feel? It was a truly special feeling, and unforgettable for all of Costa Rica. To score a goal against Uruguay in our…

GERMANY HAVE MORE THAN 50 PLAYERS WHO’D FEEL WORTHY OF A SQUAD PLACE No team has won consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, but Germany will be the favourites in Russia. They were the only UEFA side to qualify with a perfect record and seven of their 10 wins were by three or more goals, but even that doesn’t do justice to their dominance. Equally significant during this period was how the reigning world champions performed at the Confederations Cup, which they won with panache and with a group lacking all but one of its Bayern Munich players. And as if Joachim Löw didn’t have enough choice, Germany were then victorious at the European Under-21 Championship to showcase the depth of talent available. It’s no exaggeration to…

Mexico have reached the Last 16 at each of the past six World Cups. Would you take that again? No way! Why would I? Our first aim is to get out of a difficult group, but if we can do that, then we will give everything to finish our nightmare with the round of 16. There is big pressure in Mexico, but we believe we can go further. In 2014 you lost to Holland after Arjen Robben went down to win a controversial late penalty. Are Mexicans still angry? If you mention the World Cup, the first thing that comes to our mind is that penalty decision. We’re still not happy about it. I hope we can have better luck in Russia. At the last World Cup, a doctored picture…

Although qualification was a painful process – as 15 points from 10 games proved just enough to sneak South Korea over the line ahead of Syria, Uzbekistan and China – a change of coach last July lifted spirits a little, as did a friendly beating of Colombia in November. It was their second win of 2017. South Korea have lost their way in recent years, and there isn’t much time for them to find form now. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING You can’t just play at home. A lack of imagination in possession, combined with a dodgy defence, meant that in the final round the Taegeuk Warriors picked up two points from five games on the road. Their only goals in those outings came in a 3-2 defeat by Qatar. STRENGTHS They’re…

How different is this Belgium team from the side who lost to Wales at Euro 2016? We’ve definitely made a lot of progress, both as a team and individually. The side has been together for quite a few years now, but all of us have taken huge steps forward since the World Cup in Brazil, our first big tournament. The painful Euros exit to Wales made us realise that the undeniable wealth of talent in the squad does not suffice to win trophies – but we’ve made progress. Look at how much Kevin De Bruyne’s improved at Manchester City. He was one of our best players already – now he’s the best player in the Premier League. Belgium are rated as possible winners. Do you agree? It would be daft…

After crushing disappointments in failing to qualify twice running – they were 10 minutes away in 2010 and lost a play-off for 2014 – the small North African nation finally have another chance to punch above their weight. First target: win a World Cup match for the first time in 40 years. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Fly under the radar. DR Congo’s status as the group favourites helped Tunisia when they faced off twice in five days. STRENGTHS There’s a maturity about this Tunisia team – more directness, fewer flicks and tricks. Their results over the past 12 months have been encouraging. WEAKNESSES Forward Youssef Msakni is their top scorer, most capped outfield player and star talent, so losing him to a knee ligament injury is a colossal blow. Elsewhere, an…

Are you looking forward to the possibility of your first World Cup this summer? I can’t wait. First I have to play well because the squad hasn’t been announced yet, but if I go it’ll be an incredible experience. I’m sure my experience at youth level will stand me in good stead. Did you expect to potentially reach a World Cup at only 24? I’ve played for England at every age group from the under-16s up, so playing for the senior side has been a continuation of that. I joined Sunderland aged seven, and for me the biggest thing would be the pride at years of hard work paying off. My family have always given me the best possible opportunity to become a top goalkeeper, and it would be really…

This will be your second World Cup. What does it mean to you? It means everything to me. The most important thing for a player is to represent his country at the World Cup, and now we have got our second opportunity to do that. We have to make the most of it. What are Colombia’s strengths? We have a great team and we are united. The strength of our group is friendship, on and off the pitch. Jose Pekerman has led Colombia since January 2012 – what’s he like as a manager? We have a very good relationship with El Profe, as he always thinks about the group. He’s doing very good things for our country and we’re so thankful to him for that. Colombia got to the last…

...we can do it again. Flashback to Germany 2006 and the odds were stacked against Australia. Our first World Cup in 32 years and an (undeserved) reputation for agricultural football. For 84 minutes of our first game against Japan, it looked like the critics would be proved right. Then up stepped Cahill and Aloisi and bang! We won 3-1 in the dying moments. A 2-0 loss to Brazil followed but then it came down to the game against Croatia. Once more, with 11 minutes left on the clock, we needed a goal... and Kewell was there. Australia were through to the last 16...…

CLUB ROMA POSITION WINGER VALUE $46m FOOT L HEIGHT 1.73m NATION TUR AGE 20 y WOULD YOU BUY THIS? LA GALAXY INJURY BUGGY If there is one dream we all share, it’s that one day we’ll suffer a minor knock for LA Galaxy and get to ride on the injury buggy. That experience can now be yours without the effort of becoming a pro footballer or signing for the Galaxy. Instead, buy a miniature buggy, complete with driver offering a Dele Alli-style wave. It has been reduced to $18.99 but you’d better be quick – there are eight left! LONG WAY FOR A 0-0 Hull City midfielder Jackson Irvine is expected to make his World Cup finals debut for Australia on June 16 – and a relative is making an…

STRENGTHS JEFFERSON FARFAN Club: Lokomotiv Moscow Age: 33 Position: Winger After being injured at the start of the season, Jefferson Farfan has found a second wind for both club and country. Farfan currently plays in Russia with Lokomotiv Moscow and found his scoring touch with eight goals in 16 league games including four goals in nine Europa League matches. His 16-year club career incudes an incredible 438 games and 138 goals scored. Farfan’s greatest success was with PSV Eindhoven where he won four Eredivisie titles under the Socceroos boss Guus Hiddink. He then spent seven seasons in the Bundesliga with Schalke 04 and lifted the German Cup. During the tough South American qualifying that is CONMBEBOL, he scored a double against Chile and an important winner against Paraguay with the…

MARK BOSNICH ‘During his period at Aston Villa, Bozza was going as good as any goalie in the world. He and Peter Schmeichel were the two keepers I admired and respected as a young goalkeeper watching the EPL. He was a champion on and off the field.’ TROY HALPIN ‘Alongside Viduka, Troy is one of my all-time favourite Australian players. His vision and technical ability were on another level to pretty much everyone else in the NSL days, to be honest.’ MARK VIDUKA ‘For me, he is the greatest Australian footballer we’ve seen. I’ve played with and against him and he was the complete package as a central striker.’ THE GAFFER VITEZSLAV LAVICKA ‘It was a tough conversation when I was told I wouldn’t be re-signed by Sydney but I…

AT 168CM, TORREIRA IS ALL ABOUT CREATING FROM DEEP – BUT, BEING URUGUAYAN, HE CAN STILL HANDLE HIMSELF 1 SERGEJ MILINKOVIC-SAVIC Serbia Lazio’s 23-year-old midfielder has it all: strength, dribbling ability and, increasingly, goals. The erstwhile Serbia manager Slavoljub Muslin wasn’t convinced, but replacement Mladen Krstajic was quick to bring Milinkovic-Savic back into the fold following World Cup qualification. In a solid Serbia outfit that’s hardly flair-heavy, the talented midfielder should bring a bit of imagination and dynamism to his nation’s efforts in Russia. “He has the touch of a Brazilian, and some of the things he does remind me of Zinedine Zidane,” former Serbia star Mateja Kezman has said. 2 LEANDER DENDONCKER Belgium If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again. That’ll be Dendoncker’s philosophy after…

BALABOL CHATTERBOX A balabol in Russian folklore is a person who talks too much. The word might be used by a fan to complain about a garrulous commentator or a manager who is too fond of the sound of his own voice. BOMBARDIR-TARAN BATTERING RAM STRIKER This is a term for a big, unwieldy centre-forward – the kind of player whose stock-in-trade is flick-ons, lay-offs and crashing back-post headers [See: left]. DEREVO TREE A technically inadequate player, typically one who’s tall and doesn’t move around much, is imagined in Russian to have literally taken root [See: left]. DOGOVORNYAK AGREED MATCH It describes the practice, long believed to be endemic in Russian football, whereby a team agree to throw a match and are then ‘rewarded’ with a victory over the same…

Saudi Arabia qualified in September, but any excitement was tempered by two coaching changes being made before the end of November. Bert van Marwijk’s departure ushered in Edgardo Bauza, before he was quickly sacked and replaced by Juan Antonio Pizzi. Then, on January 21, nine Saudi players joined seven Spanish teams on loan, which has resulted in zero appearances to date. After all that, no one really knows what to expect. LESSONS FROM QUALIFYING As the lowest-ranked team to qualify, they’ve learned you can go a long way on organisation and taking maximum points against Asia’s weakest outfits. STRENGTHS With no pressure on them to attack, the Saudis are usually content to sit back against stronger teams and rely on talented widemen to make things happen. As a team they…

Egypt will be playing at a World Cup for the first time since 1990. What does it mean to you? To qualify with my country means a lot. I’m really proud to have been part of the squad that took Egypt to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. Now I’m hoping that we can take things a step further. What are Egypt’s strengths? Our biggest asset is our discipline. We also have many players who play in foreign leagues, and they provide some valuable experience. How crucial is Mo Salah? Mo is a fantastic player and a great guy – he’s scored so many goals in the Premier League. He’s having a great season and I hope he will carry his form into the World Cup.…

PORTUGAL HAVE THE SAME STRATEGY AS BEFORE: HOPE THAT RONALDO PRODUCES Portugal, the sixth-favourites behind England before the tournament got going, stunned everyone by winning Euro 2016. Cristiano Ronaldo aside, the team wasn’t full of Europe’s best individual talents, nor was it one of Portugal’s finest squads of the past 20 years. But they had the grit to get the job done, despite winning one match in 90 minutes – three fewer than Wales, the one team Portugal did conquer in normal time, and four fewer than finalists France. Fernando Santos has made his side ruthlessly hard to beat. Under his reign, they’ve lost just once in 29 competitive games, if you discount a shootout loss to Chile in the semi-finals of last year’s Confederations Cup. Ronaldo was missing through…

How excited are you about going to your first World Cup? It’s hard to even put it into words. I never thought I’d get to play at a World Cup, but now my country have qualified and I’m a part of the team. It’s such a huge honour. What does it mean to Morocco to be back at the tournament? Morocco is a country that breathes football, and this is our first World Cup since 1998! The country will be totally focused. I hope that we can make the most of this opportunity. You were born in France – why did you decide to represent Morocco? My parents were born in Morocco – I followed my heart. I really wanted to play for Morocco, even if it’s true that I’m…

MORATA MIGHT NOT MAKE THE CUT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS THE JOINT-TOP SCORER DURING QUALIFYING Spain have been here before. La Roja lost only once in reaching Euro 2016, and were unbeaten in qualifying for major tournaments in 2014, 2012, 2010, 2006, 2002, 1998 and 1996. In fact, their last defeat in a World Cup qualifier was 25 years ago. So how much, then, do we read into Spain taking 28 points from 30 in the build-up to Russia 2018? They laid to rest the Italian ghost from Euro 2016, but the Azzurri aside, Albania, Israel, Macedonia and Liechtenstein hardly present the sternest of qualifying tests. Plus, November’s 3-3 draw in Russia witnessed a return of the one-paced problems from 2014. Euro 2008 kings Andres Iniesta, David Silva and Sergio…

It’s Peru’s first World Cup since 1982, so how much excitement is there back home? Everyone in Peru is happy about it. The whole country is really excited and we celebrated a lot when we qualified at home to New Zealand. Now the players need to focus and perform in the best possible way, knowing that we are representing the entire nation. For all of us, this is going to be the most important tournament of our lives. I’m very much looking forward to the start. Peru are in Group C with France, Denmark and Australia – how do you rate your chances? France are the favourites to win the group, of course. They are strong – the players they have are so good. We will have to fight with…

THERE ISN’T A SENSE THAT THEY’LL FORM A UNIT TO MATCH THEIR ILLUSTRIOUS PARTS There are few nations at the World Cup – European ones, at least – with such a rich pool of talent available. After the French agonisingly failed to win Euro 2016 on home soil, the emergence of fresh-faced starlets such as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele (now two of the four most expensive players in the world) as well as Thomas Lemar, Djibril Sidibe and Benjamin Mendy gave Les Bleus added energy and dynamism. It has also placed them among the World Cup favourites for many fans and pundits, although their prospects are viewed with more caution at home. The dark old days of the implosion in South Africa two tournaments ago are fading into the…

How excited are you about making your World Cup debut? The World Cup is the biggest thing there is. I have clear memories of Denmark beating France in 2002 – I skipped school to watch games! Denmark recovered really well after a tough start to qualifying. What was the campaign like? The 1-0 home loss to Montenegro made us think, ‘Maybe we will miss another major tournament.’ But we beat Poland 4-0 and then showed what we are capable of in Ireland. What’s the strength of this team? Even if we lose, our spirit doesn’t go down. After drawing with Ireland in the first leg of the play-off, we never doubted that we could qualify. How crucial is Christian Eriksen? He’s the one who controls matches and influences the way…

Behold: the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup. Having stunned England to reach the last eight at Euro 2016, Iceland made it to Russia via a very difficult group, proving they have become a major force. Some five to 10 per cent of the population have applied for tickets, and their debut against Argentina was one of the first two matches to sell out – the other being the final. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Don’t change a winning formula. Lars Lagerback may have stepped down as joint-manager but Heimir Hallgrimsson continues in the same direction, and his team finished top of their group ahead of Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey. STRENGTHS They have sky-high confidence, tactical know-how, superb team spirit and the feeling of representing a proud nation, while…

Do you agree that Euro 2016 was a missed opportunity for Croatia? You’d finished top of your group while Portugal had finished third in theirs, so you were favourites in the Last 16... Definitely. Looking at the teams we would have played after Portugal – Poland, then Wales – it was maybe the best chance for our generation, but it’s our fault that we didn’t take it. I think the pressure got to us. We played it safe instead of taking risks against a Portugal team that were very low on self-esteem at the time. How do you view your opponents this time around? Our first match will set the tone, so that will be the crucial game for us. Nigeria are better than us physically but we have a…

NEYMAR AND OTHERS HAVE REDISCOVERED THEIR OLD SWAGGER WITH TITE IN CHARGE The 7-1 crushing by Germany and two embarrassing Copa America exits led many to believe that this was the worst Brazil side in history – one that could even miss out on a World Cup for the first time. How, then, did the same team cruise to qualification with four matches to spare, their only defeat coming in the first of 18 games? The 3-0 win over rivals Argentina in November 2016 goes a long way towards explaining it. As Paulinho – the Spurs flop turned Barcelona linchpin – scored Brazil’s third goal, head coach Tite sprinted down the touchline to party with his players. Moments later, something almost unprecedented happened: Selecao fans chanted the manager’s name. It…

How far can Switzerland go? Nobody knows, because anything can happen in football. We are in a very hard group, but every team at the World Cup has the quality to beat their opponent. So do we. Did you get a bit of luck against Northern Ireland in the play-off? There will always be controversial situations. It’s normal that a team is unhappy about a penalty, but if you saw the whole play-off, I think we deserved to qualify. You face Brazil in your opener – have you played them before? I came on as a sub against them in 2013 and we won 1-0. You see, everything is possible in football! Xherdan Shaqiri has pulled off something special at his last two tournaments: a hat-trick in 2014 and scissor-kick…

Manager Slavoljub Muslin got Serbia playing with three at the back and focusing on a tight defence, securing a spot at their first major finals since the 2010 World Cup. But then he was fired – allegedly for refusing to call up Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – but in reality it was a complex power play. Now they have the player, but not the coach. Can Mladen Krstajic build on Muslin’s work this summer? LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Know your limits and remain humble. Muslin’s Serbia never overestimated themselves or underestimated their opponents. That kind of mentality is very hard to maintain in the Balkans. STRENGTHS Defence was definitely their greatest asset in qualifying, but now the focus is more on the well-balanced midfield marshalled by Nemanja Matic (above). WEAKNESSES Tournament experience…

You were in the Germany side that lifted the Confederations Cup last summer – how much confidence will that give you? A lot, because at the World Cup we will also have players such as Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil and Mats Hummels. We won the Confederations Cup with so many young players. Now all of our top stars are back and they will help in trying to win another World Cup this summer. After winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, is there a lot of expectation in Germany that the team will do it again? When we have the good team that we have now and are the defending champions, everyone in Germany thinks that we can and will win it again. But at the World Cup…

The Swedes made it past the group stage in their three most recent World Cups (1994, 2002 and 2006) and fans will be expecting them to do the same again this time. That will be no mean feat, however. The draw has not been entirely kind, and their squad looks a little thin. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Don’t indulge big personalities. There were fears that Sweden wouldn’t be competitive when Zlatan Ibrahimovic chose to retire from national duty after Euro 2016, alongside fellow veterans Andreas Isaksson and Kim Kallstrom. Yet the Blagult appeared much better balanced without the big frontman’s bigger ego, and they ran France all of the way before denying both Italy and the Netherlands a World Cup place. STRENGTHS Team spirit. With no superstar names in qualifying, Sweden’s…

This will be your first World Cup. How excited are you? It will be a huge honour if I get to play in Russia this summer, as I’ve experienced how tough it is to go through qualification in the Asian confederation. Now I must listen to what the experienced players say, and prepare in the right way. How will you approach matches? Every team is strong at the World Cup, so we will have to work hard, press hard and defend hard. You cannot expect to play possession football all the time and play just as you want. We’ll keep ourselves very tight and organised, then try to kill off the match with a decisive counter. We have nothing to fear. You’re in a tough-looking group alongside Germany, Sweden and…

Panama nearly snuck into the 2014 play-offs at Mexico’s expense, only to be denied by the USA in stoppage time. They exacted the sweetest revenge imaginable. Roman Torres’ 88th-minute winner against Costa Rica meant that Panama (population four million) qualified ahead of the US (population 327 million) for their first World Cup. The president made the following day a national holiday. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Be ready to punish any slips. Panama were helped by the biggest collapse in the USA’s history, but they earned a bit of luck by competing right to the end. STRENGTHS Panama defend very well and have vast experience; a great understanding has developed between several key players who have been together for years. The team play in a disciplined formation, with two defensive midfielders protecting…

Tunisia have not been at a World Cup since 2006 – what’s changed? We have a quality side with talented and ambitious players. Our strength above all else is in the collective. Youssef Msakni is absent through injury, which your manager had said would be akin to Argentina losing Lionel Messi. How much of a blow is that? Youssef is Tunisia’s phenomenon. When you lose a major player two months before a World Cup, it does put a dampener on things. But we have other good players who will be able to replace him. How do you view your group? England and Belgium are the two big favourites. We will face nations with more experience than us, but we’ll compensate for that with our motivation, aggression and fighting spirit. I…

With a potent attack formed around captain Robert Lewandowski, Poland have a chance against any team, but will their star man deliver for them on the big stage? He stuttered with the spotlight on him at Euro 2012, as the co-hosts came last in a generous group, and again at Euro 2016, when five games brought him just one goal. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Get the ball forward quickly. Their fast counter-attacking style helped Poland to net 28 goals in 10 qualifying games. STRENGTHS Even the very best teams will envy the penalty-box prowess of Lewandowski, but Napoli’s playmaker Piotr Zielinski is also turning heads. Poland legend Zbigniew Boniek claims that the 23-year-old is better then Kevin De Bruyne. WEAKNESSES Key players have struggled at club level in recent seasons. Grzegorz…

The Lions of Teranga return for only their second World Cup finals, and first since 2002, when they stunned reigning champions France en route to the quarter-finals. Senegal are determined to banish the ‘chokers’ tag they have acquired since then. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Keep grinding out results. They finished the final round unbeaten but were far from fierce and knew how to win ugly. STRENGTHS A fine attacking line-up features Keita Balde, Sadio Mané and Moussa Sow, while the terrific Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli stars in a solid defence. WEAKNESSES Inconsistency: you can’t predict which team will turn up. Their biggest faults are mostly more mental than technical, although in recent years Senegal have struggled with a lack of a creativity in central midfield areas. MOST LIKELY TO... Celebrate goals…

CLUBS 1995-1997 Wollongong Wolves 1998-2003 Middlesbrough 2003-2006 Bristol City 2006-2008 FC Twente 2008-2014 Dinamo Moscow 2014-2015 Feyenoord 2016 Terek Grozny 2016-2017 Dinamo Moscow 2017- Sydney FC COUNTRY 2004-2014 Australia Few Aussies know Russia, the home of the 2018 World Cup, better than 80-time Socceroo Luke Wilkshire, who is a boy from Wollongong who spent almost 20 years abroad in a successful European career before joining Sydney FC last year. The now-36-year-old has tales to tell about Russia, having spent the best years of his career at Dinamo Moscow during a lucrative six-year stint where he met his wife, Kristina, building a house together - which he still calls home – two minutes from the club. But Wilkshire also has plenty of other stories to tell, from being frozen out at…

THE LEAD UP We finished fourth in the A-League and it was an elimination final against Adelaide United. Of course, we were not necessarily happy with how the season ended up. Like always, finals are very special, you take them very seriously, these are the games every footballer wants to play in. We were really confident we would have a good game. We went in with big motivation, Adelaide played very difficult for us, but we believed, we stayed disciplined and we got rewarded. THE MATCH After a goalless first-half Nikola Mileusnic put Adelaide up 1-0 in the 57th minute and of course it knocked the stuffing out of us a bit. We thought we worked really hard in the first-half and I thought we didn’t deserve to go down.…

Tell us about Rome? Chris: Harrison came to visit me last December. He came to watch my match and I showed him round the Colosseum and then took him for a night out. I had training the next day at two o’clock in the afternoon so I thought I could afford a sneaky night out. We went to a nightclub, a place that I knew of. Obviously I didn’t drink because I was driving and I was in season. Harrison: I don’t remember the name of the place but it was just on the edge of Rome, this beautiful little bar… Chris: At one stage Harrison actually took his shirt off. Harrison: C’mon man, you can’t put me on the spot like that! Chris was hyping me up. He was…

STRENGTHS ANTOINE GRIEZMANN Club: Atletico Madrid Age: 27 Position: Attacking midfielder Atletico Madrid attacking midfielder Antoine Griezmann has been one of La Liga’s top players for several seasons and will have the hopes of France resting on his shoulders in Russia. The 27-year-old’s performances saw him come third in the Ballon d’Or in 2016 and he was also voted the best player in Spain’s La Liga for his blistering 2015/2016 campaign. What makes Griezmann world class is that his shooting ability is simply breathtaking. From outrageous bicycle kicks, to perfectly precise screamers outside the box, chips over the top, to rounding the keeper, his feet are like a doctor’s hands, steady and accurate. His technical ability and touch on the ball make him a rare type of player who is…

World Cups bring both glory and pain. Those who triumph enjoy the greatest memories of their careers. And those who simply make it on the pitch fulfil every football-mad child’s dream to play on the world stage. But those who fail, disappoint or miss out altogether must live with their heartbreak. Every four years though, there’s a chance of World Cup redemption… and there’s a legion of Australians with that on their mind ahead of Russia 2018. Sheer determination and focus are recurring themes among these five Australians out to prove a point for differing reasons at Russia 2018. ROBBIE KRUSE “I’ve amassed a lot of caps in my career but failed to go to a World Cup,” Socceroos winger Robbie Kruse reflects. “I missed the last ones through injury.”…

It was the moment Cristiano Ronaldo made time stand still. As Dani Carvajal looped in a high cross during Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final first leg with Juventus in early April, the Madrid colossus and Portugal captain adjusted his body and took flight. The resulting goal, an extraordinary overhead kick that Ronaldo would later describe as the greatest of his career prompted awe from everyone in the ground and watching at home. It was a moment that perfectly encapsulated Ronaldo as a player and a man: a combination of daring, technique and pure athleticism that left those around him motionless. But more than that, it was a moment where the game once again bent to his will and became about him, his brilliance overshadowing his team-mates, the opposition and the…

MICHAEL HAMILTON AFC Wimbledon academy coach The Dons’ coaching master offers tips that will improve your ability to work with players of all ages. Twitter: @mikehamilton_14 HANNAH SHERIDAN Tottenham nutritionist Bin the biscuit tin and find out how to fuel your body for 90 minutes thanks to Spurs’ nutrition guru. Twitter: @HSperfnutrition JAMES MILNER Liverpool’s Mr Versatile A stream of self-deprecating posts are sure to get you giggling, even if you don’t support Liverpool. Twitter: @jamesmilner…

The hosts have very little to show for seven-and-a-half years of planning for the biggest tournament in their history. For all of the new stadiums, Russia go into the World Cup with an average manager and a squad who lack quality, knowing only too well that a miracle is required to avoid an embarrassing group-stage exit. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING As automatic qualifiers, Russia’s only competitive fixtures were at last year’s Confederations Cup. A group-stage exit following losses to Portugal and Mexico pointed to one key lesson learned: this team simply isn’t good enough. STRENGTHS Captain Igor Akinfeev is still an accomplished goalkeeper and there’s ability in midfield, from Alan Dzagoev and 21-year-old Aleksandr Golovin to Roman Zobnin and the Miranchuk twins, Aleksei and Anton. WEAKNESSES When record cap-holder Sergei Ignashevich…

This will be Saudi Arabia’s first World Cup since 2006 – what’s the feeling like in the country? The Saudi people are very happy, and it’s an indescribable feeling for me. The players from 2006 tell me that the World Cup is completely different to any other tournament, so I want to do everything for my team-mates. I’m looking forward to playing abroad after the World Cup and I’m really close to that. What is the Saudi team’s style? We play offensively, but we have to be smart because we’ll play against stronger sides. We’re not playing at the Asian Cup now. Our ambition is to get out of the group, as we have some good players and a very good manager with a lot of experience. You’re set to…

After a disappointing 2017 and calls for a makeover, Uruguay had their World Cup hopes boosted by a very favourable draw. This tournament will be a last shot at glory for many of the heroes who defied the odds by reaching the semi-finals in 2010, before lifting 2011’s Copa America. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING A siege mentality helps – because the easier things seem, the harder Uruguay make them. Once qualification looked assured, three defeats on the spin and a draw against Venezuela ensured that La Celeste sweated until the final day. STRENGTHS Uruguay are known for their hard, spirited players and ‘never surrender’ attitude. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani (above) guarantee goals, and attacking midfielders will take advantage of the spaces they open up, too. WEAKNESSES Midfield. The long-delayed renovation…

You’re going to be playing at your first major tournament. Are you looking forward to it? Well, I still have to wait for the final call to see if I’ll be going. When Fernando Santos picks his squad, we’ll know for sure. But every player dreams about playing at the World Cup. Portugal won Euro 2016. Do you think you’re capable of winning the World Cup, too? Definitely. We’ve got the best player in the world among us. Also, our group is very united, which is a privilege that other teams don’t have. That makes the difference. I’ve no doubt Portugal are one of the teams who can aim for the title – we showed at Euro 2016 that we can beat anyone. Having said that, I don’t feel we’re…

Iran have reached consecutive World Cups for the first time ever, and with Carlos Queiroz in charge since 2011, consistency is indeed the name of the game. An extraordinary defensive record in qualifying suggests they’ll once again be a tough nut to crack. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING When Iran drew their final match 2-2 with Syria, it was the first time they’d conceded in 13 qualifiers. They’ll carry that assurance into the finals, recalling only too well that they were holding Argentina to a goalless draw in Brazil until Lionel Messi netted in injury time. STRENGTHS Queiroz prioritises tactical organisation and he will prepare his team rigorously for each opponent. In addition to being very well-coached, Iran are motivated, experienced and united, and in Alireza Jahanbakhsh they have a potential star…

How do you rate Spain’s hopes at the World Cup? Can you go all the way? We’ll be going to the World Cup wanting to do exactly that, yes. But we also know that it won’t be easy. We have to go little by little, because if you want to win the tournament you must give a lot. People like to talk about the brilliant midfield we’ve got – our base – but Spain is a strong team not only because of our midfielders, but also because of our attackers, defenders and goalkeepers. We’re very excited about doing good things at the finals. We’ll see what happens. What are your own ambitions for the tournament? I just want to help the team as much as possible. Every day this season…

This summer marks 20 years since France won the World Cup on home soil – how can the legacy of that generation serve you in Russia? In Didier Deschamps, we have got a manager who was in the dressing room in 1998. He was even the captain, so he’ll take us on the right path. It makes you want to copy it and bring this World Cup back to France. That is the dream. Whenever France have done well in previous tournaments, they had an attacking player who shone. Are you ready to take on that role? That’s not my objective. I will do everything, offensively and defensively, to help the team. I only want to think about the collective. The main objective is to win the World Cup. Do…

ATTACKING OPTIONS ARE SO RICH, MAURO ICARDI AND PAULO DYBALA ARE AT RISK Can they win a final at last? That’s the big question haunting Argentina fans as they watch Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero score goal after goal in Europe each week. This undoubtedly talented generation of individuals has reached three finals in the past four years (World Cup 2014, Copa America 2015 and Copa America 2016). But they lost all three and failed to even score. That these dismal displays came from truly great players, well accustomed to producing the goods in the Champions League, suggests a kind of international mental block. And the infuriating fault seemed to emerge once again during qualifying, from the depressing 3-0 loss inflicted by Brazil in November 2016 to the…

Just how special will Iceland’s first World Cup be? I can’t even say it’s a dream come true. I never dreamed of qualifying for a World Cup as a boy. I thought it was impossible. It’s going to be a brilliant summer for every one of our 300,000 population. How much are the fans looking forward to it? Over 10 per cent of our population went to Euro 2016, and the whole world saw how amazing Icelandic fans are. Tens of thousands have already booked their trip to Russia. Did beating England at Euro 2016 surprise even you? Yes, a bit. But I was more surprised by how we won, as England didn’t have many clear chances to score. We can surprise people again. Any plans to play naked chess…

While it isn’t the finest team Nigeria has ever produced, this collection of individuals has come together with a single-mindedness that may serve them quite well in Russia. They want to prove they’ve got what it takes to match the 1994 and 1998 vintage, and that means reaching the Last 16. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING The decision to trust in youth has been vindicated. This team is full of pace, but has maintained its physical edge. More importantly, there are game-changers now who can turn a match on its head. STRENGTHS With some pacy wide options such as Ahmed Musa and Joel Obi (above), the Super Eagles can sure launch a mean counter-attack. The 4-2 friendly victory over Argentina last November, having trailed 2-0, offered ample proof of that. WEAKNESSES There’s…

What is Brazil’s aim at this year’s tournament in Russia? No matter what happened at previous tournaments and no matter what happens during the build-up, we always go to a World Cup looking to win it. Obviously it will be very tough, but I hope we can come back from Russia with the sixth star on our yellow shirts. As a defender, how hard was it to watch the 7-1 defeat to Germany in 2014, having just missed out on the squad? In football there will always be frustrations and you must deal with them. Of course I wanted to be involved four years ago, but I prefer to think I am now even more mature, as a man and a player. The Selecao had a bad result, but it’s…

Four years ago, Costa Rica shocked Planet Football by topping a World Cup group with three former winners and reaching the quarter-finals. An ageing, out-of-sorts side makes for less encouraging prospects this time. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Find some consistency. Performances varied wildly in the qualifiers: excellent 4-0 and 2-0 victories over the USA sat in contrast with six winless encounters against Honduras, Panama and Mexico. They’ve scored more than once in only four of their 22 fixtures since the start of 2017, with their unlucky victims being the US, Trinidad & Tobago, French Guiana and Belize. STRENGTHS The 2014 team’s core remains; they know each other by heart. WEAKNESSES Costa Rica depend heavily on their Europe-based stars – Keylor Navas, Bryan Ruiz, Celso Borges, Joel Campbell – but with the…

Is this the best Serbia team you have played in? I think so, though let’s see how we do at the World Cup. We’ve become much stronger as a group. There’s a good chemistry between us now. What was qualifying like? There was pressure on us, but I’m very happy that we succeeded. It was really special. Personally I had a good campaign as well, because I was the most productive player with four goals and seven assists. Do you think Serbia can make it out of the group? Yes, I think we have a good chance. Four years ago we played a friendly in Brazil when they were preparing for the World Cup. We lost 1-0, but I think we were the better team for long periods of that…

After struggling in Brazil four years ago, Mexico strolled through their CONCACAF qualifiers for Russia 2018. However, their quest to reach a first World Cup quarter-final since 1986 was dealt a blow after being drawn against Germany. Brazil surely await in the Last 16 if El Tri finish second. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Mexico had to win a play-off to reach Brazil 2014, so this time the focus was on winning regardless of style. Coming first in the final round of qualifying, the players have learned that sometimes they must sacrifice flair to get a result. STRENGTHS El Tri have a solid core of players based in Europe, including 22-year-old starlet Hirving Lozano, who’s lit up the Dutch top flight after moving to PSV last year. WEAKNESSES Although they’ve lost only…

How are you feeling about this upcoming World Cup? I’m excited to participate and am very happy with the role I have in the team. I play as a false nine, and the system is perfect for me. What are Sweden’s objectives? We don’t really have an objective. Our group is difficult and we are realistic. We are Sweden with only 10 million people. When we see Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France or Germany, it wouldn’t make sense for us to aim for the final. Also, it is going to be the first World Cup for many of our players. What has changed for Sweden since the last World Cup? Many players left and others have arrived. Sweden have often had some superstars, such as Marcus Berg and Zlatan, but now…

COURTOIS AND LUKAKU ARE STILL ONLY 25, WITH STREET SMARTS BEYOND THEIR YEARS Following their 3-1 defeat to Wales in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, this tournament could be the best chance for Belgium’s much-vaunted golden generation to justify years of hype by winning a trophy. The Benelux nation may boast one of the most talented squads in the world at the moment but a lot of the players, including Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, Radja Nainggolan, Mousa Dembele and Dries Mertens, are now in their 30s. Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne (26) and Eden Hazard (27) are at their peak, so it may be a case of now or never. The positive news is that De Bruyne has enjoyed a superb club campaign while Hazard is as threatening as ever. Both…

This will be Panama’s first World Cup. What were the celebrations like when you qualified? They were unimaginable. For the players and the whole country, it was the biggest celebration ever! Seeing people cry from happiness is not something we would have predicted. I want to be one of the first to wear the Panama shirt at the World Cup. Why have this team succeeded? Our coach has given an identity to the team. He has given us a lot of character, and defensively we are very strong. We’re organised and physically fit. Are you relishing facing England in the second match? We all watch the Premier League, so it will be a great experience to face those players. We’ll have to stop them defensively and create something in attack,…

EXPECTATIONS AREN’T WHAT THEY WERE AND A SEMI-FINAL PLACE WOULD BE A MIRACLE England’s 2018 World Cup campaign had an inauspicious start when Sam Allardyce became the latest national team manager to be caught with his trousers down (mercifully, not in the literal sense). His ‘mutually agreed’ exit after just one fixture led to the FA’s managerial pet project, Gareth Southgate, being hurriedly bundled into the hottest of hotseats. The suits hadn’t been expecting the former England Under-21 supremo to make the step up quite so quickly. But after Allardyce’s brief yet controversial reign, a low-key, low-risk appointment was exactly what was needed. And to the FA’s relief, the new man prevented this off-pitch crisis from spilling across the white line. Southgate’s team have been characteristically steady and even posted…

This will be your first World Cup, so what are your expectations? I just want to enjoy every moment and play to the best of my abilities. We’re in a very even group, so every game will be difficult. I expect it to be tougher than when we reached the quarter-finals at Euro 2016, but we proved then and in qualifying that we have a very strong team. What is the side’s main strength? We have a collection of very good individual players, but the key is in our tactics – we are very strong in that department. We love to play counter-attacking football, but we have made progress in controlling possession, too. You are the top seeds in Group H. Is there pressure to go far? I don’t feel…

This is your first World Cup – are you excited to get started? We’re all really looking forward to it and so excited for the opening day of the World Cup, because Senegal haven’t been there for a long time. It’s only the second time Senegal have qualified. How proud do you feel to have done that? We’re happy and the whole country is happy for us – we made football history. We’ll try to do our best and represent the nation in a good way. Senegal reached the last eight in 2002. What are your memories of that tournament? I’ll never forget it! I was in Senegal with my family and we’d wake up early in the morning to watch our team. When they scored, we’d all sing and…

Despite having a squad bulging with potential, Colombia’s generational shift since the 2014 World Cup hasn’t run smoothly, and Jose Pekerman is still looking for answers to questions that lingered through their qualifying campaign. They could yet go far, but Colombia remain a work in progress. LESSON FROM QUALIFYING Form against the leading nations must improve. Colombia’s record against the teams above them (Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina) was a shoddy P6 W0 D2 L4. STRENGTHS There has been a return to form for the all-time Los Cafeteros top scorer – and World Cup debutant – Radamel Falcao, while James Rodriguez is rejuvenated and more mature. Young talents Yerry Mina and Davinson Sanchez will provide a solid back-line, with Carlos Sanchez keeping order just in front of them. WEAKNESSES There’s still…