World Cup: Power rankings before kick-off
By Orri Benatar
First Game: June 14th vs. Saudi Arabia (Moscow)
Best Major Tourney Finish: Euro 2008 semifinalists (Won Euro 1960 as the Soviet Union)
The hosts enter as the lowest ranked team in the FIFA Rankings (70). Russia has a slight chance of advancing from the edge of playing at home and the fact Group A is easy. If they can stop Salah, Russia can play in the Round of 16.
https://twitter.com/TeamRussia/status/1006909394137673728
First Game: June 17th vs. Costa Rica (Samara)
Best Major Tourney Finish: 2010 World Cup Group Stage (2-time Euro runners-up as Yugoslavia)
Serbia is one of the tallest teams at the World Cup. They have an intimidating starting eleven with Ivanovic, Kolarov, Matic, Tadic, and Mitrovic. The height advantage they have can help them advance with Brazil in Group E. Send those crosses in and hope for the best.
https://twitter.com/FSSrbije/status/1002643237750870016
First Game: June 17th vs. Serbia (Samara)
Best Major Tourney Finish: 3-time Gold Cup winners (1963, 1969, and 1989)
Los Ticos are bringing most of the guys from 2014 that made the most unexpected run of the tournament. I give them a slight edge to advance ahead of Serbia because of their organization and they have Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas. More Navas saves, more chances of advancing.
https://twitter.com/fedefutbolcrc/status/1006639789314068480
First Game: June 15th vs. Uruguay (Yekaterinburg)
Best Major Tourney Finish: 7-time Africa Cup of Nations winners
Mo Salah is this team and they will survive and advance through his play. An easy group gives them a chance to make their nation proud. The Pharaohs can make the Round of 16, any further would be miraculous.
https://twitter.com/fifaworldcup_ar/status/1006449079495331841
First Game: June 19th vs. Poland (Moscow)
Best Major Tourney Finish: 2002 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up
Salah’s teammate at Liverpool Sadio Mane has much better players at his disposal with Senegal than Salah has at Egypt. They can create magic again with Mane scoring and Gueye and Kouyate defending and passing well. The Lions of Tarenga must get results in three matches to advance.
https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCupSEN/status/998638183742083074
First Game: June 17th vs. Germany (Moscow)
Best Major Tourney Finish: 10-time Gold Cup winners and 1999 Confederations Cup title
El Tri must make the Round of 16. Anything less than that is a failure in my eyes. Mexico would likely play Brazil if they advance and a seventh straight Round of 16 loss would be likely. The team has great attackers in Javier Hernandez, Giovani Dos Santos, and Hirving Lozano. The hopes of CONCACAF lie with Mexico.
First Game: June 16th vs. Argentina (Moscow)
Best Major Tourney Finish: Euro 2016 quarterfinals
The Vikings can play Cinderella again in a major tournament. If they play like they did at Euro, they can advance out of a group with a weaker Argentina, a familiar foe in Croatia, and Nigeria. Sadly, they would probably lose to France again if they advanced. Seeing some Viking chants though will make a lot of people happy, including me.
https://twitter.com/footballiceland/status/1006830045736853504