World Cup: Power rankings before kick-off

First Game: June 15th vs. Spain (Sochi)

Best Major Tourney Finish: Euro 2016 winners

The defending European champions are always a favorite and a potential World Cup winner. Cristiano Ronaldo has five Ballon d’Ors and five Champions League in his back pocket. Portugal has been playing great and has an easy road to at least the quarters. Any team with Ronaldo is a favorite.

First Game: June 16th vs. Iceland (Moscow)

Best Major Tourney Finish: 2-time World Cup winners (1978, 1986)

Despite the troubles of qualifying and the final curse they have faced, they have Lionel Messi and are Argentina. Of course, they are a favorite and can win the World Cup. It’s slightly likelier than Portugal winning because of multiple attacking threats off the bench, but not likelier than the top five teams.

https://twitter.com/Argentina/status/1006681302349672451

First Game: June 18th vs. Panama (Sochi)

Best Major Tourney Finish: Euro 1980 runners-up

The players are there, Roberto Martinez is a better manager than Marc Wilmots, and they have some past failures lingering from the past two tournaments. Belgium is stacked and is the ultimate darkhorse to win the World Cup. If they don’t this year, they very well could in Qatar in 2022 or in North America in 2026.

First Game: June 15th vs. Portugal (Sochi)

Best Major Tourney Finish: 2010 World Cup winners

Yes, Spain is in chaos right now with the firing of their manager. Fernando Hierro isn’t gonna change much and the team is really good. Besides that, the first-place finish in Group B gives Spain a very easy path to the semifinals. The Round of 16 is a walk in the park and I think Spain would beat Argentina handily. The title is possible too if they stick with Lopategui’s style of  possession and press.

First Game: June 17th vs. Switzerland (Rostov)

Best Major Tourney Finish: 5-time World Cup winners (1958-1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)

Brazil has the best attacking talent at the tournament. Their defense is also better and the midfield is way better. A sixth World Cup title would cure the wound of 2014’s 7-1 loss to Germany. Gabriel Jesus could become a bigger star in Russia this summer with a lot of goals. They were the first team to qualify and could be the last team standing in Moscow on July 15th.

https://twitter.com/CBF_Futebol/status/1006652399614943232

First Game: June 16th vs. Australia (Kazan)

Best Major Tourney Finish: 1998 World Cup winners

Their back-ups could make the semifinals. They have discipline, the best midfield duo in the world with Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, and so many forwards that are clinical year round. France really should have won Euro 2016 at home. I feel they can beat Germany again if Griezmann and Pogba are playing well all tournament. Still, Germany is the best team in the world.

https://twitter.com/equipedefrance/status/997180718806700032

First Game: June 17th vs. Mexico (Moscow)

Best Major Tourney Finish: 4-time World Cup winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)

Germany is the best. They might not have the absolute best players, but they play the best as a unit. Semifinals is guaranteed for Germany under Joachim Low and Thomas Muller is on pace to score over 20 goals in his World Cup career. Simply put, they have been the team to beat for four years. Who can stop them?

Next: World Cup group stage predictions