#Russia 2018 world cup bracket series

Centre-back defender Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the best defenders in Italy's Series A league, and Idrissa Gueye is brilliant in the midfield for Everton in the Premier League. The Lions of Teranga are participating in their first World Cup since 2002 and come in at 27th in FIFA's world rankings, but it's been 16 years since Senegal last shocked the soccer world and advanced to the final eight, so they might be due for another streak. Coming off a strong Champions League Finals performance, Liverpool star striker Sadio Mane is the talisman for SenegalвЂ™s national team. Senegal stormed through the Confederation of African Football qualifying portion unbeaten. He'll be on a redemptive streak as his last World Cup ended ignominiously, after he sank his teeth into Italian player Giorgio Chiellini as if he were a lasagna.ДЄ post shared by Sadio Mane on at 9:00pm PST However, the current team is more willing to go on the offensive, which plays to the strengths of its attackers.ДЄt 31, striker Luis Suarez is no longer at his peak, however he did score 25 goals last season with Barcelona. Under TabГЎrez, Uruguay has been known for its sturdy defense and an ability to limit shot on goal opportunities. La Celeste is also one of the steadiest national teams, having retained Г“scar TabГЎrez as their manager for the past 12 years. UruguayвЂ™s attack is one of the most robust in the tournament. Uruguay: Taking A Bite Out of the Competition However, if they escape a group that consists of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, they may run up against Euro 2016 champ Portugal or a Spain squad trying to win its fourth intercontinental tournament since 2008. Russia was also given one of the best draws in the World Cup, which could help the team exceed expectations. Ranked 65th in the world by FIFA, Russia was automatically qualified for the World Cup as the host nation. However, even fewer expected to witness Spain, winner of the past three intercontinental tournaments (Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012) getting humiliated by Chile before the knockout round of 16.ДЄlthough it's impossible by nature to predict an upset, here are the nations we most expect to shake up football's global order and deliver a few surprise twists during the upcoming World Cup:ДЎпёЏвѓЈ4пёЏвѓЈ DAYS TO GO! Meet #Zabivaka - the 14th FIFA #WorldCup mascot! Do you like him?ДЄ post shared by FIFA World Cup on at 2:59am PDTДЇIFA and the World Anti-Doping Agency recently cleared the Russian national team of alleged doping violations, however, being the host nation in the World Cup is the ultimate super-serum formula. There were also the letdowns as Germany stuffed host Brazil into a suitcase in a 7-1 quarterfinals win. James Rodriguez assumed all-world striker Radamel Falcao's prolific goal-scoring opportunities for a surging Colombia team and became an international darling. In 2014, Costa Rica infiltrated the quarterfinals much to the surprise of the football world. In an international field of 32 that only comes together every four years, thereвЂ™s bound to be a breakthrough nation during the group stage or single-elimination rounds that obliterates expectations. But despite the star players and betting favorites, the element of surprise is always an inherent component of the competition. Defending champion Germany, a vengeful Brazil, and the last of Spain's golden generation are the pace-setters. The 2018 FIFA World Cup brackets have been set, the rosters are being finalized, and it's time to start preparing your trash talk for fans of other teams.