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World Cup previews

The World Cup trophy pictured in February 2018

Russia will host the 2018 World Cup this summer, with 32 teams set to do battle for the biggest prize in football.

The usual suspects will be amongst the favourites once again, with reigning champions Germany leading the way ahead of the likes of Brazil, France, Spain and Argentina.

The 2014 World Cup saw a number of surprise packages emerge, though, and this summer may be no different.

Below you can find an in-depth preview for every team in this summer's tournament, with everything you need to know about their chances in Russia.

The Senegal team line up before their friendly game with Luxembourg on May 31, 2018
World Cup preview: Senegal
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews the chances of Senegal as they return to the tournament for the first time since 2002.
Jun 13, 18:00
 The Poland team line up before their friendly game with Chile on June 8, 2018
World Cup preview: Poland
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Poland's chances as they make their first appearance at the tournament since 2006.
Jun 13, 17:30
 The Japan team line up before their friendly game with Switzerland on June 8, 2018
World Cup preview: Japan
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews the chances of Japan as they prepare for their sixth consecutive tournament.
Jun 13, 17:00
 The Tunisia team line up before their friendly game with Turkey on June 1, 2018
World Cup preview: Tunisia
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews the chances of Tunisia as they look for their first win at the tournament since 1978.
Jun 13, 16:30
 The Belgium team line up before their friendly game with Portugal on June 2, 2018
World Cup preview: Belgium
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole assesses the chances of Belgium, whose golden generation go into the tournament ranked third in the world.
Jun 13, 16:00
 The South Korea team line up before their friendly game with Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 1, 2018
World Cup preview: South Korea
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole assesses the chances of South Korea as they compete in their ninth successive tournament.
Jun 13, 15:30
 The Sweden team line up before their friendly game with Denmark on June 2, 2018
World Cup preview: Sweden
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Sweden's chances as they return to the tournament following a 12-year absence.
Jun 13, 15:00
 The Mexico team line up before their friendly game with Scotland on June 2, 2018
World Cup preview: Mexico
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole assesses the chances of Mexico, who have been eliminated in the last 16 in each of the past six tournaments.
Jun 13, 14:30
 The Germany team line up before their friendly game with Saudi Arabia on June 8, 2018
World Cup preview: Germany
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole assesses the chances of holders Germany as they bid to become the first team since 1962 to defend the title.
Jun 13, 14:00
 The Switzerland team line up before their friendly with Japan on June 8, 2018
World Cup preview: Switzerland
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Switzerland's chances as they arrive at the tournament ranked sixth in the world by FIFA.
Jun 13, 13:30
 The Serbia team line up before their friendly game with Bolivia on June 9, 2018
World Cup preview: Serbia
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Serbia's chances as they return to the tournament after missing out four years ago.
Jun 13, 13:00
 The Costa Rica team line up before their friendly game with Belgium on June 11, 2018
World Cup preview: Costa Rica
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole assesses the chances of surprise Brazil 2014 quarter-finalists Costa Rica.
Jun 13, 12:30
 The Brazil team line up before their friendly game with Croatia on June 3, 2018
World Cup preview: Brazil
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews the chances of five-time champions Brazil as they look to lift the trophy for the first time since 2002.
Jun 13, 12:00
 The Iceland team lines up prior to their international friendly with Norway in June 2018
World Cup preview: Iceland
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole assesses the chances of tournament debutants Iceland, two years on from reaching the Euro 2016 quarter-finals.
Jun 13, 11:30
 The Croatian team line up ahead of their international friendly with Brazil at Anfield on June 3, 2018
World Cup preview: Croatia
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Croatia's chances as they bid to get out of the group stages for the first time since 1998.
Jun 13, 11:00
 The Argentina team line up before their friendly game with Haiti on May 29, 2018
World Cup preview: Argentina
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Argentina's chances of going one better than four years ago, when they were beaten in the final.
Jun 13, 10:30
 Peru line up before their international friendly with Scotland on May 30, 2018
World Cup preview: Peru
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Peru's chances as they return to the tournament after a 36-year absence.
Jun 13, 10:00
 The France team line up ahead of their friendly game with the Republic of Ireland on May 28, 2018
World Cup preview: France
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews the chances of Euro 2016 runners-up France, 20 years on from lifting the trophy on home soil.
Jun 13, 09:30
 The Denmark squad line up before their friendly with Sweden on June 2, 2018
World Cup preview: Denmark
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Denmark's chances as they return to the competition after missing out four years ago.
Jun 13, 09:00
 The Australia team line up before their friendly with the Czech Republic on June 1, 2018
World Cup preview: Australia
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole assesses Australia's chances as they appear in the competition for the fourth time in a row.
Jun 13, 08:30
 The Iran team lines up ahead of their World Cup warm-up game against Turkey in May 2018
World Cup preview: Iran
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole assesses the chances of an Iran side which was the only Asian nation to go through qualifying unbeaten.
Jun 13, 07:45
 The Morocco team lines up ahead of an international friendly with Ukraine in June 2018
World Cup preview: Morocco
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole assesses Morocco's chances as they return to the tournament after a 20-year absence.
Jun 12, 19:04
 Spain's squad lines up for their official 2018 World Cup photoshoot
World Cup preview: Spain
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews the chances of 2010 champions Spain as they look to bounce back from a group-stage exit four years ago.
Jun 12, 15:01
 The Portugal team lines up before their international friendly with Algeria on June 7, 2018
World Cup preview: Portugal
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Portugal's chances at the tournament as they look to build on their triumph at Euro 2016.
Jun 12, 14:00
 The Uruguay squad lines up for their official photo shoot ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia
World Cup preview: Uruguay
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole looks at the chances of two-time champions Uruguay.
Jun 12, 13:15
 The Saudi Arabian team lines up ahead of an international friendly in March 2018
World Cup preview: Saudi Arabia
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole looks at Saudi Arabia's chances having been drawn alongside the hosts in Group A.
Jun 12, 12:00
 The England team lines up ahead of their international friendly with Nigeria in June 2018
World Cup preview: England
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews England's chances at the tournament as they look to banish the demons of Brazil and France.
Jun 8, 09:00
 The Nigerian team lines up ahead of the World Cup warm-up match with England at Wembley on June 2, 2018
World Cup preview: Nigeria
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Nigeria's hopes as the only African team to have qualified for both the 2014 and 2018 tournaments.
Jun 7, 16:51
 The Egyptian team lines up ahead of their international friendly with Kuwait in May 2018
World Cup preview: Egypt
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole looks at Egypt's chances as they gear up for their first taste of the competition for 28 years.
Jun 7, 16:05
 The Panama team lines up ahead of their World Cup warm-up game with Northern Ireland in May 2018
World Cup preview: Panama
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews the chances of tournament debutants Panama, who have been drawn in a group alongside Belgium and England.
Jun 7, 14:00
 The Colombian team lines up prior to their international friendly with France in March 2018
World Cup preview: Colombia
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews Colombia's chances as they look to build on their best-ever showing in Brazil four years ago.
Jun 7, 12:00
 The Russian team poses ahead of their international friendly with Turkey in June 2018
World Cup preview: Russia
Ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Sports Mole previews the host nation's chances of success at their own tournament.
Jun 7, 10:11
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
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Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!