World Cup rankings: Who looks good ahead of kick-off in Russia?

Panama are beyond excited for this World Cup appearance but sadly, just aren't very good. If they manage to win even a point in the group stage it would be a phenomenal achievement and manager Hernan Dario Gomez doesn't seem to have high expectations:

"I think it would be seen as successful if we went out and performed in a respectable way. If we lost then fine, but lets not get thrashed."

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 0-0 Northern Ireland

Lost 1-0 Norway

31. Saudi Arabia

Manager Juan Antonio Pizzi has experience of winning international tournaments, having lead Chile to success in the Copa America 2016, but Saudi Arabia are extremely limited.

They have some technically gifted players and in striker Mohammad al-Sahlawi a source of goals, so with some careful treading and a couple of big performances, there's a tiny chance of this team surprising absolutely everyone and being OK.

World Cup warm-up form

Lost 0-3 Peru

Lost 2-1 Germany

30. Japan

Come into the World Cup in dreadful form and with a manager who has only been in charge for three games. Some decent players take up important roles but as a whole are un-organised and according to their new coach, far too nice.

World Cup warm-up form

Lost 0-2 to Ghana

Lost 2-0 Switzerland

29. Tunisia

Without star player Youssef Msakni - ruled out through injury - Tunisia's hopes of remarkable victories and unexpected glory have diminished. Imagine Wales without Gareth Bale. They are highly organised though and have some skillful forwards and disciplined, determined defenders so could feasibly grind out a draw or two. Sometimes that's all you need.

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 2-2 with turkey

Lost 1-0 Spain

28. Iran

Carlos Queiroz says the only reason he didn't actually resign from his job as manager on the three separate occasions he has threatened to, is because of the "commitment, passion and attitude of the players". Those players were impressive in qualification and look OK coming into the tournament. There's not an awful lot to fear but at least Queiroz likes them.

World Cup warm-up form

Lost 2-1 Turkey

Won 1-0 Lithuania

27. South Korea

South Korea may benefit from having so little expected of them and if they can avoid anyone exposing their worryingly weak defence and get the ball to Son Heung-min in attacking areas... then maybe... just maybe... but no. Germany, Sweden and Mexico probably aren't going to let that happen.

World Cup warm-up form

Lost 3-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina

Draw 0-0 Bolivia

Lost 2-0 Senegal

26. Costa Rica

Didn't really fight back too much against England and aside from the very occasional counter-attack and some organised defending were mostly swept aside. Belgium hammered them in their final warm-up game, with Costa Rica really struggling to contain a far superior side. 

World Cup warm-up form

Won 3-0 Northern Ireland

Lost 2-0 England

Lost 4-1 Belgium

25. Iceland

A little more open-minded than the defend-at-at-all-costs side we saw in Euro 2016, Iceland have some solid players, are technically adept and have Gylfi Sigurdsson: king of the assists. Form hasn't been great going into the tournament though and there are suspicions Iceland are much better at home than away...

World Cup warm-up form

Lost 3-2 to Norway

Draw 2-2 Ghana

24. Russia

The lowest ranked team in the entire competition, according to FIFA. Lacking any real star quality and looking nowhere close to threatening in their World Cup warm-ups, Russia do have the massive advantage of playing at home and should perform above their level. They need to. And with a bit of luck - who knows? 

World Cup warm-up form

Lost 1-0 Austria

Draw 1-1 Turkey

23. Nigeria

Torn apart in the first half of their friendly with England, as soon as Nigeria adapted to the tactical setup of their opponents, they suddenly looked a very different operation. Lots of young, talented individuals are being moulded into a team full of ambition, but Russia 2018 is probably too soon for it to work.

World Cup warm-up form

Lost 1-2 England

Lost 1-0 Czech Republic

22. Morocco

Really strong defensively, which can make all the difference in international tournaments, Morroco have the foundations in place to keep games tight, though are without a little bit of invention and spark in forward areas. Will be tricky.

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 0-0 ukraine

Won 2-2 Slovakia

Won 3-1 Estonia

21. Australia

Don't really have a standout talent but play like a team and could conceivably upset Peru and Denmark. Even managed an impressive 0-0 draw with Colombia back in March (after being pumped 4-1 by Norway just before that). Very unpredictable but the Aussies have a tendency to show up in the big games and look great coming into the tournament. 

World Cup warm-up form

Won 4-0 Czech Republic

Won 2-1 Hungary

20. Egypt

A strong core is made all the better with the magic of Mo Salah upfront and there are hopes he may make it back from injury in time for the first match against Uruguay. Without him Egypt aren't the same but can still cause problems for opposition and should battle Russia for second in their group.

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 0-0 Colombia

Lost 3-0 Belgium

19. Senegal

Full of pace and cunning but with a defence which has to be looked after at all times by Kalidou Koulibaly. Senegal are so very nearly an extremely good team. Did pretty well against Croatia and South Korea in recent friendlies and appear to have really improved tactical discipline and organisation at the back. 

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 0-0 Luxembourg

Lost 2-1 Croatia

Won 2-0 South Korea

18. Peru

Dismissed Scotland without any real trouble and looked accomplished against Sweden. Always play in a 4-2-3-1, never do anything too spectacular and have an average level of base player quality - if luck goes their way, there's enough skill in the team to cause problems.

World Cup warm-up form

Won Scotland 2-0

Draw 0-0 Sweden

17. Sweden

Are Sweden actually better without Zlatan Ibrahimovic? They might be. It's a team game after all and without their former talisman, Sweden have to attack and defend differently. At the moment it seems to be working, if goalless draws are a mark of progress, that is.

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 0-0 Denmark

Draw 0-0 Peru

16. Serbia

Have some excellent individual players capable of making the difference in tight games but aren't quite so strong defensively. An impressive destruction of Bolivia shows how good this side can be when going forward but there are weaknesses to be exploited and escaping a group with Brazil and Switzerland will be tough. 

World Cup warm-up form

Lost 0-1 Chile

Won 5-1 Bolivia

15. Poland

Have a solid spine, wingers who can create chances and Robert Lewandowski finishing attacking moves. The worry is a few of Poland's big players are out of form coming into this tournament and the team could suffer as a result.

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 2-2 Chile

Lithuania

14. Mexico

Excellent with the ball, organised and disciplined without it, Mexico are a good shout for a last-16 place though perhaps don't have the raw talent to go much further. Denmark put them in their place but Scotland barely got close.

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 0-0 Wales

Won 1-0 Scotland

Lost 2-0 Denmark

13. Denmark

A decent squad with a few star individuals - Denmark are an accomplished side who defend well, can keep the ball in midfield and have Christian Eriksen. He could prove to be one of the stars of the tournament, with the natural and unwanted flip-side of that being if he isn't, Denmark won't go very far.

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 0-0 Sweden

Won 2-0 Mexico

12. Switzerland

Why does nobody ever rate Switzerland? They are effective, keep the ball well and in Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri have real Premier League-level quality. Even with those star players, they do look pretty average as a whole, which is why so many people are guilty of underestimating them. Do so at your (mild) peril!

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 1-1 Spain

Won 2-0 Japan

11. England

Just because you can actually enjoy watching England play these days doesn't mean they're suddenly the finished article. Gareth Southgate has put the right players in the right positions but when up against any truly strong side, a lack of invention lets them down.

There are mistakes waiting to be made by the defence in this innovative 3-5-2 they're experimenting with but at the other end of the pitch, Harry Kane is a top talent; England have a good chance of doing well. But please don't get too excited.

World Cup warm-up form

Won Nigeria 2-1

Won Costa Rica 2-0

10. Colombia

With minimal match practise before the start of the tournament, Colombia fancy themselves to do pretty well in Russia and have the players to make it happen. That said, they didn't manage to beat Egypt in their most recent friendly and are built around James Rodriguez, who can be a little hit or miss. 

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 0-0 Egypt

9. Croatia

Luka Modric is one of the best midfielders in the world, Ivan Rakitic isn't bad either and actually, in nearly every position on the pitch, Croatia have a great option. Found Brazil were just too good for them in a 2-0 friendly defeat but outclassed Senegal afterwards - Croatia are in a really difficult group but should have enough talent and experience to at least navigate their way to the first knockout stage.

World Cup warm-up form

Lost 0-2 Brazil

Won 2-1 Senegal

8. Uruguay

Have only played one warm-up game before the tournament, which is either because they're so confident they don't need to practise, or so under-prepared that they want to focus on fixing things on the training pitch. It's almost certainly the former - this is a dogged, determined and highly skillful team who could well cause a real upset.

World Cup warm-up form

Won 3-0 Uzbekistan

7. Argentina

Without Lionel Messi this team would sit somewhere a lot lower on this list. The amazing selection of forwards available can't ever play at the same time without upsetting balance, the midfield is average and ageing and the defence is questionable. But it's Messi, so...

World Cup warm-up form

Won 4-0 Haiti

6. Portugal

Portugal fans expect their side to do pretty well in Russia after Cristiano Ronaldo inspired a famous Euro 2016 victory and they may actually be set up in a way that makes this possible. A defensive 4-4-2, disciplined build-up and strikers who score goals - one of them is Ronaldo - with a winning mentality.

Ronaldo's teams just seem to find a way and the manner in which Portugal completely shut down Belgium and caused problems of their own suggests they should be feared.

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 0-0 Belgium

Won 3-0 Algeria

5. Spain

Will this Spain be more like the 2010 world-destroyers or the 2014 mega-flops? Jolen Lopetegui has Whoever is in charge come kick-off has an incredible bunch of players to choose a team from, led by serial-winner Sergio Ramos. Were so impressive in qualification and just need to get their approach right for each individual match. Should (relatively) easily reach at least a quarter-final, even with all the chaos surrounding the exit of their Real Madrid-bound manager.

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 1-1 Switzerland

Win 1-0 Tunisia

4. France

One of the best squads in the World Cup. Didier Deschamps is a little cautious at times but that works in international tournaments. There's a great blend of experience and youth, pace and skill; big things are expected of this exciting French team and they looked superb in a recent 3-1 win over Italy.

World Cup warm-up form

Won Italy 3-1

Draw 1-1 USA

3. Belgium

Doubts over Roberto Martinez's team selection have thawed a little after a few seriously impressive performances in warm-up matches. There are still questions over how Belgium will cope against proper opposition and a weakened Portugal were able to keep them quiet rather too easily but Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne are just three names in a ridiculously talented group.

Belgium are explosive in an extremely volatile kind of way. They could either blow the opposition away or self destruct and absolutely nobody can predict can which it'll be. Thankfully, fireworks are always entertaining to watch, no matter where they go bang.

World Cup warm-up form

Draw 0-0 Portugal

Won 3-0 Egypt

Won 4-1 Costa Rica

2. Germany

The reigning champions, the same manager, familiar tactics and a squad without a weakness. Germany always turn it on at the big tournaments and won't be far away from winning the World Cup - they should at least make the final.

Buuuuuuuuut, Saudi Arabia didn't struggle in a recent friendly and Austria even managed a rare win - are they stuttering a bit? Remember when Spain struggled in 2014? There's surely not a chance Germany could be like that, is there?

Nah. It's Germany.

World Cup warm-up form

Lost 2-1 Austria

Won 2-1 Saudi Arabia

1. Brazil

Only one South American team has ever won a World Cup in Europe (Brazil in 1958). Since then, nothing - but there's just something about this current Brazil side. One of the three best players in the world (Neymar) fronts an XI full of attacking flair, skill, pace, power and tactical acumen - Tite has them performing like Brazil of the 70s and few opponents are going to be able to cope.

The one big doubt is whether the memory of the 7-1 humiliation will act as a constant source of inspiration or hang over the squad like an unwanted ghost of football past (not that ghosts are ever really wanted) but you'd really assume the former when watching them.

Brazil look fired up and are exciting to watch. They should rightly be considered favourites for the 2018 World Cup.

World Cup warm-up form

Won 2-0 Croatia

Won 3-0 Austria