Why you should watch every team at the 2018 World Cup
A look at the storylines, top players and expectations for all 32 teams at this year’s World Cup, and what should interest you about all of them.
For all the nationalistic pride that comes with cheering for your country at the World Cup, it can be tough to muster up the motivation when your favorite team doesn’t have a seat at the table. That’s the headache facing casual American soccer fans this summer, and it’s also the dilemma of Italian, Chilean and Dutch fans, whose national teams will sit on the sideline while the world’s best play for the quadrennial title.
As disappointing as it may be to not have a horse in the race, the 32 countries that did manage to qualify are all worth paying attention to for one reason or another. The diverse field raring to compete in Russia can help make up for unwanted neutrality with a sea of high expectations (looking at you, Brazil) and underdog tales (let’s go, Iceland!). Whether for interesting tactics, bizarre off-field storylines or pure star power, the World Cup is guaranteed to feature all.
This is your guide to the 32 teams competing, and why you should watch every one of them.
Argentina
It is difficult to find a team in this World Cup who have more at stake than Argentina. Lionel Messi will turn 31 during the tournament, making this likely his final World Cup in his prime. After three straight brutal extra-time losses in finals of major tournaments, Messi and Argentina desperately want a World Cup.
Such a talent-rich country failing to win the world’s biggest competition despite the presence of the greatest player ever would be difficult to fathom. But that is the proposition facing Argentina, and this year’s prospects are not as good as they were in 2014, when they lost in the final to a Mario Gotze goal.
Players like Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain will accompany Messi, but Argentina only just qualified for the tournament, and constantly have needed Messi to pull them out of precarious situations. They desperately need other difference-makers to step up; Paulo Dybala and Manuel Lanzini are among the new blood in attack who have to provide non-Messi goal-scoring.
Argentina need this World Cup. They will be the most compelling team to watch at the tournament.