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World Cup 2018 power rankings

By James Dudko

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: Per Mertesacker of Germany holds the trophy a loft during the 2014 World Cup final match between Germany and Argentina at The Maracana Stadium on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: Per Mertesacker of Germany holds the trophy a loft during the 2014 World Cup final match between Germany and Argentina at The Maracana Stadium on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /
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MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – MAY 18, 2018: Alan Dzagoev, a member of the Russian men’s national football team, seen after a training session in the town of Novogorsk, Moscow Region, ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Valery Sharifulin/TASS (Photo by Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images)
MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – MAY 18, 2018: Alan Dzagoev, a member of the Russian men’s national football team, seen after a training session in the town of Novogorsk, Moscow Region, ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Valery Sharifulin/TASS (Photo by Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images) /

21. Russia

Normally a host nation can be counted on to go far. Yet there are just too many question marks about this Russia squad to believe the aging group will surprise many.

It’s not fair to say the hosts don’t have talent. There is plenty of it in a midfield led by CSKA Moscow talisman Alan Dzagoev.

The 27-year-old is a gifted attacking midfielder who loves to run beyond the striker. His touch, technique and eye for goal will be assets.

Expect Dzagoev to form a useful partnership with his CSKA team-mate Aleksandr Golovin. The rumored Manchester United target is a subtle and artful midfielder who can create and score goals.

Just like Sweden, though, Russia’s loaded midfield doesn’t have the targets to aim for. There are other issues at the back, where a defense led by 38-year-old Sergei Ignashevich lacks pace and athleticism.

Group A is tougher on paper than it looks thanks to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay. It means Russia are unlikely to reach the knockout phase.

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