World Cup power rankings: how the 32 qualifiers for Russia shape up

Joachim Löw is attempting to become the first manager to win successive World Cups since Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938, and his masterplan is nearing completion. The experiment to blood some of Germany’s best young prospects at the Confederations Cup last summer is paying dividends, with Timo Werner emerging as a top-class option to lead the line having scored seven times in 10 international appearances. The draw against France on Tuesday thanks to Lars Stindl’s last-minute equaliser maintained an unbeaten record that stretches back to Euro 2016 against the same opponents and Löw’s side remain the team to beat next summer.

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1. Brazil
   The trauma experienced by those who played in the 7-1 mauling by Germany nearly four years ago has been banished by a series of performances and results more befitting of the five-times world champions, and Brazil meet their conquerors from that infamous night in Belo Horizonte for the first time since that semi-final defeat in a friendly at the end of March in Berlin. But while the Seleção will be keen to get one over on the team they beat to win their last final, in 2002, more significant battles lie ahead, with Dani Alves and Marcelo among those likely to be playing in their last World Cup.

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1. Spain
   An entertaining 3-3 draw with next year’s hosts on Tuesday in St Petersburg showed there is still plenty of work for Julen Lopetegui to do, although the former under-21 coach will be confident his side can be real contenders again after the disappointing defence of their crown last time around. A new crop of players well known to the manager from various youth age groups – including the Real Madrid sensation Marco Asensio – is starting to make a mark alongside the more established names, which bodes well for La Roja’s chances. The only question mark may be at the back, where the ageing Sergio Ramos and Gerard Piqué will have to forget their bruising experiences in Brazil.

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Isco, here in action against Costa Rica’s Cristian Gamboa, has made tremendous progress for Spain and Real Madrid.
Isco, here in action against Costa Rica’s Cristian Gamboa, has made tremendous progress for Spain and Real Madrid. Photograph: Jon Nazca/Reuters

1. France
   With endless amounts of top-class players to choose from all over the pitch, Didier Deschamps faces a headache just selecting a 23-man squad. So imagine how hard it must be to settle on 11. Given the manager’s tendency to pick Olivier Giroud in the big matches, Alexandre Lacazette made his task even more complex with two goals against Germany on Tuesday in a friendly that was high on quality throughout. The French Federation has extended the contract of the man who captained Les Bleus to their 1998 victory on home soil and Deschamps can expect his side to be there or thereabouts once again in Russia.

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1. Belgium
   Roberto Martínez has been handed the reins to one of Europe’s most talented squads and after their straightforward qualification the former Everton and Wigan manager is now fine-tuning. The narrow win over Japan courtesy of Romelu Lukaku’s 31st international goal followed a topsy-turvy 3-3 draw against Mexico that resembled some of his matches in charge at the DW Stadium, with defending less of a priority. Belgium have undoubted quality in every position to go all the way. The question is whether Martínez is the man to put the complicated jigsaw together.

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