world cup

Argentina have won the World Cup twice, in 1978 and 1986. This summer's tournament will be the 12^th in succession that they've qualified for, though at one stage during the 2018 qualifiers it looked as if they would miss out on Russia. La Albiceleste finished as runners-up in 2014, losing 1-0 after extra-time to eventual winners Germany

Australia have qualified for their fourth straight World Cup having previously not done so since 1974 before the 2006 tournament. The Socceroos have only navigated their way out of the group stage once back in 2006 when they reached the last 16, before losing 1-0 to eventual winners Italy courtesy of a 95^th minute Francesco Totti penalty.

Belgium enter the 2018 World Cup as dark horses to win the tournament. The Red Devils will be managed by former Wigan and Everton manager Roberto Martinez, with Thierry Henry as his assistant. Their best finish at a World Cup came in 1986 when they finished in fourth place.

This edition of the tournament will be just the fourth time that Costa Rica have participated at a World Cup. Los Ticos reached the quarter-finals in 2014, which was their best performance. They remain the only Central American nation to win a game at a World Cup.

Croatia only became recognised as an official FIFA nation in 1992. Just six years later, the country qualified for its first World Cup and reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners France in controversial circumstances. The national side has since failed to progress past the group stage at the 2002, 2006 and 2014 editions for which they qualified.

Denmark are still fondly remembered for upsetting the odds by winning the 1992 European Championship. Progress at the World Cup has not been as impressive, with this summer's tournament being only their fifth World Cup campaign.

Egypt have only qualified for three World Cup tournaments (1934, 1990 and 2018), but were the very first African nation to do so in the second ever edition. The nation are yet to progress past the first stage of the competition.

England won the World Cup in 1966 and then finished fourth in 1990. Besides those two tournaments, they have failed to progress past the quarter-finals. England will enter the 2018 World Cup with one of their youngest ever squads with an average age of 26 for their qualification campaign.

France's solitary World Cup win came on home soil in 1998. Les Bleus finished runners-up in 2006 and reached the semi-finals in 1958, 1982 and 1986. France have exited the tournament at the group stage in two of the last four tournaments. Hugo Lloris is set to be the first French goalkeeper to earn 100 international caps at this summer's tournament.

The 2018 tournament in Russia will be Iceland's first experience of a World Cup. The tiny nation debuted at their first major tournament at Euro 2016 and went on to reach the quarter-finals – upsetting England in the process. Investment in all-weather facilities across the country has been attributed as the main cause for a huge increase in the talent pool available in Icelandic football.

The upcoming World Cup will be the fifth tournament that Iran have qualified for since they first became a FIFA member. In each of the previous four editions they have failed to progress past the group stage. Current manager Carlos Queiroz is the longest serving Iranian manager of all-time, having been in charge since 2011.

Japan have now qualified for six World Cup tournaments in a row having previously never done so before 1998. They have never progressed past the last 16 phase of the competition, but come to Russia having topped their qualifying group that included Australia.

Mexico have qualified for their seventh consecutive World Cup, and are now under the stewardship of Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio. The country has hosted the competition twice, in 1970 and 1986, but never threatened to win it with a best finish of the quarter-finals both coming on home turf. El Tri have exited at the last 16 stage in each of the past six tournaments.

Morocco return to the World Cup stage after an absence of four tournaments and 20 years. It will be just their fifth showing at a World Cup with a best performance of the last 16 coming in 1986. French-born head coach Herve Renard has previously managed Angola, Ivory Coast and Zambia. He guided the latter duo to victory in the 2015 and 2012 African Cup of Nations respectively.

Nigeria only reached their first World Cup in 1994. The Super Eagles have since failed to progress past the last 16 despite boasting a wealth of talent and winning the African Cup of Nations three times. They became the first African team to qualify for this year's tournament on 7th October, 2017, after topping a tough group featuring Cameroon and Algeria.

The 2018 World Cup will be their debut for Panama. The Red Tide came close to qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, having led USA 2-1 heading into the 90th minute, but conceded two goals in injury time to miss out. Poetically, it was their qualification this time around that stopped the USA from reaching Russia.

It has been a long time coming for a Peru side that had not qualified for a World Cup since 1982 before this latest achievement. They made it to Russia after beating New Zealand in an intercontinental play-off. Head coach Ricardo Gareca will now hope his team can emulate the quarter-final success achieved by the nation that qualified for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

Poland will be participating in their eighth World Cup this summer. The Eagles have an admirable record in the tournament having finished third in both 1974 and 1982. They failed to qualify for the past two World Cups but will be hoping to make up for lost time under long-serving head coach Adam Nawalka.

The reigning European Championship holders enter this tournament as dark horses after their surprise tournament win two years ago. Despite their rich footballing history, this will only be Portugal's seventh World Cup campaign. Qualifying for just the 1986 World Cup between 1966 and 2002 was a barren period for Portuguese football. The nation will be hoping the genius of Cristiano Ronaldo will deliver another stunning win.

The host nation come into this World Cup as firm underdogs despite being one of the largest countries competing in the tournament. Russia, in its current identity, have only qualified for three World Cup tournaments since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1990. The national team has failed to progress from the group stage during those campaigns.

Saudi Arabia come into this World Cup having missed out on qualifying for the previous two editions. The Green Falcons reached the last 16 at their debut tournament in 1994. That followed a semi-final run in the Confederations Cup held before that tournament. In last year's Confederations Cup, Pizzi's men reached the semi-finals so they can enter Russia full of confidence.

Senegal have only appeared at one previous World Cup in 2002. At the tournament in South Korea and Japan, the national team captured the imagination of football fans everywhere by defeating reigning world champions France 1-0 in the opening game. The Lions of Teranga went on to reach the quarter-finals in a memorable tournament. Current head coach Aliou Cisse was a part of that squad 16 years ago and will be hoping for a repeat performance.

Serbia have competed to qualify at different World Cups in various identities over the years. These include Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1930-1938), SFR Yugoslavia (1950-1990), FR Yugoslavia (1994-2002), Serbia and Montenegro (2006), and Serbia (2010-). Fourth place finishes in 1930 and 1962 are their best performances to date.

Spain have experienced mixed fortunes over recent years in the World Cup. La Roja won the tournament in 2010. However, they have earned a reputation of being under-achievers over the years. Despite boasting an embarrassment of riches, Spain have only progressed past the quarter-finals in 1950, asides from their trophy-winning campaign. Julen Lopetegui's side went unbeaten during qualification to keep hopes high for another World Cup win.

Over the years, Sweden have punched above their weight. The Scandinavian nation have reached the semi-finals on four different occasions in 1938, 1950, 1958 and 1994. Their best finish came at the tournament hosted on their own territory in 1958 when they finished runners-up to Brazil. This will be Sweden's first World Cup appearance since 2006.

Switzerland will compete in their fourth straight World Cup this summer. They notoriously exited the 2006 World Cup without conceding a goal in normal play, losing 3-0 on penalties to Ukraine in the last 16. Failure to get past the last 16 since 1954 when they reached the quarter-finals on home turf will be a monkey that Vladimir Petkovic's men will want off their back.

Tunisia are returning to World Cup competition after an absence since the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Their previous four outings at the tournament have seen the side fail to progress beyond the group stage. It is an underwhelming record for a nation that has been crowned African Cup of Nations winners in 2004 and African Nations Championship champions in 2011.

Uruguay have an illustrious history in the World Cup having won the first edition on home turf in 1930 and then in 1950. La Celeste also reached the semi-finals in 1954, 1970 and 2010. Not bad for a country of just 3.5 million people! Head coach Oscar Tabarez has been in charge since 2006 and will hope the attacking duo of Suarez and Cavani can see the Uruguayans punch above their weight once again.