FIFA World Cup 2018: The world’s biggest football tournament FIFA World Cup 2018 has kicked off in Russia on June 14. As many as 32 teams, who have been divided into eight groups, have participated in the month-long tournament. A total of 64 matches has been scheduled which will be played across 12 venues in the country.
The teams coming first and second in each group will qualify for the knockout stage. The knockout stages include the Round of 16 (pre-quarterfinals), quarterfinals, semifinals and the final on July 15 in Luzhniki Stadium which is the largest FIFA World Cup 2018 venue with 81,000 seats. Germany are the defending champions and they have been clubbed in Group F with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea. The runners-up of FIFA World Cup 2014, which was held in Brazil, Argentina are in Group D with Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.
Following are points tables of the 8 groups:
Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
| Group A Points Table | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Egypt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
In Group A, Russia and Uruguay
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
| Group B Points Table | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Iran | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Portugal | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Morocco | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
| Group C Points Table | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Denmark | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Peru | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
| Group D Points Table | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Croatia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Argentina | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Iceland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Nigeria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
| Group E Points Table | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Serbia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Brazil | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Costa Rica | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
| Group F Points Table | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Mexico | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Sweden | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| South Korea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Germany | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
| Group G Points Table | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Belgium | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Panama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
| Group H Points Table | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Matches | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Senegal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Poland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Colombia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
There are 23 players in the final team announced by each nation. While all the 32 nations are eyeing the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy, the main contest is likely to be between defending champion Germany, five-time winner Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Portugal and France.
Source: Zee News