Five favourites and five also-rans for the World Cup in Russia

The line-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is close to completion after Australia became the 31st nation to book their place at the finals.

Wed, 15 Nov, 2017 - 11:12

The line-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is close to completion after Australia became the 31st nation to book their place at the finals.

Germany will hope to defend the trophy from numerous worthy rivals while several less prominent countries will likely make early exits following the group-stage matches.

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Courts Soccer World Cup 2018 Place: Russia Place: Brazil Place: Rio Place: Moscow Place: Belo Horizonte Place: Europe Place: Ecuador Person: Joachim Low Person: Jerome Boateng Person: Thomas Muller Person: Niklas Sule Person: Leroy Sané Person: Timo Werner Person: Neymar Person: Selecao Person: Lionel Messi Person: La Albiceleste Person: Jorge Sampaoli Person: Julen Lopetegui Person: Isco Person: Álvaro Morata Person: Marco Asensio Person: Didier Deschamps Person: Alexandre Lacazette Person: Antoine Griezmann Person: Wahbi Khazri Person: Carlos Queiroz Event: World Cup Event: 2018 World Cup Event: Euro 2016 Event: European championship Organisation: Australia Organisation: Germany Organisation: Brazil Organisation: Argentina Organisation: Barcelona Organisation: Spain Organisation: Chile Organisation: La Roja Organisation: France Organisation: Bleus Organisation: Sweden Organisation: Holland Organisation: Saudi Arabia Organisation: Panama Organisation: Costa Rica Organisation: US Organisation: Tunisia Organisation: Ghana Organisation: Ivory Coast Organisation: Cameroon Organisation: Sunderland Organisation: Rennes Organisation: Iran Organisation: China Organisation: Uzbekistan Organisation: Qatar Organisation: Iceland Organisation: England

<p>STUNNED: German players reflect on the tame surrender to Solavkia in their opening World Cup qualifier in Bratislava. Julian Nagelsmann's side entertain Northern Ireland on Sunday. Pic: Denes Erdos, AP</p>

Back to the drawing board for Nagelsmann after Germany's shock defeat to Slovakia

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Five favourites and five also-rans for the World Cup in Russia

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Back to the drawing board for Nagelsmann after Germany's shock defeat to Slovakia

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