There are no more rehearsals – the World Cup is almost upon us. Here’s how all the finalists are looking as national team coaches unveil their squads…
These are the key dates for final squads:
Friday, October 21: Preliminary squad list (35-55 players) to be submitted
Monday, November 14: Final list of 23-26 players to be submitted
Tuesday, November 15: FIFA to officially announce all 32 squads
Squads confirmed: Japan, Costa Rica, Brazil, Denmark (21 of 26), Australia, Croatia, Switzerland.
Squad announcements due:
Wednesday, November 9: Wales, France, United States.
Thursday, November 10: England, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Poland,
Friday, November 11: Netherlands, Spain.
Saturday, November 12: South Korea.
Monday, November 14: Argentina.
Here’s the group-by-group breakdown…
Group A
Ecuador
World ranking: 44
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Last squad: 0-0 v Saudi Arabia; 0-0 v Japan
Hernan Galindez (Aucas), Moises Ramirez (Independiente del Valle), Alexander Dominguez (LDU Quito), Gonzalo Valle (Guayaquil City), Pervis Estupinan (Brighton), Angelo Preciado (Genk), Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Xavier Arreaga (Seattle Sounders), Diego Palacios (LAFC), Byron Castillo (Leon), Fernando Leon (Atletico San Luis), Jackson Porozo (Troyes), William Pacho (Antwerp), Carlos Gruezo (Augsburg), Angel Mena (Leon), Jhegson Mendez (LAFC), Gonzalo Plata (Real Valladolid), Romario Ibarra (Pachuca), Moises Caicedo (Brighton), Alan Franco (Talleres), Jose Cifuentes (LAFC), Jeremy Sarmiento (Brighton), Nilson Angulo (Anderlecht), Patrickson Delgado (Jong Ajax), Anthony Valencia (Antwerp), Enner Valencia (Fenerbahce), Michael Estrada (Cruz Azul), Djorkaeff Reasco (Newell’s Old Boys)
Robert Arboleda and Felix Torres missed the goalless stalemates with Saudi Arabia and Japan, with Sao Paulo centre-back Arboleda recovering from an ankle injury while Torres nursed a muscle strain. Premier League representation comes exclusively from Brighton, with Moises Caicedo and Pervis Estupinan expected to feature.
Netherlands
World ranking: 8
Coach: Louis van Gaal
Last squad: 39-man squad named in October.
Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Jasper Cillessen (NEC), Mark Flekken (Freiburg), Remko Pasveer (Ajax), Justin Biljow (Feyenoord), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Mitchell Bakker (Bayer Leverkusen), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Stefan de Vrij (Inter), Daley Blind (Ajax), Pascal Struijk (Leeds United), Mickey van de Ven (Wolfsburg), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Devyne Rensch (Ajax), Denzel Dumfries (Inter), Sven Botman (Newcastle United), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven), Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax), Jordy Clasie (AZ Alkmar), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Guss Til (PSV), Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Wout Weghorst (Besiktas), Cody Gakpo (PSV), Vincent Janssen (Royal Antwerp), Brian Brobbey (Ajax), Luuk de Jong (PSV), Arnaut Danjuma (Villarreal), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Noa Lang (Club Brugge).
It’s an initial squad full of youngsters but many of those are likely to be discarded before the final 26-man squad is named. With no Giorginio Wijnaldum, Tim Krul or Bruno Martins Indi, a weakness maybe a relative lack of experience.
Qatar
World ranking: 50
Coach: Felix Sanchez
Recent squad: 0-2 v Canada; 2-2 v Chile
Saad Al Sheeb (Al-Sadd), Yousef Hassan (Al-Gharafa), Meshaal Barsham (Al-Sadd), Ro-Ro (Al-Sadd), Abdelkarim Hassan (Al-Sadd), Tarek Salman (Al-Sadd), Musab Kheder (Al-Sadd), Homam Ahmed (Al-Gharafa), Bassam Al-Rawi (Al-Duhail), Boualem Khoukhi (Al-Sadd), Abdulaziz Hatem (Al-Rayyan), Mohammed Waad (Al-Sadd), Ali Assadalla (Al-Sadd), Karim Boudiaf (Al-Duhail), Assim Madibo (Al-Duhail), Abdullah Al-Ahrak (Al-Duhail), Akram Afif (Al-Sadd), Ahmed Alaaeldin (Al-Gharafa), Mohammed Muntari (Al-Duhail), Hassan Al-Haydos (Al-Sadd), Ismaeel Mohammad (Al-Duhail), Khalid Muneer (Al-Wakrah), Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail)
Mahamed Emad and Jassem Gaber received call-ups for the September international break in an otherwise settled squad for the hosts.
Senegal
World ranking: 18
Coach: Aliou Cisse
Last squad: 2-0 v Bolivia; 1-1 v Iran
Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Alfred Gomis (Rennes), Seny Dieng (QPR), Mory Diaw (Clermont), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiacos), Fode Ballo-Toure (AC Milan), Noah Fadiga (Brest), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco), Formose Mendy (Amiens), Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig), Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest), Pape Gueye (Marseille), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Mamadou Loum (Reading), Moustapha Name (Pafos), Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana), Bamba Dieng (Marseille), Ismaila Sarr (Watford), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal), Demba Seck (Torino)
AFCON champions Senegal look well-placed to thrive in Qatar, with Cisse in his seventh year as manager with an experienced squad, a third of whom play in the Champions League, already used to success. Cisse might be concerned over his Chelsea pair, however, with Mendy having lost his place in goal and Koulibaly making a slow adjustment to the Premier League.
Group B
England
World ranking: 5
Coach: Gareth Southgate
Latest squad: 0-1 v Italy; 3-3 v Germany
Nick Pope (Newcastle), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Dean Henderson (Nottingham Forest), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Tammy Abraham (Roma), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Ivan Toney (Brentford).
Kyle Walker is a doubt to make England’s World Cup squad after undergoing surgery on a groin injury while City team-mate Kalvin Phillips (shoulder) also faces a race against time. Reece James has to wear a knee brace for a month so he is considered a major doubt, which could potentially open the door to Liverpool man Joe Gomez. Adding to the Three Lions’ concerns, Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell is out. An initial 55-man squad apparently includes Brighton trio, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk and Danny Welbeck.
READ MORE: The famous Football365 England World Cup ladder: How far has Harry Maguire dropped?
Iran
World ranking: 22
Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Latest squad: 1-0 v Uruguay; 1-1 v Senegal
Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Amir Abedzadeh (Ponferradina), Payam Niazmand (Sepahan), Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb), Shojae Khalilzadeh (Al-Ahli), Milad Mohammadi (AEK Athens), Morteza Pouraliganji (Persepolis), Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Al-Ahli), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Majid Hosseini (Kayserispor), Omid Noorafkan (Sepahan), Ramin Rezaeian (Sepahan), Abolfazl Jalali (Esteghlal), Ehsan Hajsafi (AEK Athens), Saeid Ezatolahi (Vejle), Omid Ebrahimi (Al-Wakrah), Ahmad Nourollahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Milad Sarlak (Persepolis), Saman Ghoddos (Brentford), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), Mehdi Taremi (Porto), Karim Ansarifard (Omonia), Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis), Ali Gholizadeh (Charleroi), Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen)
Iran are the underdogs of Group B but, ranked 20th in the world, they are only one place below Wales and heading to their third-successive finals. Sixteen of the players in their most recent squad played in Russia in 2018. The players recently voiced their support for protests over the death of Mahsa Amini while she was being held by ‘morality police’. It remains to be seen if the squad will continue those protests in Qatar.
United States
World ranking: 16
Coach: Gregg Berhalter
Latest squad: 0-2 Japan; 0-0 v Saudi Arabia
Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Matt Turner (Arsenal), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Sergino Dest (AC Milan), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Sam Vines (Antwerp), Reggie Cannon (Boavista), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Tyler Adams (Leeds United), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Malik Tillman (Rangers), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Josh Sargent (Norwich), Jesus Ferreira (Dallas), Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen), Paul Arriola (Dallas)
Zach Steffen missed the recent friendlies, with Arsenal keeper Matt Turner standing in. Boro loanee Steffen will return to the squad for Qatar but the No.1 position appears to be up for grabs. Union Berlin’s Jordan Pefok also missed the friendlies but if he maintains his Bundesliga form, Berhalter will be hard pushed to leave him out when the finals squad is announced on November 9. Injury-wise, Daryl Dike has a thigh thing while Miles Robinson has already been ruled out.
Wales
World ranking: 19
Coach: Rob Page
Latest squad: 1-2 v Belgium; 0-1 v Poland
Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), Danny Ward (Leicester), Tom King (Salford City), Ben Davies (Tottenham), Joe Rodon (Rennes), Ben Cabango (Swansea) , Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Chris Gunter (AFC Wimbledon), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth), Ethan Amapdu (Spezia), Matthew Smith (MK Dons), Dylan Levitt (Dundee United), Rabbi Matondo (Rangers), Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City), Jonny Williams (Swindon), Wes Byrns (Ipswich), Gareth Bale (LAFC), Daniel James (Fulham), Luke Harris (Fulham), Mark Harris (Cardiff), Tyler Roberts (QPR), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest)
Joe Allen has not played for Swansea since September due to a hamstring problem, while Tom Lawrence has a knee injury that has kept him out of Rangers action since August. The good news is that Aaron Ramsey is at least playing (sparingly) for Nice while Gareth Bale looked in fine fettle in the MLS Cup final.
Group C
Argentina
World ranking: 3
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Latest squad: 3-0 v Honduras; 3-0 v Jamaica
Franco Armani (River Plate), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Lens), Nehuen Perez (Udinese), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla), Lucas Martinez Quarta (Fiorentina), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton), Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Leandro Paredes (Juventus), Lionel Messi (PSG), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Paulo Dybala (Roma), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan)
Lisandro Martinez is pushing Nicolas Otamendi and Cristian Romero for their starting spots at Lionel Messi’s final World Cup. Julian Alvarez and Alexis MacAllister are set to get the nod after featuring in the recent friendlies, but Emi Buendia is likely to miss out.
Paulo Dybala is desperate to prove his fitness after a thigh injury in the final weekend of club fixtures, while Angel Di Maria could return in time from his own thigh problem.
Mexico
World ranking: 13
Coach: Gerardo Martino
Latest squad: Mexico have named an initial 31-man squad ahead of friendlies v Iraq and Sweden that will be reduced to 26 on November 14:
Guillermo Ochoa (Club America), Alfredo Talavera (FC Juarez), Rodolfo Cota (Leon), Jorge Sanchez (Ajax), Nestor Araujo (Club America), Hector Moreno (CF Monterrey), Cesar Montes (CF Monterrey), Johan Vasquez (Cremonese), Gerardo Arteaga (Genk), Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca), Jesus Gallardo (CF Monterrey), Jesus Angulo Tigres), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas de Guadalajara), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo), Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul), Erick Gutierrez (PSV Eindhoven), Luis Chavez (Pachuca), Diego Lainez (SC Braga), Erick Sanchez (Pachuca), Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Luis Romo (Cruz Azul), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul), Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Henry Martin (Club America), Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord), Rogelio Funes Mori (CF Monterrey), Hirving Lozano (Napoli), Alexis Vega (Chivas de Guadalajara), Jesus Corona (Sevilla).
Mexico’s biggest concerns are in attack, with Raul Jimenez struggling to stay fit, while Sevilla’s Jesus Corona is an even bigger doubt. This will be El Tri’s 17th appearance at the finals – only Brazil, Germany, Italy and Argentina have participated in more.
Poland
World ranking: 26
Coach: Czesław Michniewicz
Latest squad: 47-man squad named in October.
Wojciech Szczęsny (Juventus), Łukasz Skorupski (Bologna), Bartłomiej Drągowski (Spezia), Radosław Majecki (Cercle Brugge), Kamil Grabara (Copenhagen), Jan Bednarek (Aston Villa), Pawel Bochniewicz (Heerenveen), Kamil Glik (Benevento), Nicola Zalewski (Roma), Matty Cash (Aston Villa), Jakub Kiwior (Spezia), Paweł Dawidowicz (Hellas Verona), Bartosz Bereszyński (Sampdoria), Robert Gumny (Augsburg), Tomasz Kędziora (Dynamo Kyiv), Michal Karbownik (Dusseldorf), Arkadiusz Reca (Spezia), Mateusz Wieteska (Clermont), Michal Helik (Huddersfield), Patryk Kun (Rakow Czestochowa), Maik Nawrocki (Legia Warsaw), Tymoteusz Puchacz (Union Berlin), Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia Warsaw), Michal Skoras (Lech Poznan), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Al-Shabab), Mateusz Klich (Leeds United), Piotr Zieliński (Napoli), Karol Linetty (Torino), Krystian Bielik (Birmingham), Kamil Grosicki (Pogoń Szczecin), Przemysław Frankowski (Lens), Sebastian Szymański (Feyenoord), Damian Szymanski (AEK Athens), Szymon Żurkowski (Fiorentina), Jakub Kamiński (Wolfsburg), Patryk Dziczek (Piast Gliwice), Jakub Piotrowski (Ludogorets Razgrad), Kamil Jozwiak (Charlotte), Jacek Goralski (Vfl Bochum), Kacper Kozlowski (Vitesse), Mateusz Legowski (Pogon Szczecin), Adam Buksa (Lens), Krzysztof Piątek (Salernitana), Dawid Kownacki (Lech Poznan), Karol Świderski (Charlotte), Arkadiusz Milik (Juventus), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona).
Robert Lewandowski is on fire for Barcelona with Michniewicz hoping the centre-forward maintains his fitness for Qatar.
Saudi Arabia
World ranking: 51
Coach: Hervé Renard
Latest squad: 32-man squad named in October
Mohammed Al-Owais (Al-Hilal), Fawaz Al-Qarni (Al-Shabab), Mohamed Al-Yami (Al-Ahly), Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Amri (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Madu (Al-Nassr), Hassan Tambakti (Al-Shabab), Sultan Al-Ghanam (Al-Nassr), Ahmed Bamsaud (Ittihad), Mohammed Al-Breik (Al-Hilal), Saud Abdulhamid (Al-Hilal), Salman Al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Riyadh Sharahili (Abha), Ali Al-Hassan (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Malki (Al-Hilal), Sami Al-Najei (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal), Nasser Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Ittihad), Ayman Yahya (Al-Nassr), Fahad Al-Muwallad (Al-Shabab), Nawaf Al-Abed (Al-Shabab), Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab), Haitham Asiri (Al-Ahly), Abdullah Radif (Al-Taawoun), Abdullah Al-Hamdan (Al-Hilal), Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal), Firas Al-Buraikan (Al-Fateh).
Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked team at the tournament, have been drawn in a desperately difficult group with Argentina, Mexico and Poland. Renard looks set to pick an entirely domestic-based squad for the World Cup finals.
Group D
Australia
World ranking: 38
Coach: Graham Arnold
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Mathew Ryan (FC Copenhagen), Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), Aziz Behich (Dundee United), Milos Degenek (Columbus Crew), Thomas Deng (Aibirex Niigata), Joel King (Odense Boldklub), Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts), Fran Karacic (Brescia), Harry Souttar (Stoke City), Kye Rowles (Hearts), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United), Aaron Mooy (Celtic), Jackson Irvine (St Pauli), Ajdin Hrustic (Hellas Verona), Bailey Wright (Sunderland), Cameron Devlin (Hearts), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Keanu Baccus (St Mirren), Awer Mabil (Cadiz), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Martin Boyle (Hibernian), James Maclaren (Melbourne City), Jason Cummings (Central Coast Mariners), Mitchell Duke (Fagiano Okayama), Garang Kuol (Central Coast Mariners)
Newcastle new boy Kuol features for the Socceroos before moving to Tyneside in January despite being yet to start a game for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League. Keeper Mitch Langerak came out of international retirement just in time for the final friendlies and the finals in Qatar, only to miss out on the final squad.
Denmark
World ranking: 10
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand
Confirmed (partial) squad:
Kasper Schmeichel (Nice), Oliver Christensen (Hertha Berlin), Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace), Joakim Maehle (Atalanta), Andreas Christensen (Barcelona), Rasmus Kristensen (Leeds United), Jens Stryger Larsen (Trabzonspor), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray), Daniel Wass (Brondby), Thomas Delaney (Sevilla), Mathias Jensen (Brentford), Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham).
Kasper Hjulmand has named 21 of his 26-man squad, with the final five names to be announced after the final round of club fixtures in Europe this weekend. “It’s the right way to do it – there are two games left for many of our players, and that can easily change things. There are 10 or 12 players still in contention for the last five spots.”
Denmark’s video to announce their initial World Cup squad 😮🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/qNw5aXyq1S
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 8, 2022
France
World ranking: 4
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Latest squad: 2-0 Austria; 0-2 v Denmark
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Raphael Varane (Manchester United), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Benoit Badiashile (Monaco), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
No Paul Pogba or N’Golo Kante for France at this tournament but there is still an embarrassment of riches, particularly in forward positions. Raphael Varane is hopeful of recovering from a hamstring injury.
Tunisia
World ranking: 30
Coach: Jalel Kadri
Latest squad: 1-0 v Comoros; 1-5 v Brazil
Mohamed Sedki Debchi (Esperance de Tunis), Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien), Bechir Ben Said (US Monastir), Bilel Ifa (Kuwait SC), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Nader Ghandri (Club Africain), Omar Rekik (Sparta Rotterdam), Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), Mohamed Drager (Luzern), Rami Kaib (Heerenveen), Hamza Mathlouthi (Zamalek), Ali Abdi (Caen), Dylan Bronn (Salernitana), Saif-Eddine Khaoui (Clermont), Anis Ben Slimane (Brondby), Ghailene Chaalali (Esperance de Tunis), Hannibal Mejbri (Birmingham City), Ferjani Sassi (Al-Duhail), Aissa Laidouni (Ferencvaros), Chaim El Djebali (Lyon), Ellyes Skhiri (Koln), Sayfallah Ltaief (Basel), Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek), Youssef Msakni (Al-Arabi), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Kuwait SC), Naim Sliti (Al-Ettifaq), Issam Jebali (OB), Wahbi Khazri (Montpellier)
Manchester United youngster Hannibal, currently on loan at Birmingham, is the only English-based player in Kadri’s crew for the finals. Captain Msakni plies his trade in Qatar, while Mohamed Ali Yacoubi, Mohamed Amine Ben Amor and Firas Chaouat are all set to miss out.
Group E
Costa Rica
World ranking: 31
Coach: Luis Fernando Suárez
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Keylor Navas (PSG), Esteban Alvarado (Herediano), Patrick Sequeira (Club Deportivo Lugo), Francisco Calvo (Konyaspor), Juan Pablo Vargas (Millonarios), Kendall Waston (Saprissa), Óscar Duarte (Al-Wehda), Daniel Chacón (Colorado Rapids), Keysher Fuller (Herediano), Carlos Martínez (San Carlos), Bryan Oviedo (Real Salt Lake), Ronald Matarrita (Cincinnati), Yeltsin Tejeda (Herediano), Celso Borges (Alajuelense), Youstin Salas (Saprissa), Roan Wilson (Grecia), Gerson Torres (Herediano), Douglas López (Herediano), Jewison Bennette (Sunderland), Álvaro Zamora (Saprissa), Anthony Hernández (Puntarenas), Brandon Aguilera (Nottingham Forest), Bryan Ruiz (Alajuelense), Joel Campbell (León), Anthony Contreras (Herediano), Johan Venegas (Alajuelense).
Sunderland’s Bennette is the only English-based player in Los Ticos’ squad for a tournament in which they have been handed a desperately touch draw alongside the 2010 and 2014 champions. Former Arsenal striker Campbell, only just turned 30, is on 118 caps.
Germany
World ranking: 11
Coach: Hansi Flick
Latest squad: A 44-man list, as claimed by Bild:
Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Bernd Leno (Fulham), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Armel Bella-Kotchap (Southampton), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Robin Gosens (Inter Milan), Christian Gunter (Freiburg), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Thilo Kehrer (West Ham), Niklas Sule (Borussia Dortmund), Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig), Robin Knoche (Union Berlin), Robin Koch (Leeds United), Luca Netz (Borussia Monchengladbach), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), Maximilian Arnold (Wolfsburg), Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund), Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund), Julian Draxler (Benfica), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Jonas Hofmann (Borussia Monchengladbach), Rani Khedira (Union Berlin), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Anton Stach (Mainz), Julian Weigl (Borussia Monchengladbach), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Niclas Fullkrug (Werder Bremen), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Kai Havertz (Chelsea), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Nmecha (Wolfsburg), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich).
Germany can’t do much worse than the 2018 finals when they failed to make it out of the group, especially while Flick has such a strong squad. There are doubts over Leroy Sane (thigh) and Armel Bella-Kotchap (shoulder), while Timo Werner has been ruled out (ankle) but the good news – for them at least – is that Marco Reus has recovered from his ankle injury.
Japan
World ranking: 24
Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Shuichi Gonda (Shimizu S-Pulse), Daniel Schmidt (Sint-Truiden), Eiji Kawashima (Strasbourg), Miki Yamane (Kawasaki Frontale), Hiroki Sakai (Urawa Reds), Maya Yoshida (Schalke), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal), Shogo Taniguchi (Kawasaki Frontale), Ko Itakura (Borussia Monchengladbach), Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Yuta Nakayama (Huddersfield Town), Wataru Endo (Stuttgart), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting Lisbon), Ao Tanaka (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Gaku Shibasaki (Leganes), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ritsu Doan (Freiburg), Junya Ito (Stade Reims), Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco), Takefusa Kubo Real Sociedad), Yuki Soma (Nagoya Grampus), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Takuma Asano (Bochum), Ayase Ueda (Cercle Bruges).
Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu and Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma are included along with Huddersfield Town defender Yuta Nakayama.
Spain
World ranking: 7
Coach: Luis Enrique
Latest squad: 1-2 Switzerland; 1-0 Portugal
Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Robert Sanchez (Brighton), David Raya (Brentford), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Diego Llorente (Leeds), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Jose Luis Gaya (Valencia), Hugo Guillamon (Valencia), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Gavi (Barcelona), Pedri (Barcelona), Carlos Soler (PSG), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Sarabia (PSG), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Borja Iglesias (Real Betis)
There was talk of Gerard Pique being involved after his surprise inclusion in Luis Enrique’s 55-man squad. Then he retired. What we do know is that David De Gea has missed out.
Group F
Belgium
World ranking: 2
Coach: Roberto Martínez
Latest squad: 0-1 v Netherlands; 2-1 v Wales
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Matz Sels (Racing Strasbourg), Dedryck Boyata (Club Brugge), Timothy Castagne (Leicester), Wout Faes (Leicester), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Toby Alderweireld (Antwerp), Jason Denayer (Al-Ahli), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan), Leander Dendocker (Aston Villa), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Amadou Onana (Everton), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid), Youri Tielemans (Leicester), Leandro Trossard (Brighton), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Dodi Lukebakio (Hertha Berlin), Lois Openda (Lens), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce)
The Red Devils landed a cushy-looking draw as they look to better their third-place finish in 2018. Martinez has a number of young players coming through, Everton’s Onana among them, but Belgium look set to retain an experienced first XI, while a nation prays for the continued fitness of De Bruyne.
Canada
World ranking: 41
Coach: John Herdman
Latest squad: 2-0 Uruguay; 2-0 v Qatar
Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United), Maxime Crepeau (LAFC), Milan Borjan (Red Star Belgrade), Alistair Johnston (Montreal), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Sam Adekugbe (Hatayspor), Kamal Miller (Montreal), Derek Cornelius (Panetolikos), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Scott Kennedy (Jahn Regensburg), Joel Waterman (Montreal), Steven Vitoria (Chaves), Samuel Piette (Montreal), Ismael Kone (Montreal), Stephen Eustaquio (Porto), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Toronto FC), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Lucas Cavallini (Vancouver Whitecaps), Junior Hoilett (Reading), Tajon Buchanan (Club Brugge), Theo Corbeanu (Blackpool), Charles-Andreas Brym (FC Eindhoven), Ike Ugbo (Troyes), Luca Koleosho (Espanyol), Cyle Larin (Club Brugge), Liam Millar (Basel), Jonathan David (Lille)
Herdman’s biggest concern, one of the things “keeping him awake at night”, was the fitness of captain Atiba Hutchinson, Canada’s most-capped player, who missed the friendlies due to a bone bruise suffered in pre-season with Besiktas. Then Alphonso Davies limped out of Bayern Munich’s game last weekend.
Croatia
World ranking: 12
Coach: Zlatko Dalic
Latest squad: The 26-man squad:
Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivica Ivusic (Osijek), Ivo Grbic (Atletico Madrid), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens), Dejan Lovren (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Borna Barisic (Rangers), Josip Juranovic (Celtic), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Josip Sutalo (Dinamo Zagreb), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Mario Pasalaic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Lovro Majer (Rennes), Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Luka Sucic (Red Bull Salzburg), Ivan Perisic (Tottenham), Andrej Kramaric (1899 Hoffenheim), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split).
Dalic is likely to pick a familiar-looking XI, with Modric, Kovacic, Brozovic, Perisic and Lovren all still key players for the 2018 runners-up. Kovacic and Perisic have been joined by Old Firm rivals Barisic and Juranovic as British-based representatives.
Morocco
World ranking: 22
Coach: Walid Regragui
Latest squad: 0-0 v Paraguay; 2-0 v Chile
Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Munir El Kajoui (Al Wehda), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad Casablanca), Anas Zniti (Raja CA), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Ganza Ek Niyssaiyu (RS Berkane), Romain Saiss (Besiktas), Achraf Dari (Brest), Badr Benoun (Qatar SC), Yahia Attiyat Allah (Wydad Casablanca), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid), Samy Mmaee (Ferencvaros), Younes Belhanda (Adana Demirspor), Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Sampdoria), Ilias Chair (QPR), Selim Amallah (Standard Liege), Yahya Jabrane (Wydad Casablanca), Amine Harit (Marseille), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea), Munir El Haddadi (Getafe), Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Ayoub El Kaabi (Hatayspor), Walid Cheddira (Bari), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain), Sofiane Boufal (Angers), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Ryan Mmaee (Ferencvaros), Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna)
The second-best team in Africa, according to FIFA rankings, will face two of 2018 semi-finalists in Qatar. Morocco look strong in the full-back areas, with Mazraoui and Hakimi, while Regragui has plenty of options up front to supplement a forward line likely to consist of Ziyech, Boufal and En-Nesyri. Dutch-born forward player Anwar El Ghazi might switch allegiance.
Group G
Brazil
World ranking: 1
Coach: Tite
Confirmed 26-man squad:
Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras), Dani Alves (Club Universidad Nacional), Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Manchester United), Bremer (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United), Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (FC Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).
Head coach Tite has decided to leave out Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino and Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes. Gunners duo Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus have made the cut, though.
Cameroon
World ranking: 43
Coach: Rigobert Song
Latest squad: 0-1 v South Korea; 0-2 v Uzbekistan
Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Marseille), Devis Epassy (Abha), Andre Onana (Inter Milan), Nicolas Nkoulou (Aris), Enzo Ebosse (Udinese), Oumar Gonzalez (Ajaccio), Darlin Yongwa (Lorient), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders), Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union), Collins Fai (Al-Tai), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes), Christopher Wooh (Rennes), Georges Mandjeck (Nea Salamis), Jean Onana (Lens), Gael Ondoua (Hannover), Samuel Gouet (Mechelen), Pierre Kunde (Olympiacos), Martin Hongla (Hellas Verona), Olivier Ntcham (Swansea), Leandre Tawamba (Al-Taawoun), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas), Vincent Aboubakar (Al-Nassr), Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford), Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys), Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon), Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow)
Brentford forward Mbeumo switched allegiance from France to the Indomitable Lions in August in time to make the squad for the September friendlies and the World Cup finals. Mbeumo will be scrapping with Ekambi, Choupo-Moting and Aboubakar for a starting role in Song’s side.
Serbia
World ranking: 21
Coach: Dragan Stojković
Latest squad: 4-1 Sweden; 2-0 Norway
Marko Dmitrovic (Sevilla), Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Torino), Marko Ilic (Kortrijk), Stefan Mitrovic (Getafe), Filip Mladenovic (Legia Warsaw), Strahinja Pavlovic (Salzburg), Milos Veljkovic (Werder Bremen), Aleksa Terzic (Fiorentina), Erhan Masovic (Bochum), Strahinja Erakovic (Red Star Belgrade), Srdan Babic (Almeria), Dusan Tadic (Ajax), Nemanja Gudelj (Sevilla), Filip Kostic (Juventus), Nemanja Maksimovic (Getafe), Filip Duricic (Sampdoria), Nemanja Radonjic (Torino), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio), Sasa Lukic (Torino), Andrija Zivkovic (PAOK), Stefan Mitrovic (Red Star Belgrade), Uros Racic (Braga), Ivan Ilic (Hellas Verona), Darko Lazovic (Hellas Verona), Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham), Luka Jovic (Fiorentina), Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
Serbia look primed to surprise a few people in Qatar. Stojkovic’s side were superb in their Nations League wins, with Mitrovic taking his Premier League form to the international stage by scoring a hat-trick against Sweden. His and Vlahovic’s firepower will give Serbia a great chance to get through the group, especially with Mitrovic resting an ankle injury before the tournament.
Switzerland
World ranking: 15
Coach: Murat Yakin
Latest squad: The 26-man squad:
Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Kohn (RB Salzburg), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier), Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Eray Comert (Valencia), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Silvan Widmer (Mainz), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz), Fabian Frei (Basel), Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Fabian Rieder (Young Boys), Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Denis Zakaria (Chelsea), Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Breel Embolo (Monaco), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys), Noah Okafor (RB Salzburg), Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg)
The third matchday meeting between Serbia and Switzerland could be vital in deciding who joins Brazil in the knockout stages. The Swiss have plenty of experience, with Shaqiri and Xhaka both in possession of over 100 caps, while Embolo is expected to be the key man in attack.
Group H
Ghana
World ranking: 61
Coach: Otto Addo
Latest squad: 0-3 v Brazil; 1-0 v Nicaragua
Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates), Joe Wollacott (Swindon), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton), Alidu Seidu (Clermont), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Gideon Mensah (Bordeaux), Daniel Amartey (Leicester), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Abdul-Rahman Baba (Reading), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton), Stephan Ambrosius (Karlsruher), Thomas Partey (Arsenal), Iddrisu Baba (Real Mallorca), Elisha Owusu (Gent), Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (St Pauli), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax), Andre Ayew (Al Saad), Osman Bukari (Nantes), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes), Daniel Afriyie Barnieh (Hearts of Oak), Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer (Hamburg), Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Sporting CP), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Felix Afena-Gyan (Roma), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Benjamin Tetteh (Hull)
Ghana, the lowest-ranked team in Qatar, will boast plenty of Premier League and EFL representation but it was brought up in congress that the Black Stars ought to still be working on convincing Callum Hudson-Odoi and Jeffrey Schlupp to represent them in Qatar.
Portugal
World ranking: 9
Coach: Fernando Santos
Latest squad: 4-0 v Czech Republic; 0-1 v Spain
Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Patrício (Roma), Jose Sa (Wolves), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Tiago Djalo (Lille), Pepe (Porto), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Danilo Pereira (PSG), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Matheus Nunes (Wolves), William Carvalho (Real Betis), Ruben Neves (Wolves), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Vitinha (PSG), Joao Felix (Atlético Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Pedro Neto (Wolves), Rafa Silva (Benfica), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Ricardo Horta (Braga)
Liverpool attacker Fabio Carvalho has emerged as a surprise inclusion in Portugal’s provisional 55-man squad, according to reports. Diogo Jota has been ruled out with a calf injury, along with Wolves forward Pedro Neto, while Pepe and Nuno Mendes are both in a race against time.
South Korea
World ranking: 28
Coach: Paulo Bento
Latest squad: 1-0 v Cameroon; 2-2 v Costa Rica
Kim Seung-gyu (Al-Shabab), Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Hong Chul (Daegu FC), Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan Hyundai), Kwon Kyung-won (Gamba Osaka), Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan Hyundai), Cho Yu-min (Daejon Hana Citizen), Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Yoon Jong-gyu (FC Seoul), Jung Woo-young (Al-Sadd), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), Na Sang-ho (FC Seoul), Paik Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves), Kwon Chang-hoon (Gimcheon Sangmu), Paik Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Son Jun-ho (Shandong Taishan), Jeong Woo-yeong (Freiburg), Lee Kang-in (Mallorca), Yanh Hyun-jun (Gangwon FC), Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos), Cho Gue-sung (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
Hwang Hee-chan could be the only Premier League-based representative in Bento’s squad with Spurs forward Son Heung-min to undergo surgery to stabilise a fracture around his left eye. Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is likely to catch the eye; Manchester United are among the clubs linked with the centre-back.
Uruguay
World ranking: 14
Coach: Diego Alonso
Latest squad: 55-man squad named in October.
Guillermo de Amores (Lanus), Santiago Mele (Union), Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Gaston Olveira (Olimpia), Sergio Rochet (Nacional), Sebastian Sosa (Independiente), Gaston Alvarez (Getafe), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Santiago Bueno (Getafe), Leandro Cabrera (Espanyol), Martin Caceres (LA Galaxy), Sebastian Caceres (America), Sebastian Coates (Sporting Lisbon), Alfonso Espino (Cadiz), Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Diego Godin (Velez Sarsfeld), Giovanni Gonzalez (Mallorca), Bruno Mendez (Corinthians), Lucas Olaza (Real Valladolid), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Federico Pereira (Liverpool Montevideo), Joaquin Piquerez (Palmeiras), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Nacional), Agustin Rogel (Hertha Berlin), Damian Suarez (Getafe), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Matias Vina (Roma), Mauro Arambarri (Getafe), Cesar Araujo (Orlando City), Maxi Araujo (Puebla), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Felipe Carballo (Nacional), Nicolas de la Cruz (River Plate), Fabricio Diaz (Liverpool Montevideo), Fernando Gorriaran (Santos Laguna), Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United), David Terans (Athletic Paranaense), Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray), Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Matias Vecino (Lazio), Agustin Alvarez (Sassuolo), Thiago Borbas (River Plate), Agustin Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense), Edinson Cavani (Valencia), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Maxi Gomez (Trabzonspor), Nicolas Lopez (Tigres), Darwin Nunez (Liverpool), Brian Ocampo (Cadiz), Jonathan Rodriguez (America), Diego Rossi (Fenerbahce), Martin Satriano (Empoli), Luis Suarez (Nacional), Facundo Torres (Orlando City).
Alonso is yet to find the right blend since he replaced Oscar Tabarez last year. Uruguay can call upon Suarez, Cavani and Nunez but time is running out to find a formula to get the best out of the trio – it certainly didn’t work in the shock defeat to Iran.
Read more: The World Cup in Qatar is an ugly metastatic cancer in the football body; we are all guilty
