5 things that could go wrong during 2018 FIFA World Cup

#2 The hosts could go out in the group stage

Russia were easily beaten by Wales at Euro 2016

An argument could certainly be made that any World Cup is better if its hosts go deeper into the tournament. Recent history would seem to confirm that, as everyone remembers South Korea’s Cinderella run in 2002, France’s victory in 1998, and Germany and Brazil making the semi-finals in 2006 and 2014 respectively. Meanwhile, the least well-regarded recent World Cup – 2010 – saw the hosts, South Africa, eliminated in the group stage.

Unfortunately, it’s very likely that 2018 will see the hosts go out very early – if not in the group stage, likely in the second round at best. The hosts have been drawn in one of the softer groups, facing Uruguay, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, but to expect them to get through that easily would be a mistake. Uruguay aren’t as good as they were in 2010, but can still call upon one of the world’s best players in Luis Suarez. Saudi Arabia are historically weak, but Egypt looked good throughout qualifying and in Mohamed Salah, they have one of this season’s most outstanding players thus far.

Russia meanwhile haven’t played a competitive fixture since Euro 2016, where they were dire, snatching a point with a lucky goal against England and then totally capitulating in games against Wales and Slovakia. They were comfortably the worst side to watch in the whole tournament and it’s unlikely that any big improvements could have been made since then.

The chances of Russia going deep into the tournament are quite bleak, especially when you consider that Portugal or Spain would await them in the second round. Which means, no hosts after the first couple of weeks of the tournament.