Top 5 European teams who will feature in the 2018 World Cup

#1 Spain

Spanish national team

The 2010 champions in South Africa arrive in Russia tipped as the most prominent European candidate, and a discussion with Brazil for the primary candidate would be accurate.

David De Gea, Sergio Ramos, and Gerard Piqué constitute a strong defensive group, which would serve as a fit back-up for their talented attack, of course, with Sergio Busquets balancing the Spanish game.

Ramos', Piqué's, Busquets' and Iniesta's experience from 2010 is a perfect ingredient for the Julen Lopetegui-managed team. With young players like the magnificent Isco Alarcón, Marco Asensio, Koke, Saúl Ñíguez, and Dani Carvajal, Spain is set to go after the second title in three tournaments, a feat last achieved by Brazil between 1994 and 2002.

Spain v Argentina -International Friendly

Spain's concerns are in the right-back position, after Dani Carvajal's injury in the UEFA Champions League final in Kyiv, Real Sociedad's Álvaro Odriozola took the responsibility to replace the Madrid defender.

Carvajal's status remains a mystery. Some Spanish media outlets informed he could not play in the debut versus Portugal. The right-back is a mystery for Spain, but the left-back isn't, with Barcelona's Jordi Alba as the sure card for that position.

Spain's road in the UEFA qualifiers was unblemished. In 10 games, Lopetegui's side registered nine wins and a draw, scoring 36 goals and conceding only 3. Italy played in the same group as Spain and was the only rival to take points away from La Roja with a 1-1 tie in Italy back in October 2016.

Spain defeated Italy at Santiago Bernabéu 3-0 in September 2017 with a fantastic offensive display. Then, they took down Argentina at Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, with an outrageous 6-1 score, while Lionel Messi watched from the stands.

Spain will play as a member of Group B with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, Morocco, and Iran.