This years World Cup will see a number of Championship players head over to Russia. Here, we take a look at how they may fare.
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Australia:
Australia see the largest number of championship players at the tournament as Tim Cahill looks set to play in his fourth World Cup finals after being included in Australia’s 23-man squad for this month’s tournament in Russia. The 38-year-old forward is joined by Millwall team-mate James Meredith, as well as Aston Villa’s Mile Jedinak. Hull’s Jackson Irvine and QPR’s Massimo Luongo also make the cut.
Australia line up alongside France, Peru and Denmark in Group C as they look to escape the group stage, however they are seen as the 4th favourite to win the group.
Costa Rica:
Bryan Oviedo is the sole football league nominee in the 23 man Costa Rica squad. He joins up with the squad off the back of a disappointing campaign which saw Sunderland relegated to League One. Oviedo has lined up 31 times for his home nation, who find themselves in group E alongside Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia.
Iceland:
The man that sends shockwaves down your neck. Iceland see another strong contingent of Championship players head to Russia, with no more than 4 selected in the final squad. Bristol City’s Hordur Magnusson, Aston Villa’s Birkir Bjarnason, Cardiff City’s Aron Gunnarsson and Reading’s Jon Dadi Bodvarsson are the chosen ones. Gunnarsson comes off the back of a frustrating campaign having been injured for a portion of the season, but he’ll be keen to impress ahead of Cardiff’s first year back in the Premier League.
Iceland line up in Group D alongside Argentina, Croatia and Nigeria.
Senegal:
Seen as some people’s Dark Horse for the tournament due to Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, Senegal also have a strong amount of Championship Nominees. Championship newcomers Mame Biram Diouf and Badou Ndiaye make the squad, while Birmingham stalwart Cheikh Ndoye also gets a call up. After a successful year Wolves’ Alfred Ndiaye is the last football league man to make the cut.
Egypt:
Headlined by Liverpool star Mo Salah, Egypt will be helped along the way by some familiar names. Wigan’s Sam Morsy, Stoke’s Ramadan Sobhi, West Brom’s Ahmed Hegazi and Aston Villa’s Ahmed Elmohamady all make the final 23 man squad. Sobhi in particular will see this as a chance to put himself in the shop window, having been relegated with Stoke last year. Although the rising star has already been linked with a move to Huddersfield Town.
Egypt are in Group A alongside hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Who do you think will go the furthest? Let us know below!
