10 Lowest-Ranked Teams At The 2018 World Cup
They're just happy to take part.
Every sporting event needs its underdogs. These teams go in as minnows, expecting to be gobbled up by the bigger fish and crash out in the early stages, but every now and then, one or two of them manage to surprise us, and there are few things more exciting for sports fans to follow than their rise.
For the 2018 World Cup, it’s easy to pick out the favourites. The past winners and high ranked sides like Germany, Brazil, Spain, and France are clearly the most likely teams to go all the way and lift the trophy, but what about the rest?
Some teams weren’t even expected to qualify for the World Cup, with two making their tournament debuts, while others aren't expected to win a single game. For some of these teams, getting out of the group stage would be a major achievement, while others might simply be happy just to pick up a couple of points.
FIFA’s rankings are often criticised, but they do at least give us a rough idea of where teams stand in relation to one another. So, heading into the 2018 World Cup, here are the lowest-ranked sides set to feature in the competition.
10. Australia (36)
The Australian national team will be heading into this World Cup as the 36th ranked team in the world. Impressively, this is their fourth successive World Cup, with their best result coming in 2006 when they made it to the round of 16. Drawn alongside Denmark, Peru, and France in Group C, the Aussies will need to be at their best to make it to the same stage again this year.
Always a fun side to watch, the Australians tend to be talked-up as "plucky underdogs" by fans and commentators, and they aren't expected to get too far at this summer's competition, but there is a lot of talent in the squad. Former Everton forward Tim Cahill is one of the Socceroos' greatest ever players, and the 38-year-old could become one of the only players to score at four different tournaments.
Brighton's Mathew Ryan provides a solid presence between the sticks, with the likes of Aaron Mooy and Mile Jedinak offering solidity in midfield. Celtic's Tom Rogic is a particularly talented attacking midfielder for fans to keep an eye on, and 19-year-old Daniel Arzani is the next big thing to come out of Australia, having scored his first goal in a recent friendly with Hungary.