FIFA World Cup 2018: Three most exciting matches of group stage

Bengaluru, June 14: The FIFA World Cup 2018 is a few hours away and all the qualified nations have already kicked off their preparations for the biggest football extravaganza, which will be held in Russia from June 14-July 15.

In this edition of the FIFA World Cup, 32 countries have made the cut to the final stages and all of them have been pooled into eight groups of four each. The top two from each group qualify for the knockouts (Round of 16) until one winner emerges at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15.

Germany won the World Cup 2014 that was hosted by Brazil and will be hopeful of retaining their title and they do have the squad capable of doing that with Joachim Leow still in charge of the world champions.

FIFA World Cup 2018 fixtures

England vs Belgium

England and Belgium have been drawn together in Group G along with Tunisia and Panama and it will be a surprise if both England and Belgium fail to qualify from the group.

However, both of them will like to finish as the group winners to avoid tough fixtures in the round of 16 and later on. Therefore, the England vs Belgium encounter will be a game worth waiting for.

Belgium certainly has a better squad when compared to England but England have a greater experience which might give them an edge.

Senegal vs Colombia

Group H is probably the most evenly matched group this time around in the World Cup with Senegal, Colombia, Poland and Japan. Any of the two sides can qualify from this group and it might very well go down to the wire.

Senegal and Colombia have an edge over both Japan and Poland thanks to their experience at the global stage and are favourites to progress from the group.

Therefore, the game between Senegal and Colombia will be an all-important one.