Russia, automatic qualifiers by the virtue of being the host nation, are 66th on the Fifa rankings and not really expected to create ripples in this edition of the World Cup. Having played in three World Cups since 1994, they have failed to get out of the group stage every time, most recently in 2014. The erstwhile USSR, however, had played in seven World Cups, their best performance coming in 1966 when they reached the semi-finals. In 1958, 1962 and 1970 they had bowed out at the quarter-final stage. Their pre-World Cup results are not really heartening. They had lost eight of the last 18 matches they have played,  under the supervision of coach Stanislav Cherchesov, and have won only five. They lost to Portugal and Mexico in the Confederations Cup. In October, they defeated South Korea 4-2 in a friendly, but have failed to win in five games since. They drew 3-3 with Spain in November and were beaten 0-3 by Brazil and 1-3 by France in their most recent games. Apart from hardcore fans, few would expect Russia to go beyond the group stage, and that would put them in the rather inglorious club which has only another member South Africa — that of a host nation failing to go past the group stage. The squad, however, is young and may pull off a few surprises. They mostly play in the Russian league and have little international exposure that comes from playing in the top-flight European leagues. However, clubbed with Uruguay, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in Group A, they may just be able to take advantage of the home atmosphere and make it beyond the group stage. Uruguay are expected to top the group, and Egypt in all probability will be the second team from the group to advance. But with the support of the home supporters, the Russians can’t be blamed if they are dreaming beyond the group stage.

Coach Stanislav Cherchesov:  He is a former goalkeeper who won four Russian league titles with Spartak Moscow and three league championships in Austria with FC Tirol Innsbruck. He has made 39 appearances for Russia and eight for the erstwhile USSR. He was Russia’s goalkeeper when they were ranked in the top five by Fifa and faced Italy and Germany in Euro 96 in England. Though he began his coaching career in Austria, he then returned to his homeland later to manage a host of Russian sides including Spartak and Dynamo Moscow. He coached Polish side Legia Warsaw to a League and Cup double in 2015-16 and was named Leonid Slutsky’s successor as in charge of the Russian national team in 2016. However, under him Russia suffered an early exit in the Confederations Cup by coming third in their group behind Portugal and Mexico. 

Watch out for Alan Dzagoev: Central midfielder Dzagoev has been a regular in the national team since 2008. The 27-year-old plays for CSKA Moscow in the Russian Premier League. Though relatively young, he is regarded as a star and is expected to shoulder a lot of responsibility in carrying the team forward.