The final set of friendly fixtures before the World Cup are close to completion but there are tactical tussles still to be settled among several major nations.
Indeed, attention is now squarely fixed on Russia but there are still positions which can be won and lost even after the final 23-man squads were announced on Monday.
For the most part, the majority of the starting XIs are fairly settled but there are a few positional battles to be decided.
With that in mind, we examine some of the key duels for four sides.
Jesse Lingard v Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Raheem Sterling’s evolution this season has translated onto the international stage with the Manchester City forward growing into England’s roaming No10 role.
That means behind him in Gareth Southgate’s 3-1-4-2 set-up is room for two No8s and Dele Alli’s grip on one jersey is tight.
His telepathic understanding with Harry Kane for Tottenham is a crucial avenue to goal for the Three Lions but there is a question mark over who operates in the other No8 slot.
Lingard has emerged as the more established man for the shirt and in March’s friendlies against the Dutch and Italy the Manchester United forward fitted neatly into Southgate’s system with his technical talent, opportunistic thinking and, crucially his embrace of working in between the lines to both press and carry the ball.
However, Loftus-Cheek, the man who replaced Lingard after an ineffectual display against Nigeria last week, has come into the reckoning.
Lingard on occasion has struggled for England and Loftus-Cheek is a great alternative, a two-way asset desperate to get involved in every area of the pitch who also thrives in tight spaces.
Granted, the 22-year-old is inexperienced but in his sole start against Germany the Chelsea midfielder was superb, giving a gateway to the type of impression he can make.
VERDICT
Lingard will start the campaign in the XI but if he fails to impress early on, look for Loftus-Cheek to be swiftly sworn in.
Gabriel Jesus v Roberto Firmino
Firmino is loved by Liverpool but the sentiment is not quite shared with Brazil.
Tite guaranteed his spot for Russia after an outstanding campaign for the Reds, scoring 26 goals and providing 14 assists in all competitions.
However, he will likely occupy a spot on the bench as understudy to Manchester City’s golden boy Jesus.
For the Canarinha, it appears an obvious preference lies with the 21-year-old, who is garnering plenty of endearment having remained in his homeland up until last year.
In contrast, Firmino’s formative years as a professional were spent in Germany with a natural schism forming in his relationship to a fervent Brazilian fanbase as a result.
And in spite of the fact his goalscoring exploits place him only behind Neymar as the highest-scoring Samba star last season while Jesus’ campaign was blighted by injury, Firmino will be utilised as a sub in Tite’s 4-3-3 system.
He will have helped his claim to spearhead the attack with a slick finish to round out the 2-0 victory over Croatia, albeit after lifting himself off the bench.
Thought the two forwards are exceptional Firmino is one of the most unique No9s in world football with his intelligent movement on and off the ball meaning he can lead his side’s press while also open up space for his attacking counterparts.
Given Brazil hunt the ball further up the pitch under Tite and you can marry that ability to Firmino’s unerring finishing which has been proven in the Premier League and Champions League, he should really start in Russia.
VERDICT
Tite has shown a preference for Jesus but the decision should not be that clear-cut with Firmino more than deserving of the No9 shirt.
Iago Aspas v Diego Costa
Coming into the tournament Spain are arguably the playing the best football of any major nation with their killer possession-based style reinvigorated rather than reinvented under Julen Lopetegui.
La Roja are well stocked with midfield creators and the emergence of Isco as a maturing goalscorer – he’s mystifying for Madrid but scintillating for Spain – has taken some heat off the No9.
Indeed, the casting process to take centre stage for Spain has returned three lukewarm reviews. Diego Costa is an uncomfortable fit with his physical prowess somewhat out of place in the fluidity of Spain’s oppressive passing style.
The Atletico Madrid striker is a battering ram but Spain are a team of subtlety substance and his inability to retain possession well and static movement can lead to the breakdown of attacks.
The alternatives are far from convincing, though. Rodrigo is vastly inexperienced at this level and is the third-choice so Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas is the obvious contender to challenge Costa.
He grabbed one goal and two assists in the decimation of Argentina and finished the league season with an impressive 22-goal haul – the best return of any Spanish player.
His skillful repertoire meshes well with their system and although the 30-year-old is also short on national-team experience with nine caps, he has scored nine goals for La Roja.
VERDICT
Costa is a useful option to bring on from the bench with his power-game but Aspas is a far better fit to start even if he lacks the reputation of his counterpart.
Marco Reus v Julian Draxler
That this is Reus’ first World Cup is a travesty with his injury record stripping football of one of its premier talents.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is arguably Germany’s most technically gifted talent, a heavyweight compliment considering they possess Mesut Ozil in their ranks.
His versatility between wide and attacking-midfield positions make him an archetypal Joachim Low player and considering his preference for inside forwards, Reus would seem like a clear candidate to take up the opposite side to Thomas Muller with Timo Werner through the middle.
However, in another chapter of the world’s most unluckiest star, Reus’ season was predictably ravaged by injury although he did come on strong in 2018 with seven goals in 11 games for Dortmund.
Ankle ligament damage cruelly ended his 2014 World Cup hopes while a groin injury saw him miss Euro 2016. Dropping him in Russia would seem implausible but then Draxler offers a different quality.
Where Reus is pace in behind and technical ability, Draxler is better a link-up man, drifting infield from wide positions just in front of the defence.
Low is a huge admirer. Suffice to say his Paris Saint-Germain career hasn’t gone as expected but Draxler has flourished with Germany under the tutelage of Low.
He thrived and embraced his role as skipper in their Confederations Cup win last summer and was the coach’s star pupil in Russia.
Of course, both could be accommodated in the starting XI with Reus central and Draxler on the left but to start Ozil, one would be dropped leaving Low with a difficult decision.
VERDICT
Reus is in his prime and this could be the tournament he bends to his will. Draxler on the bench demonstrates the ridiculous depth of talent Germany have but Reus should start.
