Real Madrid players to feature in the 2018 World Cup

Quite a few Real Madrid squad members are within touching distance of World Cup 2018 in Russia. Here is who will be playing the competition. 

We are now in the last leg of World Cup qualifiers. The next few days will decide which teams will automatically qualify, which teams will live to fight another day in the playoffs to be played in November, and which will bid adieu to making the competition.

Let’s take a look at the Real Madrid players whose teams have already booked their spots and the ones who are still in with a chance.

Already Qualified

Marcelo, Casemiro – Brazil

The five-time world champions are sitting pretty at the top of their group, with 38 points from 17 matches. They are miles ahead of 2nd placed Uruguay in points (+10) and goal difference (+17). Their campaign did not start as smoothly but their fortunes turned when the new coach, Tite, took over.

Both Marcelo and Casemiro are key members of the squad and are sure to feature in the tournament next year. Danilo, who left Real Madrid for Manchester City this summer, is also a part of their squad.

Toni Kroos – Germany

Germany are the defending champions, winners of FIFA Confederation Cup 2017, four-time winners of this competition, and the #1 ranked team in the world. So, it came as no surprise when they booked their spot to Russia without much fuss.

Toni Kroos has been central to the German campaign and bosses the midfield for them like he does for Madrid. He is one of their top 3 key players and will be crucial in determining Germany’s fate in the World Cup.

Sergio Ramos, Nacho, Isco, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Marco Asensio – Spain

La Roja comfortably cruised to a victory against Albania yesterday. And Macedonia found a late equalizer against Italy. Which means that Spain have sealed their spot as the group winners.

Spain as a squad has maximum representation Real Madrid. Most players listed above are regular starters while the rest are first-choice substitutes. Things have surely changed from a period not so long back, when nearly all of Spain’s squad consisted of Barcelona’s players.

Alvaro Morata, who has the makings to become the best Spanish striker in history, who left Madrid for Chelsea this summer, is also a part of the Spanish squad.

There are a few other Spanish players in the Madrid squad who are not usually called up for national duty but can feature in case of injuries/rotations – Kiko Casilla, Álvaro Tejero, Vallejo, Dani Ceballos, Marcos Llorente and Borja Mayoral.

Those who have a good shot

Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal

One thing is certain, Portugal will still be in the running after October 10th irrespective of what happens in their last two qualifiers. If they end up winning against Andorra and Switzerland, they will automatically qualify as group winners.

If they don’t get all 6 points, and Switzerland wins their penultimate tie, Portugal will still qualify for the playoffs as the second team in their group.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been on fire for Portugal in the qualifiers, having scored 14 of their 28 goals so far. The Seleccao will be hoping for their talisman to lead them to the World Cup like he did against Sweden in the last campaign. In all probability, this will be Ronaldo’s last World Cup and he will be extra motivated to make it count.

Former Madrid players, Pepe and Coentrao, are also a part of the Portuguese squad.

Keylor Navas – Costa Rica

Costa Rica is 2nd in the CONCACAF group table, with a match in hand over the other 3 teams in top 4. Given that 3 teams from this group will book a direct slot and the fourth team will get to a playoff, it’s more or less certain that Costa Rica will confirm their participation for Russia.

Keylor Navas is their first-choice keeper. He tends to reserve his best performances for the national team and has bailed them out of tight positions multiple times. Assuming Navas still remains with Real Madrid after this season, he will be another Blancos player in the World Cup.

Raphael Varane, Karim Benzema – France

France is currently on top of Group A, with two matches to go against Bulgaria and Belarus. Sweden is just a point behind and with a superior goal difference. So, a top spot is not assured but they are likely to be in the running even after the qualifiers are over.

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Raphael Varane is a regular starter for France. Karim Benzema is currently in exile but Deschamps hasn’t shut the door on him yet. Theo Hernandez and Luca Zidane are also French and may have an outside shot of being called up for national duty in case of injuries.

Achraf Hakimi – Morocco

Morocco sits 2^nd in their group, with a match in hand and superior goal difference over 1^st placed Ivory Coast. Only the top team will qualify from this group. Morocco plays Gabon tonight and can top their group with a win, with the last round to be played in November.

Achraf Hakimi is the 1^st Moroccan to have ever played for Real Madrid. The 18-year-old has played for the Moroccan U-17 and U-20 teams before and has already scored for the national team in this qualifying campaign.

Those with a fighting chance

Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic – Croatia

Group I which features Croatia is a tough one to call. Iceland, the tiny nation which mesmerized the world in Euro 2016 with their passion and perseverance, is somehow at the top of this group again.

Croatia are tied with Ukraine on 17 points and their last match is against each other. Depending on how the last match-day goes, Croatia may also automatically qualify over Iceland on account of superior goal difference.

Both Modric and Kovavic are key players for the national team. Kovacic is being increasingly seen as Modric’s successor, both in the national team and at Real Madrid.

Gareth Bale – Wales

Having qualified for the Euro in 2016 after decades, Wales have somehow managed to still be in the running for a spot at the World Cup. Even without their talisman who is out injured, again.

This is again a tough one to call. Wales sit 2nd in their group, a point behind Serbia and a point ahead of Ireland. They go up against Ireland in their last match. A victory will assure the 2nd spot, but that does not guarantee an advancement to the playoff round. If Serbia draws/lose and Wales win, or if Serbia loses and Wales draw with a better goal margin than Serbia, they can become the automatic qualifier from their group.

Whatever happens, the fact that they are still in the running should, in itself, be an achievement for this nation of 3 million people.

They will be without Bale for their last qualifier. But if they manage to get through, they will be hoping for their Galactico to lead them ahead in the competition, like he did in Euro 2016.

Conclusion

Overall, Madrid fans are going to have a busy summer in 2018. Most players are either through or in with a good chance. Florentino Perez and company are sure to take a lot of pride in that as well. Who knows, he might call another press conference to parade his world cup superstars.

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