Fifa World Cup 2018 could turn out to be a big bag of surprises; here's how

Since drawing of teams in December, Argentina's defensive problems have risen, Portugal and France have struggled to find fit defenders, Brazil has lost Dani Alves, and Spain has let go of its manager

If there was a sense that the build-up to the 2018 Fifa World Cup was a bit dull, it was punctured on Wednesday when Spain decided to sack its manager Julen Lopetegui two days before the team plays its opening match against Portugal. Here, perhaps, lies the magic of the World Cup. When everything looks certain, an astonishing turn of events lurks in the corner.
 
The Spain fracas should be a reminder to everyone who thinks the World Cup in Russia will play out on expected lines. When the teams were drawn last December, the group stage seemed rather