Topics: World Cup, Russia 2018, Germany, Brazil, Belgium, France, England, Spain
Russia 2018 is almost here! Ready? Here are some interesting facts to know ahead of the biggest competition on the planet.

Years turned into months, months into weeks and then weeks into days. The countdown is almost over with Russia 2018 eagerly waiting in the corner to bless the eyes of drooling football fans with spectacular actions.

There are 32 days, 768 hours and 64 games, involving one defending champion – Germany - and 31 other countries who have their sights on the ultimate accolade. Just like every edition of the World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1930, one or more countries will be making an appearance. The gap is filled by Iceland and Panama in this year's edition.

The former topped their European qualification group ahead of the likes of Croatia and Turkey whereas a controversial goal in a 2-1 win over Costa Rica handed Panama fate in the CONCACAF region, simultaneously denying the United States a spot at Russia 2018.

Talking of absentees, the Stars and Stripes - who have successively been at the World Cup since 1986 – isn't the most notable side to fail to secure a spot. In Europe, four-time champions Italy, Turkey, Greece and the Netherlands can be cited.

Cameroon, Ghana, and Ivory Costa could not progress from the African region whereas Chile, Ecuador, and Paraguay couldn't make the cut in South America. Finally, New Zealand fell short at Oceania and the UAE and North Korea make up the most notable absentees from the Asian region.

Moving on, debutants Panama leads the chart as the side with the oldest squad at this year's World Cup. They have a total average age of 29.6 and are followed closely by Costa Rica, Mexico and Argentina who average 29.6, 29.4 and 29.3 respectively. On the other side of the spectrum, Nigeria (25.9), France (26) and England (26) have the youngest squads.

Below is the full list of the 32 countries with their respective average ages:

  • Panama: 29.6

  • Costa Rica: 29.6

  • Mexico: 29.4

  • Argentina: 29.3

  • Egypt: 29

  • Russia: 28.8

  • Saudi Arabia: 28.7

  • Brazil: 28.6

  • Iceland: 28.6

  • Japan: 28.6

  • Spain: 28.5

  • Portugal: 28.4

  • Poland: 28.3

  • Sweden: 28.2

  • Australia: 28.1

  • Uruguay: 28.1

  • Colombia: 28.1

  • Croatia: 27.9

  • South Korea: 27.8

  • Belgium: 27.6

  • Peru: 27.4

  • Morocco: 27.2

  • Iran: 27.2

  • Switzerland: 27.2

  • Senegal: 27.2

  • Denmark: 27.1

  • Germany: 27.1

  • Serbia: 26.8

  • Tunisia: 26.5

  • England: 26

  • France: 26

  • Nigeria: 25.9

With regards to the upcoming fixtures at this year's World Cup, no group can actually be singled out as the real "Group of Death" unlike previous editions. However, there are some blockbuster matches lined-up between some heavyweights in world football.

Below are some of the best group stage fixtures many fans are looking forward to:

  • Group A: Egypt vs Uruguay, June 15

  • Group B: Portugal vs Spain, June 15

  • Group C: Croatia vs Nigeria, June 16

  • Group F: Germany vs Mexico, June 17

  • Group D: Argentina vs Croatia, June 21

  • Group E: Brazil vs Costa Rica, June 22

  • Group G: England vs Belgium, June 28

  • Group H: Senegal vs Colombia, June 28.

Here's a quick recap of how all the groups look like:

  • Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay

  • Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran

  • Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark

  • Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

  • Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

  • Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea

  • Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

  • Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan.

Without further ado, let's delve straight into the "WOW" factor in each of the 32 countries representing at Russia 2018:

  1. Argentina: Lionel Messi's hat-trick against Ecuador on the final matchday lifted Argentina to Russia. He will most likely be featuring in his last World Cup for the Albiceleste.

  2. Australia: Tim Cahil has scored 45% of Australia's all-time World Cup goals (five of 11). He could score in his 4th World Cup as well when he makes an appearance in Russia.

  3. Belgium: All of Belgium's last eight goals at World Cups were scored after the 70th minute.

  4. Brazil: Brazil is the only country to have featured in all editions of the World Cup since its commencement in 1930. They will make their 21st appearance at Russia.

  5. Colombia: Colombia won just seven of their 18 qualifying group games to reach Russia 2018.

  6. Costa Rica: Jorge Luis Pinto who led Costa Rica to the quarter-finals in the 2014 World Cup has been replaced by Óscar Ramírez.

  7. Croatia: Croatia appointed their new head coach Zlatko Dalic, two days before the final – and decisive – group game against Greece in the qualifiers.

  8. Denmark: All the 27 goals scored by Denmark at the World Cup have been scored from inside the box.

  9. Egypt: Aged 45, legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary will become the oldest player ever at a World Cup.

  10. England: England has not lost a qualifying match for any major competition since October 2009. They have the second youngest squad at this year's competition with an average age of 26.

  11. France: Boasting the likes of Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, et al, France has the most expensive squad (€1.08 billion) at this year's World Cup. 

  12. Germany: Germany has scored the most goals at the last three tournaments (18 in 2014, 16 in 2010 and 14 at home in 2006). Thomas Muller Germany's has the most goals (10) and assists (6) in the World Cup of all the players currently playing.

  13. Iceland: 66,000 Iceland fans requested tickets for the 2018 World Cup. That is equal to 20% of their entire population. They are the smallest country to ever qualify for a World Cup (just 334,000 in population).

  14. Iran: Iran will feature in a second successive World Cup for the first time in their history.

  15. Japan: Japan will be without two of their biggest stars, Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa, after they were dropped from the squad.

  16. Mexico: Mexico have qualified for the World Cup the most times (16) without winning it.

  17. Morocco: After 16 years of being absent, Morocco returns to the World Cup again. None of their 12 goals scored in previous editions of the World Cup has come from a set-piece. 

  18. Nigeria: This year's World Cup is the sixth of the Super Eagles. No African country has qualified as often since they made their debut in 1994.

  19. Panama: Panama will be making their first-ever World Cup debut in Russia. The country's president declared a national holiday on October 11th after the nation secured qualification to the competition.

  20. Peru: Peru returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1982. That is the longest absence of any team playing in Russia.

  21. Poland: Robert Lewandowski hit a record-breaking 16 goals in the qualification phase for Poland.

  22. Portugal: Portugal did not lose a single game in which Cristiano Ronaldo featured in during the qualifiers. He will arguably feature in his last World Cup in Russia after representing his country at all four previous editions.

  23. Russia: The host nation is the world's largest country in terms of area, spanning across 11 time zones. However, only four will be used in the World Cup.

  24. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia's curtain-raiser against hosts Russia will be the first World Cup opener to be played by the two lowest-ranked teams in the competition.

  25. Senegal: Senegal will make their second-ever appearance at the World Cup in Russia. They reached the quarter-final stage in their first attempt.

  26. Serbia: Serbia lost one of its qualifying games in Europe. They will feature in a major international competition for the first time I seven years at Russia.

  27. South Korea: South Korea have qualified for their 10th World Cup – more than any other Asian country. Spain:

  28. Spain has the second most expensive squad behind France at the World Cup this year (€1.04 billion).

  29. Sweden: Sweden will be without all-time top-goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The veteran forward was denied a call-up despite expressing his desire to come out of retirement.

  30. Switzerland: Switzerland will be making their 10th appearance at the World Cup. The last time they failed to qualify was in 2002.

  31. Tunisia: Tunisia will be without the star of their qualifiers Youssef Msakni. He was omitted after injuring while playing for his club side.

  32. Uruguay: Uruguay's head coach, Oscar Tabarez, will be at his fourth World Cup – more than any other coach at the tournament.