Could you reel off the 2018 World Cup groups if your life depended on it?
Don’t worry, neither could we. That’s what Wikipedia is for. What we do know is that, whoever wins, Barcelona will probably have a hand in it.
Barcelona are- barring injuries and dramatic losses of form- likely to have at least one player in each World Cup group.
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It would be the first time in World Cup history that any club side has completed the feat, so it’s only really right that it’s Barcelona.
Luis Suarez is set to be Barcelona’s Group A representative when he leads Uruguay’s attack.
You can take your pick from Spain’s squad, with Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta all likely to be present in Group B.
They’ll realistically be joined by Nelson Semedo of Portgual, while his team-mate Andre Gomes could also be in with a shout of going to Russia.
At least one of Samuel Umtiti, Ousmane Dembele and Lucas Digne should be in the France squad that will be looking to get out of Group C.
Moving into Group D, the GOAT will be carrying the hopes of Argentina although he’ll be coming up against Ivan Rakitic and a strong Croatia squad.
Germany’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen should be Barcelona’s sole representation in Group E, while Phillipe Coutinho and Paulinho should both be playing in Group F for Brazil.
Group G is arguably Barcelona’s riskiest representative as Thomas Vermaelen will have to stay fit in order to be part of Belgium’s squad.
Finally, Yerry Mina will, in all likelihood, be a part of Colombia’s Group H plans.
But Barcelona might not be alone in the impressive record.
Arsenal could have a player in each World Cup group as well, although there are still several doubts.
Mohamed Elneny (Group A), Laurent Koscielny (Group B), Alex Iwobi (Group D), Mesut Ozil (Group E), Granit Xhaka (Group F), Jack Wilshere (Group G) and David Ospina (Group H) are all likely to go to the World Cup as long as they are fit.
But Group B is looking unlikely unless Hector Bellerin or Nacho Monreal get called up to the Spain squad.
Bellerin has Dani Carvajal, Cesar Azpilicueta, Juanfran, Sergi Roberto and Alvaro Odriozola for competition, so he’ll have to navigate a serious traffic jam to be in Russia.
Monreal is the likelier of the two to go, although Jordi Alba and Alberto Moreno were called up to the last Spain squad over the Arsenal defender.
One thing you can be certain of when Arsenal are involved is a Wenger Out banner making an appearance in Russia.
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