6 GETTING KLOSE

Thomas Muller could dethrone Miroslav Klose as the all-time record World Cup goalscorer in this tournament. Klose’s record is 16 and Muller stands on 10, having notched five goals in each of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. It may be a bit of a tall order - he scored just eight goals in the Bundesliga last season and hasn’t netted for Die Mannschaft in over a year. However, still just 28, you feel that even if he doesn’t poach his way to the top of the pedestal in Russia, it’s only a matter of time.

7 KNOCKOUT BLOWS

Mexico hold a record of their own at World Cups, and it’s one they’d really like to change - they’ve been eliminated at the Round of 16 stage in each of the last six tournaments. Breaking that cycle will take some doing. With Germany clear favourites to top the table, El Tricolor will likely have to settle for second, and who’s waiting for them in the knockouts as the probable winners of Group E? The Brazilians.

Quick out of the blocks: South Korea looking for another winning start

8 FIRST CLASS

The bookies may have South Korea down as outsiders to escape the group but Sweden should beware - the Asian champions start fast. They’ve won three of their last four opening World Cup matches, and to make it four from five would be to take a very big step towards progression.

9 STELLAR KOREA

They’ve got a winning coach too, in Shin Tae-yong - the 49 year-old tasted AFC Champions League glory as both a player and manager of South Korean club Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. His face should be a familiar one with some Aussie fans - drafted into the Queensland Roar for the inaugural A-League season in 2005, he made one appearance before retiring due to a niggling ankle injury and instead became the club’s assistant manager until 2008.

Mexico's milestone man Andres Guardado

10 TO CAP THINGS OFF

Andres Guardado is aiming to reach a mighty milestone in Russia. Assuming the Mexico captain recovers from surgery in time to play a part in El Tri's two remaining warm-up matches, he'll have clocked up 146 caps by the start of the tournament, meaning the big 150 could arrive should El Tri escape the group. It's some tally, although three players participating in other groups better it - Cristiano Ronaldo (149), Sergio Ramos (151) and top of the pile, age-defying Egypt keeper Essam El-Hadary (156).