Iceland

Don’t be fooled by thinking the smallest nation to ever qualify for a World Cup are simply there to make up the numbers.

Iceland have shown that organisation, hard work and an unbreakable team spirit can go a long way. A Euro 2016 quarter-final was proof of that.

Head Coach: Heimir Hallgrimsson 

The infamous part-time dentist was Lars Lagerback’s assistant when Iceland stunned England at the European Championships two years ago.

Now Hallgrimsson is the main man in charge, and he’s kept Iceland’s momentum going by topping a competitive qualifying group.

Key Player: Gylfi Sigurdsson

Renowned as a set piece specialist and one of the Premier League’s top playmakers, Sigurdsson is often asked to play a slightly different role for his national side.

Despite a difficult debut season with Everton, the 28-year-old still provides the heartbeat for Iceland, when he is usually deployed as a central midfielder in a compact 4-4-2 formation.

How They Qualified

Iceland won seven out of 10 qualifiers to finish top of their group, ahead of Croatia and Ukraine.  

Against Finland in the second match of the campaign, the Scandinavians showed exactly why they should never be written off, when two stoppage-time goals gave them a pivotal 3-2 win in Reykjavik.

Another last-minute winner, from Bristol City defender Hordur Magnusson, saw Iceland snatch a vital 1-0 victory over Croatia, who they’ll face again in Russia.

FFT Prediction: Fourth in the group

This will probably be a step too far for Hallgrimsson’s men. Still, they’ve proved that they’re more than capable of causing an upset.