2018 FIFA World Cup: Iceland, Panama debut on world stage in Russia

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is just 10 days away. On June 14, 2018, the world's biggest sporting event will begin in Russia and fans from the world over are warming up for the big tournament.

While powerhouses like Spain, Argentina, England, Brazil and more are ready to battle for glory, others in Italy, Netherlands and Chile have missed out on the train to Russia.

But there are two teams who have punched above their weight to make it to World Cup in Russia for the first time in history. The two teams have shown pure grit and passion and then some of their players have starred in order to steer their team to the biggest stage in world football.

The two teams to have made it to the World Cup for the first time are Iceland and Panama and we take a look at their journey to Russia and prospects in the tournament that lies ahead.

2018 FIFA World Cup: FULL COVERAGE

ICELAND

Iceland have been that team since the past couple of years. They have shown steady progression and perhaps, have been one of the most improved sides.

Currently ranked 22nd according to the FIFA world rankings, Iceland have reached their maiden World Cup after being a part of 14 qualifying campaigns and they did it in some style. Iceland topped their Group I of the qualifiers despite having teams like Croatia and Turkey along with with them.

Iceland finished the group with 22 points from 10 matches and beat Turkey in both legs, scoring five goals against them and conceding none. Against Croatia, they lost the away leg 2-0 but won the home leg 1-0. Apart from that they lost just one game and drew one across the two legs against the rest of the teams (Ukraine, Finland and Kosova).

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Two years ago at the European Championship 2016, Iceland announced themselves to the world with hearty performances. Their Icelandic claps became iconic and their relationship with their fans began to be looked upon.

Icelandic clap has become an iconic way of celebrating with the fans since Iceland's show at the UEFA Euro 2016. (Photo: Reuters)

In 2016, Iceland had reached the quarter-finals of the tournament and lost to eventual runners-up France. But they have weaved their story well before that, having held Portugal 1-1 and knocking out England 2-1 from the Round of 16.

Iceland are the smallest country by population to qualify for the World Cup but at the back of such tremendous performances, they cannot be the ones counted to be just filling the table.

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Gylfi Sigurdsson has been their star throughout and scored four goals and provided four assists during the qualifiers. Sigurdsson has been named in the final squad despite not being completely fit and Iceland will hope that he gets fit on time for the show.

Iceland are part of one of the toughest group of the tournament -- Group D alongside Argentina, Croatia and Nigeria. All the three teams are World Cup regulars and know what it feels like on the big stage.

While Argentina are favourites to go through from the group, Croatia will be billed to qualify from the second spot, considering they have the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Kovacic and Maro Mandzukic in their ranks.

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However, Iceland will take heart from their qualifying performance against Croatia and will aim to snatch the second spot.

On the other hand, even Nigeria reached Russia after topping their group from the African qualifiers and will be no minnows and that is something Iceland will have to battle past.

PANAMA

Panama made it to their first World Cup from the federation where USA shockingly missed the cut. (Photo: Reuters)

Panama are ranked 55th in the world at the moment and have made it to the 2018 FIFA World Cup after battling it out in 12 qualifying campaigns from CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football).

Apart from Panama, the ones that have qualified from their federation are Mexico and Costa Rica and with their qualification, they left regulars United States of American (USA) behind.

For the first time since 1994, USA missed out on a berth to the World Cup and Panama filled up that spot by qualifying for the very first time in their history.

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Unlike USA, who lost their final match 2-1 to the lowly Trinidad and Tobago, Panama beat Costa Rica 2-1 at home with an 88-minute winner from Roman Torres and booked their spot to Russia.

As Panama prepare for their first trip to a World Cup, they'll want to put up performances of the highest quality and make an impact. All the 2014 World Cup viewers remember how Bosnia and Herzegovina won hearts for their performances even though they making it past the group stage. Panama would perhaps want to achieve something similar or will wish for it to get better.

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Panama are placed in Group E, alongside Belgium, England and Tunisia and have a tough road ahead of them. Belgium are absolute favourites from the group and despite England's dodgy record at the World Cup, they are most probably going through.

Realisticly, Panama will hope to get the better of Tunisia and make life difficult for Belgium and England, something that they can take back as a learning.