That on the eve of the 21st World Cup Finals, Spain’s coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked for joining Real Madrid and replaced by Fernando Hierro at the 11th hour showed the line between the club game and the international game has never been blurrier

Yet such a tumultuous event before the start of the tournament proper indicates Russia 2018 could be the most unpredictable and exciting global championship in years – who knows what thrills and spills are in store during the next 64 games and 30 days?

What is certain is that it is the first ever World Cup with Video-Assisted Refereeing after FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino became a late convert to the relatively new technology after rigorous testing - and not before time after Frank Lampard's disallowed goal in 2010.

"The facts are that from almost 1,000 matches which were tested, the accuracy rate of the referees went up from 93 per cent to 99 per cent.” justified the FIFA supremo.

Expect some controversies, of course, as VAR is in its infancy yet the days of Hand of the Greatest Cheat Ever Diego Maradona punching the ball into the net and breaking the hearts of Sir Bobby Robson and his English lions should be over:

“We will not be perfect but we are looking for uniformity and consistency. But it cannot be 100 per cent. It will always be a human ­interpretation. I am sure and convinced that the scandals of the past we will not see again. You can write about how long it takes. But that is peanuts compared to the correct results of the games.”

Back to the football on the pitch itself and its the chance to see the vast majority of the world’s best players and a few lesser known names ready to seize their big chance on the global stage that is the key to the enduring appeal of The World Cup, sport’s ultimate show-piece and most watched event.

As my ‘Surprise’ Star of the Tournament, I’m going for Aleksandar Mitrovic of Serbia and Newcastle United.

From the 1st minute of the 1st game he started in 2017/8 when he reminded black and white teammates who had drawn blanks vs Spurs & Huddersfield how to score with a top goal against Notts Forest in The League Cup, ‘Mitro’ has been on fire as the song goes.

He scored again when he came on as a sub just 15 minutes into his first Premier League game against West Ham Utd before a retrospective red card derailed his season.

Played only sporadically by Magpies manager Rafa Benitez after that, Newcastle’s loss –  12 games without a win languishing in the relegation spots without him – could be Serbia’s gain as he is more rested than the majority of Europe’s players and raring to go.

It was certainly Fulham’s gain when he secured a move to the London side in the January transfer window and proceeded to score 14 goals in 14 starts for club & country after he’d gained match fitness & a starting place.

Fulham, just inside the Play-Off spots in 6th place when he joined, embarked on a huge unbeaten run eventually finishing 3rd and being promoted to The Premier League via The Play Offs, a loan deal spectacularly paying off to the tune of £167M.

A hat-trick at the weekend for Serbia against Bolivia including two spectacular Alan Shearer-esque strikes means the U19s Euros Most Valuable Player of the Tournament as Serbia won it is set for great things in Russia.

Tournament Winners – Argentina or Portugal

‘Cometh the hour, cometh the man’ - or special men in this case as I’m expecting Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to use what will be the last World Cup tournament at the peak of their powers to go the distance and win the tournament.

Ronaldo, of course, did exactly that at the Euro 2016 despite an injury in the Final – he was the catalyst and main reason Portugal made it, scoring three times himself and directly creating another three goals guiding 'The Navigators' to their first major trophy.

Messi has struggled with his national team to the extent of being booed by his own fans when wearing national colours as Argentines have long been disappointed by a player who looks every inch the successor to Diego Maradona in a Barcelona shirt.

His exquisite hat-trick against Ecuador to ensure Argentina’s late qualification for Russia has just maybe changed that perception and demonstrated that he might be saving the best till last and he is Destined to leave a big mark on the greatest stage of all.

Relatively, rested after Barcelona’s early Champions League exit, this could be Lionel’s final chance to shine.

Generally, after the dominance of the Spanish and German team units at the last two World Cup tournaments, 2018 will see a return to brilliant individuals of World Cup legend like Messi and Ronaldo leaving their indelible mark on the imagination of football fans around the world with individual displays of skills, goals & genius.

Its still bizarre that Italy, usually at the business end of every World Cup tournament, are not going to be playing in their first World Cup for 60 years and Holland will be conspicuous in their absence after gracing tournaments aplenty.

England are starting to expect after good pre-tournament warm-up results, Spain will falter after losing their coach, France aren't convincing and Brazil are rarely the same team in Europe so its, as ever, whoever beats The Germans who will lift gold in Moscow.

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Predictions:

Winners – Portugal

Dark Horses – England

Golden Boot – Harry Kane

Biggest Flops – Brazil