PLAYERS: Veteran defenders Vasily mmogdp Berezutsky from mtnba2k's blog

Russia. (AP Photo/Alexandr Mysyakin, File)RUSSIA (63)The hosts will be showing off shiny new venues. Their team has less to brag MS Mesos about. A group-stage exit at last year's European Championship saw Russia remembered more for fan disorder than its slow and predictable style of play.

PLAYERS: Veteran defenders Vasily Berezutsky and Sergei Ignashevich have both departed, but their younger replacements have yet to make their mark. Fyodor Smolov is the main attacking threat, while fellow forward Alexander Kokorin wasn't selected. Injuries have depleted the squad, with midfielders Alan Dzagoev and Roman Zobnin missing out, along with forward Artyom Dzyuba.COACH: Stanislav Cherchesov was hired in August to fix things. After a poor start

Friday's 1-1 friendly draw with Chile gives some hope.PORTUGAL (8)Most of the players who helped Portugal win its first major title at Euro 2016 will be back for its Confederations Cup debut. It's less certain if Portugal will return to Russia for the World Cup. Portugal is second in its qualifying group and only the winner automatically makes the World Cup.

PLAYERS: Cristiano Ronaldo will join up best MS Mesos site late with the squad as he rests following Real Madrid's Champions League success. One noticeable absentee in Russia will be Portugal's Euro 2016 match-winner Eder, who has been dropped.COACH: Fernando Santos took over Portugal after leading Greece to the quarterfinals of Euro 2016 and to the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup. He thrived with Portugal.