Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia are at their first World Cup since 2014, when they went out in the group stage in their debut tournament. They're back now with a squad that has more depth than 2014 and fewer expectations, which might actually be the better position.

Edin Džeko — their legendary striker, all-time top scorer, the player who defined Bosnian football for 15 years — has retired from international football. This squad has to prove it can perform without him. That's a significant bar to clear.

They're in Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland. A genuinely competitive group where any three teams could realistically advance. Bosnia have the quality to cause a surprise — this is not a foregone conclusion in any direction.

Bosnia produce ridiculously talented technical midfielders. Miralem Pjanić played for Juventus and Barcelona. The current generation has similar qualities. There's a creative thread running through Bosnian football that tends to produce players who are satisfying to watch.

The country's football governance is complicated by its political structure — three entities sharing oversight of the national team — but the team itself functions as a unified side on the pitch. The politics stay off the field.