Can the German juggernaut defend their crown?

Is Spain's Cup runneth over?

Will flashy French style come with substance?

Can the world's two best footballers complete their legend with ultimate glory?

Next month's World Cup in Russia, starting June 14, contains many vexing questions.

The 32 nations and their hopes can be divided into four categories - the probables, possibles, improbables and impossibles.

THE PROBABLES

Germany. Brazil. Spain. France. Argentina.

The Germans are seeking consecutive triumphs to join Brazil as the only nation to win the Cup five times.

Germany swept through qualification with a perfect 10 wins from 10 games, scoring a European-record 43 goals on their roads to Russia.

The Germans have also won recently on Russian soil, claiming last year's Confederations Cup.

Germany boast upper-class on every line and a midfield revolving around estemeed lincphin Toni Kroos, but their biggest threat is expected from Brazil - the nation they humiliated 7-1 in a World Cup semi-final four years ago.

The fog of despair has since lifted in Brazil with the appointment of Tite as coach - he's overseen 18 wins from 19 games.

Tite has also installed a steely resolve among a debonair playing group highighted by the precocious talent of Neymar - but will old scars return come the crunch?

A Germany-Brazil final would be fitting but renowned superpowers Spain, France and Argentina will take some beating.

The Spaniards have a rich line-up featuring Andres Iniesta, who scored the sole goal of the 2010 World Cup final; the French have an attacking arsenal the envy of most.

And Argentina have Lionel Messi, who has done everything except win a World Cup, a feat that would crown his glittering career.

THE POSSIBLES

Belgium. Portugal. Uruguay. England. Colombia. Croatia.

Just when will Belgium do it?

Acclaimed as a nation with exceptional individual talent; bemoaned as a nation yet to break into the semi-finals of a major tournament.

Belgium has turned to Spaniard Roberto Martinez as coach to harness the potential of a team which boasts Romelu Lukaku up front, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne as creative geniuses, and one of the world's best goalkeepers, Thibaut Courtois.

While Belgium seemingly always carry expectation, England's hopes have plummeted from past embarrassments: they exited at the group stage at the 2014 World Cup, then lost to Iceland in the round of 16 at Euro 2016.

The Poms will take a youthful squad to Russia but progress overly depends on the goalscoring of Harry Kane.

Likewise, Portugal have almost all their eggs in one basket: Cristiano Ronaldo - like Messi, his time is running out to live his dream of winning the cup.

The Portuguese have an experienced core that won the 2016 European Championship but Ronaldo's impact looms largest.

It's a similar scenario for Uruguay, reliant on their strike force of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani; Colombia, who turn to the 2014 World Cup's breakout performer James Rodriguez for inspiration; and Croatia, whose spiritual and on-field leader Luka Modric remains their key.

THE IMPROBABLES

Denmark. Poland. Russia. Switzerland. Mexico. Serbia.

Hard to make a case for this batch.

Parochial support will lift host nation Russia but they're the lowest-ranked nation at the Cup - 66th on current standings.

Denmark's creative fulcrum Christian Eriksen, an English Premier League superstar, has the nous to steer his side into the knockout stages

Poland, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2006, also boast a potential match-winner in striker Robert Lewandowski, and while Switzerland have well-balanced team on paper, they last won a World Cup knockout game in 1954.

THE IMPOSSIBLES

Australia. Japan. South Korea. Egypt. Iceland. Sweden. Peru. Senegal. Nigeria. Morocco. Saudi Arabia. Panama. Iran. Tunisia. Costa Rica.

Romantic notions abound, though most would celebrate simply getting out of their group.

But they will offer some compelling sub-plots to the main World Cup story.

Can Australia's 38-year-old Tim Cahill become just the fourth man to score at four consecutive World Cups?

Will Iceland - with population 330,000, the smallest country ever at a World Cup - produce a fairytale run similar to Euro 2016 when they reached the quarter-finals?

Can the sublime skills of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah take Egypt into the knockouts?

Will an African outfit such as Nigeria or Senegal rise to challenge the world's best?

And what would the reaction be in Panama if they won a game at their first Cup appearance - the nation was given a public holiday just for qualifying.

Australian Associated Press