Who will be crowned World Cup champions in Moscow on Sunday, July 15?

Our sports writers have predicted who they think will win the competition and how each of the 32 teams will fare.

A final showdown between Brazil and Germany is the most popular choice for the last two teams, with three picks for the Germans to retain the trophy they won in 2014.

There's one nod for Brazil and one for crisis-hit Spain, who have been thrown into turmoil on the eve of the tournament after manager Julen Lopetegui was sacked, just 24 hours after it was announced he would become Real Madrid boss at the end of the tournament.

NICK HARRISON

Group exit: Saudi Arabia, Russia, Morocco, Iran, Australia, Denmark, Nigeria, Iceland, Costa Rica, Serbia, Sweden, South Korea, Panama, Tunisia, Japan, Poland.

Last 16 casualties: Croatia, Portugal, Mexico, Senegal, Egypt, Peru, Switzerland, Colombia.

Quarter-final casualties: France, Brazil, Argentina, England.

Semi-final casualties: Belgium, Spain.

Final: Germany v Uruguay.

Winners: Germany.

TOM NORRIS:

Group exit: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Iran, Australia, Peru, Iceland, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Mexico, Sweden, Panama, Tunisia, Senegal, Japan.

Last 16 casualties: Croatia, Uruguay, South Korea, Columbia, Russia, Denmark, Serbia, Poland.

QF casualties: Portugal, England, Argentina, Belgium.

SF casualties: France and Spain.

Final: Brazil v Germany.

Winners: Brazil.

RICHARD WILLIAMS:

Group exit: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iran, Peru, Australia, Nigeria, Iceland, Costa Rica, Serbia, South Korea, Sweden, Panama, Tunisia, Japan, Senegal.

Last 16 casualties: Portugal, Russia, Croatia, Denmark, Mexico, Switzerland, Poland, Colombia.

QF casualties: Uruguay, Argentina, Belgium, England.

SF casualties: France and Spain.

Final: Germany v Brazil.

Winners: Germany.

CHARLIE CROASDALE:

Group exit: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iran, Peru, Australia, Iceland, Nigeria, Switzerland, Serbia, Mexico, Sweden, Panama, Tunisia, Senegal, Japan.

Last 16 casualties: Portugal, Egypt, Croatia, Denmark, S Korea, Costa Rica, Colombia, Poland.

QF casualties: France, Argentina, Belgium, England.

SF casualties: Uruguay, Germany.

Final: Brazil v Spain.

Winners: Spain.

DAN HEALD:

Group exit: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Iran, Australia, Peru, Iceland, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Serbia, Sweden, South Korea, Panama, Tunisia, Senegal, Japan.

Last 16 casualties: Portugal, Croatia, Mexico, Colombia, Russia, Denmark, Switzerland, Poland.

QF casualties: Uruguay, England, Argentina, Belgium.

SF casualties: France and Spain.

Final: Brazil v Germany

Winners: Germany.