REUTERS/Antonio Bronic
Modern football is individualistic. With the media obsessed by personal rivalries and legacies, the collective triumphs of a team can sometimes be pushed to the side. The World Cup, however, is different.
Entire nations sit gripped as their envoys represent them on a global stage, some better represented than others. It's a testament to the strength in mindset of some countries that the likes of Sweden made the quarter-finals, whilst Croatia finished second. It's impressive to say the least.
Here are five of the most remarkable nations on show in Russia.