We’ve seen a few players from different nations suffer World Cup heartbreak, with the likes of France midfielder Paul Pogba and USMT defender Miles Robinson having been all but ruled out a while back, whereas others, such as Spain’s José Luis Gayà, Joaquín Correa of Argentina and France’s Christopher Nknunku, made it as far as Qatar before picking up an injury which ended their dreams of playing at the tournament.

There are also plenty of cases of players who remain part of their national team’s roster but are carrying an injury and may not be available for their country’s opening game of the tournament. Here we take a group-by-group look at those who face a race against time to be fit.

Group A

Opening group games

Qatar vs Ecuador – Sunday, 20 November

Senegal vs Netherlands – Monday, 21 November

Qatar – no major concerns. Ahmed Alaaledin was forced off in the first half of the friendly against Albania last week but is expected to be available to face Ecuador.

Ecuador – Robert Arboleda has just recovered from a fractured ankle but should be fit to start at right-back. Jeremy Sarmiento has been hampered by a minor muscle injury.

Senegal – RB Leipzig centre-back Abdou Diallo is the only doubt because of a knee problem. Senegal have, of course, been rocked by the absence of their star man, Bayern Munich winger Sadio Mané.

Netherlands – Barcelona’s Memphis Depay won’t play but is expected to be available for the second group game. Right-back Denzel Dumfries should be involved despite hurting a knee playing for Inter against Atalanta last week.

Group B

Opening group games

England vs Iran – Monday, 21 November

United States vs Wales – Monday, 21 November

England – Right-back Kyle Walker isn’t expected to feature after groin surgery but should come back into contention after the opening game. In-form attacking midfielder James Maddison had looked set to recover from a knee injury in time to play but has suffered a setback and is likely to miss out.

Iran – Bayer Leverkusen striker Sardar Azmoun, a key figure for Iran, is rated as 50-50 to play after tearing a calf muscle at the start of October.

United States – Midfield man Weston McKennie is the main doubt as he continues his recovery from a thigh injury. He seems unlikely to start so Luca de la Torre, who appears to be over a recent muscle problem, could play from the off.

Wales – Star man Gareth Bale isn’t thought to be 100% fit but will almost certainly start regardless. Midfielder Joe Allen returned to training on Thursday after a lengthy absence due to a hamstring issue and may not be risked from the start.

Group C

Opening group games

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia – Tuesday, 22 November

Mexico vs Poland – Tuesday, 22 November

Argentina – Paulo Dybala, Cristian Romero and Papu Gómez all missed Argentina’s warm-up friendly against the UAE and could all be absent. Thiago Almada and Ángel Correa have been called onto the roster to replace injured duo Nico González and Joaquín Correa.

Saudi Arabia – With captain Salman Al-Faraj fit again, Saudi Arabia have a clean bill of health.

Mexico – Striker Raúl Jiménez was touch-and-go to make the squad and isn’t at full fitness, but he did play the second half of Mexico’s friendly against Sweden and seems to have come through unscathed.

Poland – No fitness issues.

Group D

Opening group games

Denmark vs Tunisia – Tuesday, 22 November

France vs Australia – Tuesday, 22 November

Denmark – With defender Andreas Christensen, midfielder Christian Nørgaard and striker Yussuf Poulsen having all seen some game time for their clubs after injuries, coach Kasper Hjulmand looks to have a full roster to choose from.

Tunisia – No injury worries.

France – France, without first-choice midfielders Pogba and N’Golo Kanté for the tournament, may also have to do without Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, who still hasn’t fully recovered from a hamstring problem. Defender Raphaël Varane looks likely to be fit to play.

Australia – Winger Martin Boyle is the main doubt because of a knee problem. Defender Harry Souttar and midfielder Ajdin Hrustic didn’t take part in full training earlier in the week but will be hopeful of featuring.

Group E

Opening group games

Germany vs Japan – Wednesday, 23 November

Spain vs Costa Rica – Wednesday, 23 November

Germany – With Antonio Rüdiger and Thomas Müller back in full training after knocks, RB Leipzig right-back Lukas Klostermann, who came off in the pre-World Cup friendly against Oman, is the only doubt.

Japan – There are doubts over the fitness of Sporting midfielder Hidemasa Morita and the availability of Brighton winger Kaori Mitoma and Stuttgart’s Wataru Endo. The latter duo missed the friendly against Canada due to illness and concussion respectively.

Spain – Luis Enrique looks to have a full roster to work with having replaced injured Valencia left-back José Gayà with Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde.

Costa Rica – No injury problems.

Group F

Opening group games

Morocco vs Croatia – Wednesday, 23 November

Belgium vs Canada – Wednesday, 23 November

Morocco – As things stand, Walid Regragui has a full group to choose from.

Croatia – Central defender Domagoj Vida shook off an injury to come on in the second half of Croatia’s warm-up game against Saudi Arabia and should be available. No other injury issues.

Belgium – Coach Roberto Martínez has stated that striker Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to feature until the third group game against Croatia. He is set to be the only absentee for the first match.

Canada – Boss John Herdman is sweating over the fitness of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies. Canada’s main man hasn’t taken part in full training this week because of a hamstring problem but is confident of being available.

Group G

Opening group games

Switzerland vs Cameroon – Thursday, 24 November

Brazil vs Serbia – Thursday, 24 November

Switzerland – With Yann Sommer playing the full 90 minutes in a pre-World Cup friendly defeat to Ghana despite tearing ankle ligaments in October, there now looks to be a clean bill of health for coach Murat Yakin.

Cameroon – no injury concerns.

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Brazil – Midfielder Bruno Guimarães and left-back Alex Telles picked up knocks in training during the week and will be closely monitored ahead of Brazil’s opening game.

Serbia – Boss Dragan Stojković has an injury concern over the player he would probably least like to do without. Fulham striker Aleksander Mitrović missed several club games before joining up with Serbia because of an ankle problem and didn’t play the midweek friendly against Bahrain. Fellow forward Dusan Vlahović came off the bench to score in that game after recovering from injury and should be available.

Group H

Opening group games

Uruguay vs South Korea – Thursday, 24 November

Portugal vs Ghana – Thursday, 24 November

Uruguay – Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo is very unlikely to feature because of a thigh issue dating back a couple of months. Star striker Edinson Cavani looks to be back at full fitness after a recent ankle problem.

South Korea – Key man Son Heung-min should play - wearing a protective mask - despite fracturing his eye socket earlier in the month. No other issues.

Portugal – Fernando Santos’ only injury problems concern players who weren’t called onto the roster, namely Diogo Jota, Pedro Neto and Ricardo Pereira. Talisman Cristiano Ronaldo missed the friendly win against Nigeria due to illness but should be ready.

Ghana – Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana and Freiburg forward Daniel Kofi Kyereh have been struggling with injuries of late but are on the roster and will hope to be fit. Number one goalkeeper Jojo Wallacot misses the World Cup due to injury.