World Cup 2018: Bizarre rituals, shrines and shinpad tributes… inside the dressing rooms where stars prepare to shine
THE World Cup is well and truly underway now, with every team playing their first round of group stage fixtures.
There have been some thrills, some spills and some massive shocks for good measure.
Own goals, more penalties than you can shake a stick at and VAR galore.
But as if some players weren't superstitious enough already, things are set to step up a notch as we enter crunch time; the second round of group games.
And every player out at the World Cup appears to have their own quirk or pre-match ritual to get themselves in the mood... check out some of the best, below.
PORTUGAL
CRISTIANO RONALDO and Co have a particularly heartwarming touch in their dressing room.
Each player has a pair of personalised shinpads; one sporting a picture of them and another their family.
For example, star man Ron - who scored a sublime hat-trick during the 3-3 thriller with Spain - wears a picture of his children on his leg during games.
Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves are just two others to have their shinpads snapped during the tournament.
GERMANY
THOMAS MULLER misses Lukas Podolski... pass it on.
So much so, in fact, the Bayern Munich forward even has "Poldi 10" etched on his shinpads for the World Cup.
It hardly brought him good luck though, as holders Germany slumped to a shock defeat at the hands of Mexico in game one.
URUGUAY
LETHAL in front of goal and occasionally controversial off the pitch, Luis Suarez is also a family man at heart.
The Barcelona hitman kicks-off his pre-match routine with a sweet picture of his wife Sofia Balbi and two kids.
The framed snap is captioned: "Always with you, we love you."
Suarez also sports a pair of personalised shinpads - another tribute to his family - featuring a host of small pictures and the words "Sofi 9".
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ARGENTINA
LIONEL MESSI and Co stumbled to a shock draw at the hands of Iceland in their tournament curtain-raiser, with Diego Maradona watching on from the stands.
The man known as "D10S" - or Dios, meaning God - in Argentina stole the show with his cigar puffing in the crowd.
And how they could have used some divine intervention as they struggled against the tournament debutants.
It was not for a lack of trying either... with the squad even building a shrine in their dressing room for some pre-match prayers.
They'll be hoping they're answered in game two against Croatia.
PERU
THE South Americans were aiming to make waves in Russia after breaking back into football's elite after years in the wilderness.
But they stuttered to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Denmark in their first outing... despite an elaborate shrine of their own.
Much like Argentina, the Peruvians placed candles, pennants and gold-lined pictures in the middle of their changing room.
MOROCCO
PORTUGAL stand in the way of the African nation in their second game on Wednesday...
And Morocco should be full of energy for the game as they're welcomed to the dressing room with an incredible spread of fruit.
To go with hundreds of bananas, Morocco can tuck into oranges, grapes and apples as they prepare for kick-off.
RUSSIA
STICKING with the food theme, hosts Russia have had their secret to success revealed.
After a 5-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia and a 3-1 victory of Egypt, Russia are suddenly a force to be reckoned with this summer.
And it's all down to a pre-match bevy of fruit...
As well as bananas and grapes, the hosts have the luxury of pre-sliced oranges, as well as hoards of Powerade and what appear to be muffins.
BRAZIL
TITE has introduced a revolving door captaincy since Neymar revealed he no longer wanted the burden of the armband.
Marcelo was the man to lead his nation during the disappointing 1-1 draw with Switzerland last week.
And the Real Madrid full-back is yet another star to sport personalised shinpads for the tournament.
Much like the stars of Portugal, Marcelo has a sweet picture of his family, with "Marcelo 12" etched across the top.