The fastest starting eleven of the World Cup!

You probably haven't missed that the World Cup has been underway since yesterday, Thursday, and fans, players and reporters are flocking to the stadiums in the US right now. Lots of countries are going to compete to see who is the best, plain and simple. We asked ourselves the question: if each country had been represented by a car, instead of a football team – Which car would have represented which country? Follow along and we'll figure out this vital question!

1. Argentina – Fire Red Mazda

Argentina is home to the mythical (and rather cold) archipelago ”Tierra del Fuego” which means ”Land of Fire.” In addition, the fiery dance Tango was born in Buenos Aires once upon a time. So fire is what inspires us here. Fire is red, and the absolute most beautiful red paint on cars is found on Mazda! Here represented by a CX-5, a perfect SUV for taking on Argentina’s jungles and steppes!

Link to this car!

2. Spain – Icy Mercedes

When you're cruising through Spain's tapas-filled alleys, it's important not to have a car that's too big, but even more important is to keep the right attitude! Fix the frill, put on those expensive sunglasses and above all: Put the convertible top down so everyone can see! Of course, white for extra ice-cream and heat protection!

Take a closer look at the car!

3. France – Relaxed Citroën

It would never happen that France is represented by a car from any other country (ask any French person). It doesn’t sound ”super chill” but the French are still some of the most relaxed people in the world. Stressed, well this car isn’t either, with its 82 horsepower you’ll keep a leisurely pace whether you want to or not. It’s also red and white, which is two-thirds of all the colors in the French flag, all you need is something blue (Sweden’s away kit, maybe?)

You can Escar-go in here to look at the car!

4. England – Practical Kia

Why should a Korean car represent England, you think? Well, hold on now because that's a bit far-fetched. England invented football (according to them anyway, but no one seems to disagree) which brought us into the age of sport. Sport + Age = Sport + Age = Sportage. The Kia Sportage is also the absolute most popular car in England (after the Ford Puma but I couldn't find an equally funny pun for it...). Congratulations England, it's coming home!

Cheerio! Check out Kian here!

5. USA – Wretched Volvo

Of course, the host country, the USA, should be in the starting eleven! If there's one thing I know about what Americans want, it's big cars. With a lot of engine. I don't know if they like Volvo, but when the rest of Europe comes to visit in June, they'll have to accept being represented by us in the automotive world too! (Just don't tell their president who owns Volvo these days, he has a "complicated" relationship with that country).

Howdy! Here you will find the Volvo!

6. Brazil – Colorful VW

Do you remember ”joga bonito?” A phrase to describe the Brazilians’ playful play on the football pitch. Those were the days, with Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho (in Brazil, they save their imagination at the baptism of their children to use it in football instead, apparently) on the pitch. Brazil’s flag is yellow, among other things, and the color has become iconic when yellow-clad football artists move at breathtaking speed on the green grass. That’s why Roberto Carlos (no, I don’t follow football very much these days, if you’re wondering about the 20+ year old references) would happily get into this ID.4!

Ronaldinho wants you to click here and take a closer look at the car!

7. Netherlands – Orange Audi

I don't think the Netherlands is the only national team to play in orange jerseys, but they must be the most famous, orange national team, right? That's why they get to be represented by an Audi Q5! Would they themselves like to be represented by a German car brand? No idea, but that's my list. By the way, do you know how to pronounce the letter "Q" in Dutch? Neither do I...

Here you will find this Audi!

8. Germany – Murmurrig Mercedes

There was really only one car that could represent ”Die Mannschaft” among cars. A Mercedes with enough speed to whizz along the Autobahn faster than Helmut Kohl runs to the dinner table when bratwurst is served (very narrow reference, but completely accurate). Good luck in the World Cup, Germany, and keep making awesome cars!

AMG with 585 horsepower here!

9. Portugal – Expensive BMW

The most famous player in the Portuguese national team has to be Ronaldo (Cristiano, not the old Brazilian ball artist) and he likes cars, I promise! He owns Bugattis and Rolls Royce and Bentleys and everything that is expensive and goes on four wheels. We are a bit short of those car brands in stock, but here Ronaldo, here you have our most expensive car in stock right now! A BMW that would surely have fit in your collection.

Check out the car before Ronaldo buys it!

10. Belgium – Tiny Renault

Belgium is not just pastries and Agatha Christie detectives. Belgium is also a very small country on the surface, which must mean that they drive some of the smallest cars in Europe? Or is Belgium so small that you don't need a car at all? Maybe you just need to turn around to travel to France? I don't know exactly, but I have a feeling that this car would have gone down very well with all Belgians, and that's why it's this tiny little Renault Zoe that we're putting on the field with Belgium's black-yellow-red colors on the shirt! (although this one is white so you can paint it yourself).

Click here to see a giant car!

11. Sweden – Modern classic

Let's be honest, Sweden hasn't exactly impressed with the ball for a while now. But we're in the World Cup! If we can bring out a bit of that famous Swedish reliability, we can probably do pretty well anyway! Reliability, this car has it in spades! This is what I see when I think of Sweden, meatballs, IKEA, and perhaps above all ice hockey – the sport that Sweden is actually good at. No, I'm kidding of course, it's not doing particularly well there either. But Volvo, it stands firm as Kebnekaise in the international car world. If we can behave like an XC70 on the pitch, then we won't embarrass ourselves!

You're just 1 click away from an XC70, safe right?