The World Cup scheming begins:
MOSCOW. - The 2010 World Cup winners Spain were placed in the same group as Cristiano Ronaldo’s European champions Portugal, while England will face a talented Belgium side at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
The glitzy draw at the Kremlin yesterday placed Neymar’s Brazil in a group including Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia as they seek a sixth title.
Holders Germany meanwhile were paired with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea as Joachim Loew’s men try to become the first nation to retain the title since Brazil in 1962.
MESSI vs ICELAND
Lionel Messi and his Argentina team which struggled to qualify will play World Cup debutants Iceland as well as a dangerous Croatia outfit and Nigeria.
In a ceremony overseen by their former striker Gary Lineker, England were placed with Kevin de Bruyne’s Belgium, surprise packages Panama and Tunisia.
England manager Gareth Southgate said his mind went back to playing in the 2-0 group-stage win over Tunisia at the 1998 World Cup.
“Remembering the Tunisia game in 1998, it was the first thing that went through my mind,” he said. “It was a fantastic day and it’s nice to be able to relive that.
“We haven’t done as much preparing on the African teams yet so now that’s what we can focus on.”
RUSSIA vs SAUDI ARABIA TO OPEN
The tournament that spans 11 cities and 12 stadiums kicks off when host nation Russia take on Saudi Arabia on June 14 in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
“We just didn’t want to get Spain,” said Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov.
Russia face a host of dangers in Group A in the shape of Uruguay, led by Barcelona’s Luis Suarez and Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani, and Egypt, spearheaded by Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah.
France and their potent strikeforce of Antoine Griezmann and teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe will play Australia, Peru and Denmark in Group C.
Spain and Portugal’s other opponents in a tough-looking Group B are Morocco and Iran.
Japan have a tough task to finish in the top two of a group including Robert Lewandowski’s Poland, Sadio Mane’s Senegal and Colombia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a speech at the draw ceremony that Russia had a “strong affection” for football.
“Our country is looking forward to the championship and intends to hold it at the highest level,” Putin said.
“I am sure that the forthcoming World Cup will be a huge factor in the development of the sport both in the Russian regions and throughout the whole world.”
In the hours before the draw, Fifa President Gianni Infantino denied that doping was a problem even as Russia are at serious risk of being barred from the 2018 Winter Olympics for doping.
Infantino claimed that the level of testing in football is sufficient to show that the game is largely clean.
“I don’t think there are many other international sports organisations who are doing as many anti-doping tests as football is doing,” Infantino told a press conference.
“If you would have a serious doping issue in football this would be known by now, whether in Russia or any other country of the world.”
Russia have been stripped of a third of the medals they won as hosts of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
WORLD CUP DRAW Group A
Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
Group B
Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C
France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
Group D
Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E
Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Group F
Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G
Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H
Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
FIXTURES GROUP A
June 14, 5pm: Russia v Saudi Arabia, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow June 15, 2pm: Egypt v Uruguay, Ekaterinburg June 19, 8pm: Russia v Egypt, St Petersburg June 20, 5pm: Uruguay v Saudi Arabia, Rostov, on, Don
June 25, 4pm: Uruguay v Russia, Samara, Saudi Arabia v Egypt, Volgograd
GROUP B
June 15, 5pm: Morocco v Iran, St Petersburg, 8pm: Portugal v Spain, Sochi
June 20, 2pm: Portugal v Morocco, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, 8pm Iran v Spain, Kazan
June 25, 8pm: Iran v Portugal, Saransk, Spain v Morocco, Kaliningrad
GROUP C
June 16, 12pm: France v Australia, Kazan, 6pm Peru v Denmark, Saransk
June 21, 2pm: France v Peru, Ekaterinburg, 3pm Denmark v Australia, Samara
June 26, 4pm: Denmark v France, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Australia v Peru, Sochi
GROUP D
June 16, 3pm: Argentina v Iceland, Spartak Stadium, Moscow, 9pm Croatia v Nigeria, Kaliningrad
June 21, 6pm: Argentina v Croatia, Nizhny Novgorod June 22, 5pm: Nigeria v Iceland, Volgograd June 26, 8pm: Nigeria v Argentina, St Petersburg, Iceland v Croatia, Rostov, on, Don
GROUP E
June 17, 2pm: Costa Rica v Serbia, Samara, 8pm Brazil v Switzerland, Rostov, on, Don
June 22, 2pm: Brazil v Costa Rica, St Petersburg, 8pm Serbia v Switzerland, Kaliningrad
June 27, 8pm: Serbia v Brazil, Spartak Stadium, Moscow, Switzerland v Costa Rica, Nizhny Novgorod
GROUP F
June 17, 5pm: Germany v Mexico, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
June 18, 2pm: Sweden v South Korea, Nizhny Novgorod
June 23, 5pm: Germany v Sweden, Sochi, 8pm South Korea v Mexico, Rostov, on, Don
June 27, 4pm: South Korea v Germany, Kazan, Mexico v Sweden, Ekaterinburg
GROUP G
June 18, 5pm: Belgium v Panama, Sochi, 8pm Tunisia v England, Volgograd
June 23, 2pm: Belgium v Tunisia, Spartak Stadium, Moscow
June 24, 2pm: England v Panama, Nizhny Novgorod
June 28, 8pm: England v Belgium, Kaliningrad, Panama v Tunisia, Saransk
GROUP H
June 19, 2pm: Poland v Senegal, Spartak Stadium, Moscow, 5pm Colombia v Japan, Saransk
June 24, 5pm: Japan v Senegal, Ekaterinburg, 8pm Poland v Colombia, Kazan
June 28, 4pm: Japan v Poland, Volgograd, Senegal v Colombia, Samara