The Mail on Sunday

Can host Lineker help England avoid tournament’s big boys?

- By Joe Bernstein

GARETH SOUTHGATE will hope Italia 90 hero Gary Lineker proves a lucky charm for England when he hosts Friday’s World Cup draw in Moscow, despite the former striker having previously called FIFA a ‘revolting organisati­on’.

Next summer’s 32 competing nations have been divided into four pots of eight according to their world ranking in October, the exception being hosts Russia who are among the top seeds despite being lowest ranked in the tournament.

Southgate’s men are in Pot Two which means they could be drawn with holders Germany or co-favourites Brazil, but will avoid other strong countries like Spain. Each of the eight groups drawn will only be allowed a maximum of two European nations. Other associatio­ns — Asia, South America, Africa and North & Central America — will only have a maximum of one team per group.

The draw at the State Kremlin Palace is expected to begin at 3pm UK time and feature World Cup greats Diego Maradona, Gordon Banks, Miroslav Klose, Laurent Blanc, Cafu, Carles Puyol, Diego Forlan, Fabio Cannavaro and Nikita Simonyan in addition to Lineker and his co-presenter, Russian TV star Maria Komandnaya. Russia president Vladimir Putin may also attend.

It has already been decided that Russia will play in the opening game in Moscow on June 14 against a team from Pot Two, which means England could kick off the Cup.

 ?? ?? UNDER FIRE: Vitaly Mutko (centre) with 2018 CEO Alexei Sorokin and FIFA president Gianni Infantino
UNDER FIRE: Vitaly Mutko (centre) with 2018 CEO Alexei Sorokin and FIFA president Gianni Infantino

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