FIFA World Cup draw: Spain and Germany play an exciting game in the group stage
Group E is undoubtedly the most exciting, with Spain and Germany facing Japan and either Costa Rica or New Zealand. The decisive playoff game is scheduled for June 13th or 14th.
Germany will certainly be hoping the game doesn’t go like the last meeting between the two nations, when Spain claimed a 6-0 win in the 2020 Nations League.
Hosts Qatar face Ecuador in the third game of the opening day after the World Cup opener was postponed due to better ratings in the South American country. The Netherlands and Senegal are also represented in Group A.
Qatar has recently gained experience with South American nations after being invited to the 2019 Copa America. The Qataris did well, making Argentina work hard in a 2-0 win and earning a deserved point against Paraguay.
France, winners of the 2018 and 1998 World Cups, were drawn into Group D with Denmark, Tunisia and the winner of an intercontinental playoff – either Australia, the United Arab Emirates or Peru.
There are also some interesting matches in Group B: the 2018 semi-finalists, England, face the USA, Iran and one of the three other participants, Wales, Scotland or Ukraine.
The last time England faced the USA at a World Cup was in 2010 – and it’s a game that still gives England fans nightmares.
A catastrophic error by then goalkeeper Rob Green gave the Americans an equalizer after Steven Gerrard had opened the scoring for England.
Ghana also has a chance for some sort of revenge after being drawn in Group H alongside Uruguay.
In 2010, Luis Suarez blocked Dominic Adiyiah’s shot on the line with his hands in the final seconds of the quarterfinals.
Asamoah Gyan missed the subsequent penalty – whereupon Suarez ran down the tunnel in celebration – and Uruguay eventually reached the semi-finals after a penalty shootout.
Portugal, where Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to play his final World Cup, and South Korea complete Group H in one of the more difficult groups to predict.
Qatar 2022 will also likely be the last World Cup that Lionel Messi plays for Argentina. Like Ronaldo, the 34-year-old has never won a World Cup, but came very close in 2014 with the final defeat against Germany.
Under Lionel Scaloni, the Argentinians are in a much better position today than they were four years ago in Russia and can certainly hope to progress in their group, which also includes Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
Canada’s reward for its first World Cup qualification in 36 years is a showdown with two of the biggest protagonists in European football in recent years. Belgium, long ranked world No. 1 until recently dethroned by Brazil, and Croatia, the 2018 finalist, will be tough tests.
The same applies to Morocco, which has talented players such as Hakim Ziyech from Chelsea and Achraf Hakimi from PSG.
Friday’s ceremony was hosted by actor Idris Elba and sports presenter Reshmin Chowdhury and was attended by 2,000 guests.
The draw itself was led by former players Carli Lloyd, Jermaine Jenas and international sports presenter Samantha Johnson.
They were supported by a number of football greats, including Brazil’s Cafu, Germany’s Lothar Matthäus, Iran’s Ali Daei, Nigeria’s Jay-Jay Okocha and Australia’s Tim Cahill.
The World Cup draw
Group A
Train
Ecuador
Senegal
Netherlands
Group B
England
Iran
Wales or Scotland or Ukraine
Group C
Argentina
Saudi-Arabian
Mexico
Poland
Group D
Peru or United Arab Emirates or Australia
Denmark
Tunisia
Group E
Spain
Costa Rica or New Zealand
Deutschland
Japan
Group F
Belgium
You have
Morocco
Croatia
Group G
Brazil
Serbia
Switzerland
Cameroon
Group H
Portugal
Ghana
South Korea
Uruguay
The World Cup begins on November 21st and is expected to end on December 18th.
Kevin Dotson contributed to this report.
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2023-12-25 09:08:11
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