World Cup draw 2018 - live updates: Reaction after England land Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group G
Latest reaction from the draw in Moscow after the Three Lions learned their fate
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The 2018 World Cup draw has taken place, with the 32 nations that have qualified for next summer’s tournament in Russia now knowing who they must beat if they are to become world champions.
We have all the latest reaction from Moscow, where our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney is in place inside the Kremlin State Place.
England were in pot two for the draw because of their middling Fifa world ranking – but Gareth Southgate’s side avoided any of the tournament favourites and instead will face Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group G.
Follow all of the latest below.
All you need to know:
When is it?
The draw for the group stages of the 2018 World Cup will be held at 3pm GMT on Friday 1st December, in Moscow. It will take place at the Kremlin.
Where can I watch it?
The draw will be shown live on Sky Sports or alternatively you can follow The Independent’s live blog to find out which group your country will be allocated into.
Who is in it?
The teams qualified are:
Uefa (Europe): Russia (hosts) France, Portugal, Germany, Serbia, Poland, England, Spain, Belgium, Iceland, Switzerland, Croatia, Sweden, Denmark
Conmebol (South America): Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia, Peru.
Concacaf (North/Central America and Caribbean): Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama
AFC (Asia): Iran Football, South Korea Football, Japan Football, Saudi Arabia
CAF (Africa): Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal, Egypt
World Cup debutants:
Next summer will be a momentous occasion for Panama and Iceland who are making their debut at the World Cup.
Iceland are the only country with a population under one million to have reached the World Cup finals. They'll be looking to add to their success last summer when they made their first appearance at a major tournament - Euro 2016 - before infamously knocking England out in the last-16 to reach the quarter-finals.
As for Panama, they reached the World Cup finals thanks to an 88th-minute winner against Costa Rica. That result knocked out the United States in what proved to be another shock of the World Cup qualifiers.
Whoever they're drawn alongside later today, I'm sure they'll be happy to just be there.
Pot 1 in profile:
Russia (hosts):
Russia have undergone a notable overhaul following the disappointment of Euro 2016, with manager Stanislav Cherchesov placing his faith in youth. Youngsters Viktor Vasin (CSKA), Fedor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan) and Georgi Dzhikiya (Spartak Moscow) have all been brought in to replace the ageing Sergei Ignashevich and Vasily Berezutski who, together, made for a defensive partnership that was 73 years in age.
Igor Denisov, arguably the side's best defensive midfielder, has been excluded after falling out with Cherchesov at Dynamo Moscow. Whether or not such a decision could come back to haunt the Russia manager remains to be seen.
Russia's fans will take comfort in the sight of their front line though. Alan Dzagoev is still performing to a high level while strikers Fyodor Smolov and Aleksandr Kokorin have both been banging the goals away this year.
Manager: Stanislav Cherchesov
Preferred: system 3-5-2
Odds: 40-1
Pot 1 in profile:
Germany (1)
The world champions head to Russia looking to become the first national side to retain the since Brazil in 1962 when the South Americans won back-to-back World Cups. After being knocked out of Euro 2016 in the semi-finals by France, there was a sense that Germany's time in the spotlight had come to an end. However, Die Mannschaft have since rallied, notching up a perfect 10 from 10 in their World Cup qualifiers. Added to that is their victory at the Confederations Cup this summer, a feat they accomplished without the likes of Jérôme Boateng, Manuel Neuer and Marco Reus. And with emerging talent looking to stake their claim in Joachim Löw's side, it seems as if Germany could be once again peaking at the perfect time.
Manager: Joachim Löw
Preferred system: 4-2-3-1
Odds: 5-1
Just in
Maradona has been assigned to Pot 2 of this afternoon's draw which means that, yes, The Hand of God will be determining the fate of England next summer. Oh the irony...
Pot 1 in profile:
Brazil (2)
After the humiliation of that 7-1 defeat in Belo Horizonte, Brazil's identity was left in tatters. In a competition that was meant to end with the hosts lifting the World Cup, instead the home nation had to come to terms with being ignominiously dumped out in the semi-finals. Since that day, though, Brazil have slowly been putting the pieces of the puzzle back together. Tite has been key to this transformation, helping the side to take a number of vital steps forward. Under a 4-1-4-1 system, Brazil’s best players have been flourishing. Tite has accommodated Neymar on the left, Casemiro in front of the backline, Gabriel Jesus in the centre of attack and has got the best from the full-backs Dani Alves and Marcelo. Although the side lacks the depth of their rivals, Brazil are a team in the ascent.
Manager: Tite
Preferred system: 4-1-4-1
Odds: 5-1
What do we think?
Personally, I don't want to have to face Argentina at any point next summer. I'm just a superstitious man, though...
Sweden and Panama? I'd take that, for sure. Unless a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic overturns his retirement which makes for a very different matter.
On a similar topic...
It's a toss-up between Footix and Willie for me...
Pot 1 in profile:
Portugal (3)
No-one expected Portugal to emerge victorious at the Euros last summer - and no-one expects them to do the same next year either. But almost 18 months on from their achievements in France, there's no doubt that this Portugal side has taken considerable strides forward. The likes of Bernardo Silva and Andre Silva have played significant roles in boosting the team's creativity while adding to the depth on offer. Portugal's backline remains an issue, though. Fernando Santos has struggled to find successors to Pepe (35 next summer), Jose Fonte (34) and Bruno Alves (36). Still, let's not make the same mistake we did last summer. This a team that shouldn't be underestimated. Especially with that man Ronaldo among the mix.
Manager: Fernando Santos
Preferred system: 4-4-2
Odds: 20-1
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