Former World Cup winners Germany and Spain will meet at the beginning of their World Cup finals in Qatar following their placement in the same category.
At the same time, the coaches of the bitter political rivals the United States and Iran vowed to ignore their hatred if their teams meet. The glittering draw at Doha on Friday has also set France’s current champions on a clash against England in the quarterfinals if they are successful in their favourable groups.
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However, the top-ranked team in Brazil is facing a much more challenging challenge in the opening phase. The French are aiming to be the first country to win consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1962, will play familiar adversaries Denmark and Tunisia in a Group D that will be decided by the winners of an international play-off, Australia Peru, or the United Arab Emirates.
Here’s a look into each of the groups that were drawn on Friday of Doha to be the host for the 2022 Qatar World Cup:
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Qatar is ranked 51st globally and will be playing in their first World Cup but was among the top teams due to their status as hosts. With a group of home-based athletes with Spanish Coach Felix Sanchez, they go unnoticed by most.
The Netherlands, whose coach Louis van Gaal recently criticised the decision to choose Qatar hosts, hopes to impress in their return following their absence in 2018. Sadio Mane’s Senegal will also want to shine off the success of their very first Africa Cup of Nations, as Ecuador will be back to make their fourth appearance in the finals.
Group B England, Iran, USA, European play-off winner
England is likely to be thrilled by this draw in a tournament dominated by the battle between the geopolitical competitors Iran along with the USA. Iran has topped their qualification group with Croatian Coach Dragan Skocic. They have also been frequent participants in recent tournaments. They could benefit from playing close to home too, but the new USA are eager to impress Christian Pulisic, the star of Chelsea’s team.
England might also be hosting a local derby that fans can anticipate if Wales or Scotland make it through this final European play-off later in June; however, Ukraine remains in the running.
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Attention immediately turns to the game between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Robert Lewandowski’s Poland. After the Copa America victory last year, Argentina will be among the favourites. Messi will likely have his final chance to be victorious at this World Cup or even score a goal in the knockout stage.
Poland was last during Poland’s World Cup knockouts in 1986 and is now making the last 16 due to their presence alongside Mexico, who have reached the knockout rounds in the first round of the previous seven tournaments, only to be beaten each time.
They are managed by an Argentine Gerardo Martino, whereas Frenchman Herve Renard runs the ranks of outsiders in Saudi Arabia.
Group D: France, Play-off winner, Denmark, Tunisia
France was part of that same category as Denmark when they were on the way towards winning their first World Cup in 1998 and 2018, but also in 2002 when Les Bleus were eliminated during group play.
While France is defending their title but they are ranked 11th. Danes are considered dangerous outsiders after having reached their Euro 2020 semi-finals. The last time a team won their place in the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
France was also part of an alliance with Peru and Australia in 2018, and both remain fighting for the intercontinental play-off, and so are those from the United Arab Emirates. Tunisia’s team includes some French-born players.
Group E Spain and Play-off Winner, Germany, Japan
Spain playing Germany on November 27 will be the opening round match. It is expected to be vital in determining who will be at the top of the group from the two ex-World Cup winners, although it could also set them up to qualify for Brazil in the quarterfinals.
Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan will be hoping to have their voice heard in a place where they won their first Asian Cup in 2011. The last spot will go to the winner of the play-off between Costa Rica and New Zealand, and the possibility of either team winning is far off.
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Belgium was until recently the most highly-ranked national nation in Europe. It was third in the world in 2018. With stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois, they’ve got many world-class players, but Eden Hazard’s demise has been steep. They’ll be top of the line, and Croatia is unlikely to make it to 2018 final, especially since Luka Modric is turning 37 this year.
In the hands of English head coach John Herdman, Canada is at their first World Cup since 1986. Morocco’s team is full of European players like Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi. They won CONCACAF qualifying and boast the great Lille forward Jonathan David.
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Brazil has been part of that same category with Serbia and Switzerland in the past four years. Tite’s team dominated qualifying and is now aiming for an eighth World Cup. It is yet to determine how Neymar, now 30, is coping with the pressure and if his fitness levels remain high.
Switzerland, which made it to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals, are most likely to advance alongside Brazil. Cameroon return after missing the 2018 tournament and defeated Algeria in the African play-offs. However, they have a tough time getting to the next level.
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
At 38, it could become Cristiano Ronaldo’s last shot to be a winner of his first World Cup. However, Portugal has so many talented players in their team that some believe they might be better than without Ronaldo.
They’ll try to make amends for an earlier loss in the last 16 to Uruguay in the previous 16 in 2018 -the year that Uruguay is eliminate from the tournament. Uruguay has an old-fashion superstar striker in the 35-year-old Luis Suarez.
With a Portuguese coach in Paulo Bento, South Korea will again struggle to make it past the group stage, while the 60th-rank Ghana is not the team of 2010 and is not predict to make it through.
