World Cup Draw

Who do we want then? I think we can only draw one other European nation and then one from each other confederation.

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Mexico, Iran and Saudi Arabia would probably be the easiest group on paper.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Mexico, Iran and Saudi Arabia would probably be the easiest group on paper.

Yeah it would. It’s also not possible as Iran and Saudi are in the AFC.

Quoted from LH

Yeah it would. It’s also not possible as Iran and Saudi are in the AFC.

Morocco or Canada then...

For Ease, USA Iran Cameroon

Prediction, Denmark, Tunisia Ecuador

Live on BBC1 16.45  - then BBC2 1800

We'll probably end up with Scotland or Wales in our group assuming one of them qualifies.

Quoted from promotion plaice

We'll probably end up with Scotland or Wales in our group assuming one of them qualifies.

They’d have to beat Ukraine to get there - Europe’s new Tractor Boys.

Already looking forward to Danny Murphy trying to blag his way through some Saudi Arabia insight. ('no easy games', 'know the conditions' etc)

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Mexico, Iran and Saudi Arabia would probably be the easiest group on paper.

I'd rather have Morocco/Tunisia than Iran. Great defensively and have gone toe to toe with plenty of decent teams over the last few years and been really tough opponents. They're gradually loosening that stranglehold that South Korea and Japan have as top dogs in the Asian zone. Would probably rather have Poland too actually. Snuff out Lewandowski and we'll take 3 easy points off them.

So Portugal are in Pot 1 but the winner of the other Euro playoff is in Pot 4?

In one way it matters more about the make up of the other groups rather than who else ends up in England's group. If we get lucky with the draw then the path to the final could open up like a dream (as it did last time), you'd have to back England to qualify from the group no matter who they draw. In fact you could argue that it might be a good thing to get a tough pot 2 team in England's group along with a weak pot 3 & 4 team. Then you cannot face that tough team again until the final (as with Belgium in 2018 ).

With this england team I dont feel like I need to worry about an easy group, just want some good games, england germany would be great if the rest of the group was a bit easier but something like netherlands, senegal, canada would be good

Still not feeling this one. I had similar reservations about the World Cup in Russia, and that in fairness turned into one of the most enjoyable one in decades, in spite of what the Russia has gone on to do in recent weeks. This one though, you've got the human rights issues, the lack of any discernible football culture out there, and then the November / December timing - it just all feels wrong.

Maybe I'll feel differently when the time arrives, I genuinely think this young England team is about to peak and we have a real chance of winning it, but for now it's definitely all a bit 'meh'.

If I got to choose our group stage opponents it would be USA, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. Worst case scenario would be Netherlands, Senegal and Cameroon, though I'd still expect us to make it through that.

I think what added to the excitement last year and most tournaments was we were in full summer mode, the normal season was over, beer gardens were full and everyone wanted their football fix. Will it be the same in november/December?

Also at what levels will league football stop for a world Cup winter break?

There’s always going to be at least one other decent team in the group anyway and P2 looks quite strong. If we do get a very strong P2 draw then we’d maybe want to avoid Senegal or Poland in P3. I’d want to avoid the UEFA play off winner in 4 and possibly too Canada who qualified top in the North American quals and were unbeaten against USA and Mexico in qualifying (beat and drew with both). Very true that it depends on the brackets after the group stage.

the humidity and temperature is going to have a massive say on performance, I just hope all the players survive

Quoted from supertown

the humidity and temperature is going to have a massive say on performance, I just hope all the players survive

They have better odds than the poor lads that built the stadiums

Quoted from supertown

the humidity and temperature is going to have a massive say on performance, I just hope all the players survive

The temperature during games is set to be between 18 and 24 degrees; cooler than a vast majority of previous World Cups. That is of course only due to the farcical scheduling of the tournament in the run up to Christmas.

Quoted from Son of Cod

So Portugal are in Pot 1 but the winner of the other Euro playoff is in Pot 4?

Its based on FIFA rankings rather than on how you qualified

Quoted from pizzzza

Its based on FIFA rankings rather than on how you qualified

Which makes sense, as I imagine you’d be pretty píssed off if you drew Portugal out of Pot 4 rather than Saudi Arabia.

I would prefer Scotland to qualify, but if Wales were to qualify I would quite like to give them a thrashing after their celebrations when we lost to Iceland. Don't really mind whoever else we get.

I don't care who. If we want to be the best we have to beat the best whether that's in the group stage or knock out. So bring on the Germans, Argentina etc.

Quoted from BrMarin

I would prefer Scotland to qualify, but if Wales were to qualify I would quite like to give them a thrashing after their celebrations when we lost to Iceland. Don't really mind whoever else we get.

I thought Scotland were boycotting it tbh. For the 9th time in succession

This could B1 hell of a draw for England

I've just emailed Gareth and asked him for tonights lottery numbers. He is such a jammy so and so

Dream draw

Quoted from promotion plaice

We'll probably end up with Scotland or Wales in our group assuming one of them qualifies.

Group B

England
Iran
USA
Scotland, Ukraine or Wales

Got to beat USA and Iran. I wouldn’t want to have to need a result from a game against Scotland, Wales or Ukraine (at this particular time)!

How come the European play-off team were put in the same group as England when all others drawn against a team from the same confederation were put in a different group?

Quoted from Les Brechin

How come the European play-off team were put in the same group as England when all others drawn against a team from the same confederation were put in a different group?

Because there are five groups with two European teams cause there are so many European teams.

Quoted from Les Brechin

How come the European play-off team were put in the same group as England when all others drawn against a team from the same confederation were put in a different group?

Europe have by far the most teams in the competition so it wasn't viable to keep the European teams separate, I think they decided on a maximum of 2 European teams per group.

Ah, I didn't realise that. Just caught the end of the draw and didn't look at the other groups very closely.

Quoted from Les Brechin

How come the European play-off team were put in the same group as England when all others drawn against a team from the same confederation were put in a different group?

You can have 2 teams from the same confederation in the same group

Looks a fairly even draw, no "group of death" that I can really see, each group has maximum of 2 teams that I would expect to go through IMO. There can always be the odd surprise though

Looks like Qatar have bought themselves an easy group as well as getting to host the tournament.

I would expect us to get out of the group. As much as I’d like to play Scotland or Wales for the spectacle I’d love to see Ukraine qualify and play at the World Cup.

Quoted from jaygy

each group has maximum of 2 teams that I would expect to go through IMO

That's how it usually works...

Quoted from jaygy

Looks a fairly even draw, no "group of death" that I can really see, each group has maximum of 2 teams that I would expect to go through IMO. There can always be the odd surprise though

No groups of death but a few wide open ones which is good for entertainment.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Looks like Qatar have bought themselves an easy group as well as getting to host the tournament.

You would hope Netherlands and Senegal would get it done against Qatar. Unless Ecuador are swayed by the bribe of cheap gas, you wouldn’t expect Qatar to beat them either (finished fourth in qualifying above Chile, Colombia and Peru. Drew with Argentina at home (at sea level) and away and drew at home to Brasil (admittedly in Quito)).

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Looks like Qatar have bought themselves an easy group as well as getting to host the tournament.

Not sure about that. The Netherlands and the African champions Senegal in their group - the average rank of their group is brought down massively by Qatar themselves, the second lowest ranked team at the tournament behind Ghana.

What is interesting is that England's group does look straightforward at first glance, but in the worst case scenario (in terms of FIFA ranking) and Wales qualify, the average rank of our group opponents is 18; the highest of any Pot 1 team. The next toughest being group D, which has an average of 23, for comparison. Portugal's Group H has an average of 34.

Interestingly, you could replace the Iran and USA with Senegal and Croatia (not withstanding the rules of the draw) and end up with a lower average ranking. Would you take that swap? I wouldn't personally.

Ultimately, I think this is an England side which should consider itself a genuine contender to win the tournament. Avoiding the big European sides in Pot 2 was the main thing, and having done that I see nothing in Iran, the States or any of the 3 potential qualifiers that should unduly trouble us.

The next World Cup will be a farce, 48 teams in groups of 3 with top 2 to go through to the KO

Quoted from supertown

The next World Cup will be a farce, 48 teams in groups of 3 with top 2 to go through to the KO

Any idea when the draw is? I’ll need to put a weeks holiday in to watch that.

Quoted from Poojah

Still not feeling this one. I had similar reservations about the World Cup in Russia, and that in fairness turned into one of the most enjoyable one in decades, in spite of what the Russia has gone on to do in recent weeks. This one though, you've got the human rights issues, the lack of any discernible football culture out there, and then the November / December timing - it just all feels wrong.

Maybe I'll feel differently when the time arrives, I genuinely think this young England team is about to peak and we have a real chance of winning it, but for now it's definitely all a bit 'meh'.

It’s like the Qatar World Cup is Tony Gallimore, hair all tousled with the blood of migrant scaffolders.

I’m Rodney Jack, steaming towards Tony at left-back.

I know Gally’s going to dummy and cut inside.

I try to resist.

But it doesn’t stop me steaming in with a wild lunge as Tony skips inside, reeking of natural gas and homosexual suppression.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

It’s like the Qatar World Cup is Tony Gallimore, hair all tousled with the blood of migrant scaffolders.

I’m Rodney Jack, steaming towards Tony at left-back.

I know Gally’s going to dummy and cut inside.

I try to resist.

But it doesn’t stop me steaming in with a wild lunge as Tony skips inside, reeking of natural gas and homosexual suppression.

How’s your recovery from glue sniffing going?

Quoted from Poojah

How’s your recovery from glue sniffing going?

Sticky subject

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Sticky subject

To be expected, given the way your addiction to dubious porno mags ended.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

It’s like the Qatar World Cup is Tony Gallimore, hair all tousled with the blood of migrant scaffolders.

I’m Rodney Jack, steaming towards Tony at left-back.

I know Gally’s going to dummy and cut inside.

I try to resist.

But it doesn’t stop me steaming in with a wild lunge as Tony skips inside, reeking of natural gas and homosexual suppression.

You would enjoy the Francis Bacon exhibition at the RA

Quoted from Poojah

Not sure about that. The Netherlands and the African champions Senegal in their group - the average rank of their group is brought down massively by Qatar themselves, the second lowest ranked team at the tournament behind Ghana.

What is interesting is that England's group does look straightforward at first glance, but in the worst case scenario (in terms of FIFA ranking) and Wales qualify, the average rank of our group opponents is 18; the highest of any Pot 1 team. The next toughest being group D, which has an average of 23, for comparison. Portugal's Group H has an average of 34.

Interestingly, you could replace the Iran and USA with Senegal and Croatia (not withstanding the rules of the draw) and end up with a lower average ranking. Would you take that swap? I wouldn't personally.

Ultimately, I think this is an England side which should consider itself a genuine contender to win the tournament. Avoiding the big European sides in Pot 2 was the main thing, and having done that I see nothing in Iran, the States or any of the 3 potential qualifiers that should unduly trouble us.

Yes, but Qatar are the only country with a ranking over 40 in a group with similarly low ranking team. Ecuador are not much higher ranked than Qatar. The two TOGETHER bring the average ranking down. That’s what I call buying an easier chance than they could otherwise expect.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

You would hope Netherlands and Senegal would get it done against Qatar. Unless Ecuador are swayed by the bribe of cheap gas, you wouldn’t expect Qatar to beat them either (finished fourth in qualifying above Chile, Colombia and Peru. Drew with Argentina at home (at sea level) and away and drew at home to Brasil (admittedly in Quito)).

I’m not that convinced by the South Americans these days, and wouldn’t rate 4th in their qualifiers that impressive. The FIFA rankings don’t rate Equador that highly. An easier group than other minnows.

As much as it's all very corrupt Qatar got to host the world cup and it'll be a bit of a dubious and subdued event as a whole, I'm pretty confident Qatar will not be getting out of their group.

Don't say it.
I wont say it.
I cant say it.
It's..
It's....
It's coming home 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 😂

Though they’re not the first, clearly the hosts bought the tournament but it probably led to some of the corruption being removed from FIFA when at least one dubious individual in Blatter was exposed for what he and I’d suspect many of his contemporaries are truly about.

Then there is the human rights stuff which in my mind is another reason why they and countries like them should not be considered, yes respect others culture, history & tradition but there is a line to be drawn. I actually think the FA are a bit compromised here considering the mandate is quite rightly about inclusion & equality.

Fifa do have form though Brazil, South Africa, Argentina and Russia may not have been openly poor choices but all had issues that could be questionable at the time some political some humanitarian and some socioeconomic. If you like a conspiracy you could also include the USA in that category as I’m sure they’re always up to something.

All that said for around a month at the end of the year I would imagine it will all be forgotten. God help any visitor who “steps out of line” though. I do expect the tournament to be well organised as despite some people’s perception this is not a 3rd world country.

In terms of the group? The USA are competent but we should beat them. The Iran game might be decent as from what I’ve seen they like to get the ball down and move it quickly this may be a bit of a challenge but will create space for England to play. The job needs to be done by the 3rd game as whoever we play will be riding on such a wave of emotion that it could go either way I reckon.

In terms if winners? I think the timing, environment and climate will play a part. Despite a semi & a final in the last 2 tournaments and the players probably not as knackered as they often are England to make it no further than the QF, Brazil, France or as an outside bet Portugal to win it.