Moscow today played host to the draw for 2018 World Cup group stage, with the 32 qualified nations discovering their fate ahead of next summer's tournament, which begins on 14 June, when the hosts take on Saudi Arabia in the opening game. Spain, meanwhile, will make their bow against Portugal on 15 June, before facing Iran on the 20th and Morocco on the 25th. The semi-finals are set to be played on 10 and 11 July, with the final to be contested on the 15th at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

Gareth Southgate will be respectful and considered when assessing England's opponents in Group G but having been paired with Belgium, Tunisia and World Cup debutants Panama, he will privately be punching the air in celebration. But that is not necessarily a good thing from England's point of view. The biggest threat to their hopes of progression to the knock-out stages will be complacency and that ultimately proved their downfall, in humiliating fashion, when eliminated from Euro 2016

The seedings did their job. Amid the slew of negativity surrounding Russia 2018 -- from struggles to find sponsors to a Russian FA president having to spend the day before the draw denying allegations of systematic doping -- this was perhaps the biggest takeaway: we will see a World Cup like no other with balanced groups and, more than ever before, clear favorites to advance. FiveThirtyEight's Soccer Power Index (SPI) has 10 teams with at least a 70 percent chance of advancing into the Round

Spain coach Julen Lopetegui has a lot of admiration for the three countries his team will face in the group stages of the World Cup including Morocco. The 2010 World Cup winners, Spain have been placed in Group B with European defending champions Portugal, Morocco and Iran in Friday's draw in Moscow. Spain qualified for next year's tournament after finishing top of their group, five points clear of Italy. Lopetegui's side won nine of their 10 games and went unbeaten in qualifying.

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli reassured fans his national team will be "very competitive" at the 2018 World Cup despite criticism from Diego Maradona following Friday's draw. After the Albiceleste were placed in Group D with Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria. Argentina legend Diego Maradona, who helped conduct the draw, expressed reservations over his country's prospects. "Argentina cannot play any worse than they are doing," he told TYC Sports. "Argentina have a

After learning they would host the 2018 FIFA World Cup in December 2010, Russia finally learned their long-awaited opponents on 1 December 2017. Stanislav Cherchesov's side will take on Asia's Saudi Arabia, Africa's Egypt and South American nation Uruguay. Teams RUSSIA | SAUDI ARABIA | EGYPT| URUGUAY Key Game Russia v Saudi Arabia (14 June, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow) The World Cup Opening Match is an event that football fans the world over eagerly tune-in to, marking the beginning

IT was around 37 degrees Celsius in the Nigerian capital of Abuja when the World Cup draw took place. And it left Nigeria's media officer Toyin Ibitoyefeeling the bite of a Russian winter atZEROdegrees Celsius in Moscow. The sports media personality was pictured arriving at the State Cremlin Palace for World Cup 2018 draw wearing an outrageous furry hat. Replying to a Tweet with a the picture, Ibitoye said: "Ol' boy, it was drizzling snow." The draw threw up a nightmare

Ghana Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah expects Nigeria and Senegal to be the torch bearers of the African contingent at the 2018 World Cup in Russian claiming the two can make Africa proud. African countries have struggled to go beyond the quarter final stage of the World Cup with Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana, all falling out at that stage. But following the groupings, the Ghana trainer who was at the GTV and Kwese TV launch of the 2018 World Cup told Ghanasoccernet.com that the two West African

Ghana Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah expects Nigeria and Senegal to be the torch bearers of the African contingent at the 2018 World Cup in Russian claiming the two can make Africa proud. African countries have struggled to go beyond the quarter final stage of the World Cup with Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana, all falling out at that stage. But following the groupings, the Ghana trainer who was at the GTV and Kwese TV launch of the 2018 World Cup told Ghanasoccernet.com that the two West African

Ghana Black Stars trainer Kwasi Appiah has tipped South American giants Brazil to emerge winners of the 2018 World Cup, minutes after the final draw for th competition in Russia was held. The Black Stars coach believes Brazil have prepared adequately for the trophy after their lacklustre performance in the last edition which they hosted. The Ghana manager who is disappointed his country couldn't qualify for the biggest football tournament is convinced the Brazilians have put in a lot to

Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dali has cautioned his side to be wary of the threat Nigeria will pose to them in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Croatia have been placed alongside Nigeria, Argentina and debutants Iceland in Group D in next year's mundial. Croatia have qualified for the World Cup on five occasions 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014 and 2018, and finished third in France 1998 after losing only two matches. ''After the draw can always be better or worse. I think we can be happy,

England coach Gareth Southgate has warned his players to be wary of unknown opponents Tunisia and Panama at next year's World Cup finals. The Three Lions have been pitted in a groupwith the African and Central American nations, along with top seeds Belgium. Southgate has faced Tunisia before in the tournament during his playing days, helping his side to a 2-0 group-stage win in France nearly two decades ago, but he admits that more research is required on two of England's opponents.

The draw for the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup is complete. Here's what our writers around the world made of events in Moscow. Germany Joachim Low was at his most relaxed before the draw and the Bundestrainer won't feel too nervous after learning the composition of the group stage either. The world champions avoided an African team -- they have struggled against Ghana and Algeria in recent times -- and don't come up against any recognised heavyweights. The only possible

Argentina legend Diego Maradona is confident that Argentina will make it through to the last sixteen of the 2018 World Cup after the two-time world champions were pitted against Nigeria, Iceland and Croatia in Group D. The Super Eagles face off with the South Americans at the Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018 in both countries final group game. Nigeria have lost by the odd goal in each of their five group matches with Argentina at the World Cup, including a 3-2 loss to a

Hosts Russia will kick off next year's World Cup finals versus Saudi Arabia in Moscow and defending champions Germany will start against Mexico after Friday's draw threw up some mouthwatering clashes. Five-times winners Brazil will face Switzerland in their first Group E match with Costa Rica and Serbia making up one of the tougher-looking of the eight groups. European champions Portugal will play Iberian neighbours Spain in their first match in Group B, while Argentina were placed

On first impressions it appears that Group D could be the group of death that every World Cup is obliged to have, pitting as it does two strong European teams, a Nigeria side that cantered through a tough qualifying group and Lionel Messi et al. Though Argentina will probably start Group D as the strong favourites theyve made life hard for themselves in recent months, as have a Croatia side packed full of talent. As for Iceland well every England fan knows what they can be like. Standard Sport

Germany will face Mexico in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, while Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will open against neighbours Spain, after FIFA conducted the draw in Moscow on Friday. African sides in the tournament will face tough clashes with Morocco in Spain and Portugal's group, Nigeria will take on Argentina and Croatia. Senegal will take on Poland, Colombia and Japan, Tunisia will face England and Belgium while Egypt face Russia and Uruguay. Winners of the 2014 event and

Morocco have been handed the Group of Death at the 2018 World Cup as they face Spain and Portugal in Group B. The Atlas Lions will also the tricky Iran side in their opening match at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg. The draw ceremony was held at the Kremlin in Moscow with the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Atlas Lions finished undefeated in the 2018 World Cupqualifiersagainst strong opponents, including Mali, Gabon, and Cote DIvoire. The Moroccan team will

The draw has now been made for the 2018 World Cup, with some fascinating groups thrown up for the tournament in Russia. England have been paired with Belgium, Tunisia and Panama in Group G, which appears to be a pretty favourable draw. We take a closer look at all eight of the groups and predict which sides will make it through to the last-16 stage. GROUP A Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay A pretty favourable draw for the host nation that should sustain local interest and excitement

Egypt have been handed a kind draw for the 2018 World Cup as the Pharaohs will play hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group A. The Pharaohs will open their campaign when they take on Uruguay on 15 June in at the Central Stadium in Yekaterinburg. Egypt, who are one of Africa's representatives, willhosts Russia four days later at the Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg. They will complete their final group game with a clash against fellow Arab country Saudi Arabia on the 25th June