3 minutes ago, Henessy Lake said:

Why didn't they wait until all teams were confirmed. Such a mess

I think it's so the teams that have qualified can book their accommodation and training facilities now that they know where they will be playing.

They probably should have waited until March to do the draw really, it would have been more straightforward if they did.

22 minutes ago, Houdini said:

They probably should have waited until March to do the draw really, it would have been more straightforward if they did.

The logistics of booking flights, accommodation etc for teams and supporters would be horrendous.

I didn't find the draw that complicated.

Not really sure there is a really "tough" group - Maybe the France, Senegal, Norway one, but it's missing a decent pot 4 team. Not sure how good Ghana are these days and England have a horrid record against Croatia

Its ridiculous that some countries won't even find out until two months before if they've even made it. I don't know the organization of it just looks so messy already.

All those groups seem fairly reasonable - groups A and D look like the easiest to get out of but none of them are particularly lop-sided.

England draw: From BBC Sport.

If all top seeds win their Group:

R32 - 3rd place team
R16 - Mexico or 3rd place team (in Mexico City)
QF - Brazil (note Brazil will not play a group winner before QF)
SF - Argentina (potentially!!!)

Wouldn't play Spain until Final (again assuming all top seeds win their Group).

Edited Saturday at 10:305 days by CRAZY CHRIS

Scotland get Brazil and Morocco again. Ha.

Mexico get South Korea again. Ha.

Argentina get a '-geria' team, eh, close enough.

France/Senegal/Norway is quite tough (the Mbappe vs Haaland match clearly the big draw from the first round), but whichever team is the 4th is going to be dumpstered as the options are Bolivia, Iraq and Suriname, which I'm sure are all quite valid teams but clearly a step below those 3. Definitely hope a variety of nations make it through to the knockout stages though, in most groups I bet people will be 'picking' an easy 4th like I just did there and the best part of the World Cup is when those teams defy that.

Could be some entertaining fights to achieve a more favourable draw position (e.g. if England doesn't come 1st there are several possibilities where our opponent in the round of 32 is Portugal, either by them being a runner up in Group K or them winning Group K and us coming... 3rd).

anyway see you at the all-important Congo vs Uzbekistan match.

I know little about the countries in Australia's group.

What are their chances of progressing out of the Group Stage?

USA

Paraguay

Australia

Euro playoff C

USA and Australia 100%

16 minutes ago, Henessy Lake said:

USA and Australia 100%

Not sure about that. Whichever European team wins will fancy their chances. Don't think Australia are that good.

A lot of this tournament will rest on where the games are played against who imo and even at what time the games kick off,

I'd just be very suprised if usa don't though. Home soil and pretty high ranked aganist the others. Does depend on who makes it out of the ones yet to play though

Ireland will likely be in group A with Mexico if they somehow win the playoff, in Mexico City June heat 😬

I am happy with the USA group (waited till I got home to watch it unspoiled) -- will give more detailed analysis next week.

Also, I hate to say it but if Europe had finished their qualifying earlier maybe blame the Nations League for example, then I think the full draw could've been done today.

Edited December 5Dec 5 by DJHazey

The World Cup draw is always carried out before all the final teams are known so there was nothing uniquely messy about this one, it just felt that way due to there being more pots and Rio's rather brief explanations.

England should have no trouble winning their group, if they do then they don't deserve to get very far at all. Croatia are much weaker than 8 years ago, Ghana have massively dropped down the rankings and Panama are Panama.

Just struck me that we've got the same two teams playing the opening match as in 2010!

1 hour ago, PeteFromLeeds said:

Just struck me that we've got the same two teams playing the opening match as in 2010!

Croatia dumped us out in the Semi-Final in 2018....They're no pushover.

England winning the group gives us a much harder path in knockouts than if we didn't, according to the BBC. Maybe Mexico Brazil, Argentina, Spain. Still the winners have to beat the best teams.

Edited Saturday at 10:405 days by CRAZY CHRIS

50 minutes ago, CRAZY CHRIS said:

Croatia dumped us out in the Semi-Final in 2018....They're no pushover.

England winning the group gives us a much harder path in knockouts than if we didn't, according to the BBC. Maybe Mexico Brazil, Argentina, Spain. Still the winners have to beat the best teams.

There's so many ifs, buts and maybes. It never usually works out that all the top teams win their groups. I also think it's good that our group isn't a complete walkover too, tough games get you prepared.

Like I said before, I think this World Cup will be far more about managing the conditions on the day and where games are played. Our group looks OK, but playing Mexico at altitude will be brual if that happens. The good thing for England is we have a deep squad. I'm pretty sure that will come in to play here for the European teams especially if they want to win, as I think you'll practically need two full teams.

Kick off times have been confirmed for the group stage matches. England's first two matches are at 4 PM EST and their last match is 5 PM EST, so you just got to add 5 onto those for the UK equivalent. Not so bad by the looks of things.