A member of Russia's Igor Moiseyev Ballet ensemble dances next to the
Fifa World Cup trophy ahead of the 2018 Fifa World Cup tournament final
draw at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow on December 1, 2017. PHOTO |
ALEXANDER NEMENOV | AFP
MOSCOW
The 2010 World Cup
winners Spain were placed in the same group as Cristiano Ronaldo's
European Champions Portugal in an exciting draw for the 2018 tournament
in Russia on Friday.
Neymar's Brazil meanwhile will have to negotiate a group including Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia.
Holders
Germany will face Mexico, Sweden and South Korea as they try to retain
the title for the first time since Brazil in 1962.
Lionel
Messi and his Argentina team which struggled to qualify will play
European debutants Iceland as well as Croatia and Nigeria.
England
must play Kevin de Bruyne's Belgium, surprise packages Panama and
Tunisia after they were drawn together in the ceremony in the Kremlin.
Host nation Russia will face Saudi Arabia in the tournament-opening match on June 14 in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Russia's
other opponents in Group A are Uruguay, led by Barcelona's Luis Suarez,
and Egypt, spearheaded by Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah.
France
and their potent strikeforce featuring Antoine Griezmann and teenage
sensation Kylian Mbappe will play Australia, Peru and Denmark in Group
C.
Spain's other opponents in a tough-looking Group B are Morocco and Iran.
WORLD CUP GROUPS
Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
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