This year’s world Cup is not only the first one in the Middle East, it is the first one to take place in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter. What has not changed is the world’s appetite for sports number one tournament, the number of bookmaker offers, or the marketing push from every known brand on the planet. The draw has been (just about) completed so how did the African Nations fare, and who do the favourites come up against?
The one surprising outcome from this world cup draw is that is has not thrown up the usual so called “group of death”. Most of the big sides will be happy with the draw, while the African nations got very much a mixed bag. Ghana, the Super Eagles’ conquerors find themselves in Group H along with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea. With just the top two progressing to the next round, the Black Stars will in all likelihood need to finish above the quarter finalists from Russia 2018 in order to get out of the group for the third time in their history.
Senegal were handed a relatively favourable draw, being drawn in Group A where the top seed’s place was taken by hosts Qatar. Ecuador and The Netherlands will be no pushovers, but it could have been a lot worse for Aliou Cissé’s team.
Rigobert Song, Cameroon’s head coach will not be feeling so lucky about his team’s draw. There may not be a group of death, but Group G is the nearest thing to it, and that is where Cameroon find themselves. Alongside Brazil, they will face Switzerland, one of the most impressive teams in qualifying and the side who topped Italy’s group consigning them to their second world cup exclusion. The fourth side in the group is Serbia, a decent team in their own right, if not quite the force they once were.
Morocco have a tough task, when they face world number two ranked side Belgium, playing in what could be the last tournament of their “Golden Generation”, Croatia and Canada. Tunisia, the last of the African teams are still not sure who they will face. What they do know is that they will play world cup holders and the third ranked team in the world France and the 11th ranked team Denmark. Their other opponent will be one from Australia, the UAE and Peru.
Away from African interest, there is plenty to whet the appetite. England will play the USA and one of either Ukraine, Wales or Scotland. Spain and Germany have been drawn in the same group, while Argentina are in Group C with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.
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