Your guide to the World Cup 2018 group stage in full – predictions, group of death and more
Louis Doré 10:25 Monday May 28th 2018 Football, World Cup England Football, World Cup 2018
England have been drawn in group G for the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament in Russia, alongside Belgium, Panama and Tunisia.
England have been drawn in group G for the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament in Russia, alongside Belgium, Panama and Tunisia. (AFP/Getty Images)
On Thursday 14 June the group stage of the World Cup will kick off when Russia play Saudi Arabia in Moscow. National teams have had nearly six months to get to know the sides they’ll face in the World Cup group stage and adjust to their draw, and there promises to be some very strong contests in the early stages.
Read more:
England World Cup squad 2018 – in full
England will face Tunisia, Belgium and Panama in Group G and will be hoping to avoid any slip ups en route to the knockout rounds.
Here’s a full guide to the group stage – scroll down for i‘s predictions:
What are the 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
Korea
Group G
Belgium
Panama
Tunisia
England
Group H
Poland
Senegal
Colombia
Japan
Who is likely to make it out of the groups?
Group A – Uruguay and Egypt
Host countries until recently tended to do better than expected. Think South Korea and Japan in 2002, and the United States in 1994.
However, in more recent World Cups – South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014 – the hosts struggled to meet expectations. Russia will hope they have enough about them in this group to buck the modern trend and join Uruguay in the knockout rounds. They probably don’t.
Group B – Portugal and Spain
The two European nations in this group are the standout favourites for a reason. Morocco and Iran shouldn’t offer them much resistance in their route out.
Group C – France and Denmark
It’s a tough group. Australia are no slouches, yet are arguably the weakest team in the group, while Peru are 11th in the world rankings, supposedly ahead of Denmark. The Peruvian side have made the quarter-finals at every Copa America since 1997, so have a certain pedigree about them. However, it’s hard to look past a strong Danish side with an on-song Christian Eriksen.
Group D – Argentina and Croatia
Iceland’s overachieving stops here. The Croatia squad is a strong one, and with Argentina and Nigeria to also contend with, it’s hard to see Iceland getting much out of this group. Argentina have so much attacking firepower, they should get out of the group stage, you can also see a Croatia side with young stars getting past a strong Nigeria team. Just.
Group E – Brazil and Switzerland
Serbia are a better side than they’ve been for a while, but Brazil and Switzerland should find this group relatively straightforward. Poor Costa Rica.
Group F – Germany and Mexico
What a group. What a horrible, horrible group. The world champions and three very competent sides that you’d back to get out of other groups. South Korea have some top talents such as Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan, yet are probably the weakest in the group. Mexico probably have enough about them to edge a young and strong Sweden team.
Group G – Belgium and England
England have one of the more straightforward groups and you’d hope the Three Lions would get out of it. Belgium are a world-class side full of superstars, whereas Panama and Tunisia are definitely lighter on quality. It would be classic England to slip up on a Tunisian banana skin, however.
Group H – Colombia and Poland
This is also a tricky group. Japan are a good footballing nation and they have their share of international stars too, but they’ll struggle in a group with Poland and Colombia. Senegal have a lot of quality, especially in attack (Sadio Mané, Keita Baldé, Mame Diouf, Moussa Konaté) so could equally make their way out of the group. Anything could happen, really.
Which is the ‘Group of Death’?
Group C (France, Denmark, Peru, Australia), D (Argentina, Croatia, Nigeria Iceland) and F (Germany, Mexico, South Korea, Sweden) are all horrible. H (Colombia, Poland, Japan, Senegal) isn’t pretty either. On balance you probably have to give the label to Group F, as all the sides have goalscoring stars and have the potential to be a well-organised outfit.
The current champions Germany should win it, but it won’t be an easy ride.
World Cup 2018:
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