Tips / Bets World Cup 2018 + Draw

So the draw is tomorrow, who would you like in England's group?

I'm hoping for a really tough group so the optimistic idiots don't over do it.

I'd like Germany, Sweden (or Egypt or Senegal) and Serbia. Nice solid group to battle through.

Just seen this...
The cheapest World Cup final ticket a non-Russian can buy is priced at £345. - are they having a laugh!!

Who's in the World Cup? When's the draw? How does it all work? Who are the favourites? Skylarker takes a look.

Who's qualified?

From Europe, hosts Russia and group winners Belgium, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Spain are joined by play-off victors Croatia, Denmark Sweden and Switzerland.

Africa's representatives are Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia. From North and Central America and the Caribbean, it is Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama.

South America's sides are Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay.And the Asian qualifiers are Australia, Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

When is the draw and how does it work?
The World Cup finals draw is on Friday, 1 December at Moscow's State Kremlin Palace concert hall at 15:00 GMT. You can watch it live on BBC Two and the BBC Sport website and app, and listen on BBC Radio 5 live.

It will be hosted by former England striker and BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker and Russian sports journalist Maria Komandnaya.

"As a player, I was fortunate enough to take part in the World Cup finals on two occasions," Lineker told Fifa.com. "It is quite special to be involved in yet another tournament now on the stage, unveiling the results of the draw.

"I have been on the other side, waiting to find out my opponents, and I know how exciting this occasion is."

Teams will be seeded based on the October 2017 Fifa world rankings. There are four pots - each containing eight teams. Russia will be joined in pot one by the seven highest-ranked teams, with the next eight in pot two, the following eight in pot three and the lowest ranked eight in pot four.

No teams from the same confederation, with the exception of Uefa, will be drawn in the same group. A maximum of two European countries can be in any group.

The guests at the draw will include representatives from each of the eight nations to have won the World Cup: Laurent Blanc (France), Gordon Banks (England), Cafu (Brazil), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Diego Maradona (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain) and Miroslav Klose (Germany)

So who could England be drawn in a group with?
England will be seeded among the second batch of teams, which means they will definitely not play Spain, who are also among the second seeds, in the pool stage.

A tough scenario would see them drawn in the same group as five-time winners Brazil, seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt, and Serbia.

An easier draw, on paper, would see them in a group with Poland, Iran and Panama.

Who are the favourites to win the tournament?
Defending champions Germany are the bookmakers' favourites, followed by Brazil, Spain, Argentina, France, Belgium and then England.

Joachim Low's Germany are bidding to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cups since Pele's Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

Who impressed most in qualifying?

Northern Ireland were among the five teams to lose twice to Germany in qualifying
Germany have not lost a World Cup finals or qualifying game since the 2010 semi-final against Spain. They came through 2018 qualifying with 10 wins from 10 - scoring 43 times and only conceding on four occasions.

Belgium, Spain and England all came through European qualifying unbeaten too.

Brazil cruised through South American qualifying - but only after replacing manager Dunga with Tite midway through the campaign. They had only won one of their opening six qualifiers, but under Tite they won 10 and drew two of their final 12 games to finish 10 points clear.

In Asia, Iran came through two different groups unbeaten - 18 games without defeat that included a run of 12 consecutive clean sheets.

Morocco qualified without conceding a goal in their six-game African group, finishing top ahead of Ivory Coast.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41962101

 

Well **** you then Skylarker for putting loads of effort putting my half arsed one to shame


Err... I mean, tldr

 

Didn't even see your one

 

Brazil aren’t the team that they once were. Wouldn’t mind having them in our group.

Looking out for Belgium at the WC. This should be their golden generation.

England will probably crash and burn at the group stage.

 

@brb can you merge the two threads?

 

I dont give a ****, England are crap and will not get to the KO stages

 

Wow this makes Libby's effort look ****...anyway I reckon England will qualify from the group.

I reckon we will end up with a group we should qualify from...probably second...first if we really turn up...but there's a team in there that is a bit of a dark horse and another team that have **** all to lose so are well up for it. Something along the lines of:

France
England
Costa Rica
Nigeria

 

First World Cup that I haven’t given a **** about

 

I am off to Tenerife to watch the World Cup with 7 mates.
I have booked the flights and the villa.

A week of watching as much football as we like, eating and drinking, plenty of sun, and nights out - can’t wait.


Mrs G4E has banned me from going to Russia so this is as good as it gets

 

2 hours...

 

Looks like we are probably getting a hard first seeded team

 

Maybe not...

BELGIUM

 

Tunisia - Iran or Senegal next.

****ing easy group

 

BELGIUM
ENGLAND
TUNISIA

Tunisia v England, our first game.

 

BELGIUM
ENGLAND
TUNISIA
PANAMA


Easy group no excuses

 

Belgium v England could have 8 Spurs players on the pitch

 

Should go through that group.

Belgium could both go into their game with 2 wins each

 

Just relieved we avoided Mordor.

 

Apart from maybe swapping Belguim and Poland I'm not sure it could have been an easier group

 

So funny if they don't get out of that group.