The 32 qualified selections are fixed. 234 days before the opening match, we know the eight groups for the first round of the 2022 World Cup. The draw, carried out on Friday April 1 in Doha (Qatar), was lenient with the French team. , Belgium or England. Argentina or Brazil will have to work a little harder to get out of the pools. The complete point on the groups.
Group A: the Netherlands well off, but…
Qatar knows the magnitude of its challenge. For its very first participation, the host country of the World Cup inherited a rather full-bodied menu. He will notably face the Netherlands, absent from the last edition but three times finalists in the past. The Oranje hit the jackpot, avoiding the most reputable seeds. But Senegal, recent African champion, will obviously be one to watch. Ecuador completes a fairly strong group, where Qatar will have a lot to do to shine.
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: do you speak English?
As in 2010, England inherited the United States in their group. Team USA, absent from the last World Cup, will try to qualify for the round of 16. In addition to the finalist of the last Euro, the Americans will do battle with Iran, in a meeting with high diplomatic significance and already interviewed in 1998. The winner of the last European barrage, to be determined in June between Ukraine, Scotland and Wales, completes this group B possibly very Anglo-Saxon.
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales or Ukraine or Scotland
Group C: beware of the trap for Argentina
Leo Messi’s Albiceleste find themselves in a tricky group. Winner of the last Copa America, Argentina is, on paper, favorite of this group C. But Mexico, eighth finalist in the last seven editions, is a real scarecrow. Disappointing in international competitions but guided by star Robert Lewandowski, Poland will not be underestimated. Even easily qualified and trained by the Frenchman Hervé Renard, Saudi Arabia seems a notch below.
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France on familiar ground
Once again, France will find Denmark in chickens. After 1998, 2002 and 2018, the Blues will once again face the Danish Dynamite, also on the menu in the League of Nations. A little more originality, all the same, with Tunisia, which the French have never faced. The third opponent, which could be Peru, Australia or the United Arab Emirates, will be determined in June, during the play-offs between these teams. This group is unmistakably similar to that of the last World Cup, where the Blues had already crossed the Peruvians, Australians and Danes.
Group D: France, United Arab Emirates or Australia or Peru, Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain and Germany as a duo?
The dreaded scarecrow of Pot 2, Germany find themselves in the group of Spain. But to tell the truth, it is hard to see the two behemoths falling in the first round. It is no insult to Japan to place them one or even two notches below. As for the fourth opponent, it will be determined in June, after a play-off between New Zealand and Costa Rica. But beware, in 2014, the Costa Ricans had risen to the top of a very tough group.
Group E: Spain, New Zealand or Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
Group F: long live the Francophonie
To make the defenders of the language of Molière salivate. Belgium is placed in a very French-speaking group, since the Red Devils will challenge Morocco and Canada. The Canucks, only appeared once, in 1986, will be among the attractions of this World Cup. As for the Atlas Lions, they will try to pass the first round for the first time since 1986. Croatia, finalist of the last edition, completes this group.
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil take the same and start again
At least the video analysts will have less work. As in 2018, Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia are in the same group. Cameroon finally completes it in place of Costa Rica, on the menu in 2018. On paper, these clashes seem homogeneous, even if Brazil, winner of the Copa América in 2020, remains favorite. Cameroon, recent semi-finalist of the African Cup of Nations, has a card to play.
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal want their revenge
Fallen against Uruguay in the round of 16 of the last World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will be looking for revenge in the first round. Always led by her old veterans Suarez and Cavani, the Celeste remains tough. Even eliminated in the first round of the last CAN, the Ayew brothers’ Ghana will want to create a surprise, as will South Korea, qualified for its tenth World Cup in a row.
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
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