Draw Match of the Day Live

The World Cup finals, the grandest

stage for football's most graceful

artists. Command command

Mastery of

a football. Beautiful turn.

Strengthen, technique. Mei dances

away - and he scores!

Oh, magic.

What a fantastic goal. Oh, it's

absolutely brilliant. Neymar scores.

Suarez has knocked it in. Ronaldo!

Oh, what a fantastic goal.

Brilliant! Cahill. Oh, what a

Brilliant! Cahill. Oh, what a

strike. Driven. Oh, brilliant goal.

Take your seats for the ultimate

showstopper.

After 88 years and 20

tournaments, the 2018

World Cup is going to Russia.

Today, we'll find out who meets

who at next summer's tournament.

The draw is taking place

in the Kremlin Palace, in Moscow.

Joachim Low is there,

the coach of the reigning champions.

Brazil are again

among the favourites

and their manager is Tite.

Good to see Peter Schmeichel helping

guests off the buses as they arrive!

We will be live in the Kremlin for

the draw in 15 minutes' time.

Here in the studio is former England

captain, Alan Shearer,

the South American football

expert, Tim Vickery.

This is the most exciting bit from

England's point of view, waiting to

see who you will play?

Don't be so

negative. No problem getting to

World Cups and European

Championships the problem is when we

are there. It shouldn't be hard to

improve on our last tournament,

should it? Whether it was 18 months

ago or two years before that. We've

been dreadful in the tournament. So

that's what I'm looking forward to,

is some improvement.

Should low

expectations help us?

Well, it

hasn't in the past because I don't

think there were high expectations

in France 18 months ago from a lot

of England fans. The performances

disappointed us hugely then. We have

to show progress and show

improvement. That should not be

difficult after our last few

tournaments.

We will go through the

Pots Tim, Who is best placed among

the South American countries for

this World Cup?

Without a shadow of

a doubt Brazil. They went through a

weak South American contingent in

qualification. The 0-0 against

England gave them the power of good.

Brought them to earth. It reenhe

forced the challenge is against the

western Europeans. Five of the six

finalists in the last World Cups

have been from western Europe.

Brazil, if they want to win the

World Cup, they will have to beat

the likes of France, Spain and

Germany. They think they have a real

chance. It's the most attractive

Brazil side that I remember, I can

remember for years. Passing the ball

better than Brazil sides have done

for years. They are capable, win or

lose, in eight months time,

whatever, they are capable of

reminding us of why we fell in love

with Brazil in the first place.

Argentina should be attractive, have

had a mixed bag in qualifying?

They

will be fascinating. They had

problems qualifying. When you are a

big team under that kind of

pressure, it can seem as if you are

running through trecle. They were

dependent on Messi. We are seeing a

side that is passing the ball better

and looking better collectively.

There are serious struckal problems

in the defence. No surprise that

they collapsed against Nigeria in a

friendly. Played in Russia recently.

They lost 4-2. Argentina will be

fascinating with Messi in one

penalty but disappointing in the

other.

The draw is slightly

different to how you may remember it

from four years ago.

All the pots decided on world

rankings instead of continents.

England aren't amongst

the seeded countries,

so they could face the hosts Russia,

Belgium or Poland.

But also amongst the seeds

are the European champions Portugal,

and some of the giants

of World Cup history.

COMMENTATOR: Pele. On the right. And

he scores! Brazil win it.

COMMENTATOR:

France have scored

first in the World Cup can Final.

It's Zidane.

France are the 1998

World Champions.

COMMENTATOR:

Oh, my word. Have you

ever seen anything like that?

A victory and a trophy, so precious.

COMMENTATOR:

Here's Maradona, again.

He won't need any of them. You have

to say that's magnificent.

The

world's greatest player receives the

world's most important football

prize.

COMMENTATOR:

West Germany. Is that

the goal that wins the World Cup?

He's scored for Germany.

In

football, Germany rules the world,

again.

football, Germany rules the world,

again. So here are all the other

Pots:

. They were decided on world

rankingsing in October by Fifa.

So England are in pot 2,

surprisingly alongside Spain,

who aren't seeded after they dropped

to eighth in the world.

Spain suffer because Russia

are seeded as hosts,

despite being ranked 65th.

England could face Iceland again

at a major tournament.

They're in Pot 3, along

with Denmark, who were so impressive

in beating Ireland in the play-offs.

Costa Rica were quarter-finalists in

2014 after topping England's Group.

Serbia, ranked 37th,

seem to be the team that most people

want to avoid in Pot 4.

Along with Iceland,

Panama are the other team

making their debut in the finals.

But the draw is a bit more

complicated than that,

as Jonathan Pearce explained,

when I spoke to him

outside the Kremlin.

They are trying to keep teams from

the same confederations apart, Mark.

For example, a South American team

can't be put in with another South

American team an African team can't

go with another African team. Can

you have two European countries in

one Group, but no more. It means

that each of the Groups will have

one have European team in, six of

the Groups will have two European

teams in. You have to skip a couple

of Groups in in the draw. In the

dress rehearsal England came out

with Belgium, they skipped a group

and went in with Argentina. They

went in with Panama and Sweden.

Nearly a repeat of 2002.

What's the

feeling out there when it comes to

the difficulty of the draw? Are

people looking at teams they might

be drawn with? Are they looking at a

slot in a Group and how many miles

that would mean travel wise?

Well, I

spoke to the FA about this. Because

they will be based near St

Petersburg, controversial choice, I

think the base will be done up by

the time they get there. They don't

think they will have more than a two

or three hour flight. They are OK.

The worse case scenario may be

Germany who haven't failed to clear

a Group since 1938. If England get

Germany or France, who have a strong

squad, they can't get Denmark or

Sweden from Pot 3. England's most

difficult Group may well be the

enemy Argentina. They struggled in

call qualifying and dependent on

Messi for goals. That would always

be a difficult one, for me. That

would put them in with Denmark or

Sweden. We find them tricky, Sweden

in World Cup finals. Two draws in

two. From Pot 4 I think England

would find Nigeria... I think anyone

would find Nigeria hard. That would

be a difficult Group that one.

Jonathan Pearce talking to me

earlier. This is the scene inside

the Kremlin Theatre at the moment.

If you're not aware,

Gary Lineker has the title

of "Draw Conductor" and he'll be

joined by the likes of

Diego Maradona and Gordon

Banks on stage shortly.

If you want to see the entertainment

Fifa are providing in the build-up,

Poland, I'm correct in saying, have

had one friendly.

In 12 months.

In

12 months. That was their aim. Tim

informed us one wise guy went to see

them.

Romanian math that 'tis.

Said

this is the stra gill and what they

should be doing in order to be in

that Pot 1.

It's very good attention

to detail, is the other way to look

at it?

Isn't it just. The World Cup

Draw, we are anxious for the who.

It's the who, who. We are like owls

going - who, who, who. It's more to

do with the where. It's not just

where your games are, it's where

your base camp is. You have to go

back to that base camp at the end of

every game. These logistical

decisions are very, very important.

Part of the draw is that some

countries will travel much more than

others.

It's about high Absolutely.

Hopes and logistics.

England picked

their base just outside St

Petersburg. This is where the games

will take place and the various time

zones they could be playing in. A

couple of hours difference from

Moscow the further east you go. If

you look at where they might be in

the draw, Alan. We are getting geeky

here. If we talk about planning. The

most favourable distance wise would

be to come out in Group B3. If they

are C3 it's 6,000 miles.

Do you

think it make as big difference?

They aren't travelling in cattle

class or in a car. They travel in

the best jets and the best coaches

etc, etc. I'm not sure it makes that

huge a difference. I know you

disagree with that.

You have much

more experience of travelling in

executive travel than I do! It makes

me jealous.

You should do Match of

the Day 2 with me.

I have turned up

cattle class from Rio from Lisbon!

The example I would give is Italy.

In the last World Cup. We have a

World Cup in a country the size of a

continent, as it was with Brazil

three-and-a-half, four years ago and

Russia this time. Italy based

themselves a couple of hours down

the coast from Rio. It was a strange

decision because it wasn't

particularly handy for any airports.

The draw gave them three games right

at the other end of the country.

They got to fly up there and fly

back. They spent more time in the

aeroplane. You saw what happened to

Italy in that World Cup.

Do you not

just think they weren't a good team

then? Is

Unfortunately they were

good enough to beat England.

You

don't think it will make that much

difference. It's not just the travel

or the style or mode of transport

you go. In this day and age we are

told about times on the train and

getting your ideas across and were

managers moan about Champions League

games?

They have the best travel,

best fitness guys, the best of

everything. I'm not a great believer

it makes that much difference.

When

we asked you to look at what

wouldn't work for you as a group,

you haven't gone for travel,

obviously. Why have you picked this

as not a very good Group

Well, you

work for two years to get to a World

Cup. Now me, personally, as a

player, all the players will be

watching the draw this afternoon

wherever they are, they will be

looking - if that draw as an England

player was to come up. I would be

disappointed. Working two years to

get to the biggest tournament in the

world and you end up with that. Over

the years we've looked at Groups and

tried to suss out whether it's

positive, good Group or a Group of

death or a favourable Group. Forget

that. England go into tournaments.

Their last defeat in a qualifying

game was in 2009. It was 39 games

ago. We go into the tournament in

good form, having beaten everyone

around in the qualifying games and

we have disappointed. I think, if

you get a big hitter in the Group

you can look forward to that and I

think traditionally historical

England play better against better

teams. We saw the Group in 2010 when

everyone was thinking - what an easy

group. USA, Slovenia, algear yachl

we were hopeless in them. Not -

You

want something to focus the mind a

bit?

Absolutely. I think we go in

against the better teams we can

focus. We can be determined. I think

we will be at our best then. I don't

expect us to go to World Cup.

When that draw came out, we were a

bit?

You play in a World Cup so you

cannot say you are disappointed with

that, you go and you give your best.

That was not a good group. But I

think with this set of players and

what has gone on in the pass, if we

get a big hitter, that can get us up

and running.

And for Panama, you

have to do a heck of a lot of

research!

For England, this World Cup is a

chance to banish some of the painful

memories of the last few years.

Slap bang in the centre of Africa,

in word's fourth game of a possible

seven, let's hope this is the bank

in the middle of their World Cup

campaign.

For the first minute, they

were hopeless.

That has given

Germany the lead. That is two!

England are in trouble. And he has

smashed it home.

Muller has sealed

it. Every aspect of our performance

was poor.

He is going to get there!

Luis Suarez has slotted it in!

England have lost concentration,

they lost Luis Suarez.

A dock ways

for England once again in 2014, they

go home without a win to their name.

We were hopeless from start to

finish.

Gareth Southgate is waiting

for the draw to get under way in the

Kremlin and earlier, he spoke to

Dan.

We recognise we are one of only

31 countries to qualify so it is an

exciting moment for everybody and it

will be nice to know not only who

are we are going to play, but where

and when so we can plan our

schedule?

Have you decided where you

want to be based?

Yes, we are based

in Repino. We have looked at what is

best for the hotel, and the travel

and the climate and any venue, he

never get everything you would like.

But we feel that was the best option

for us. The travel is the longest

flight is three hours and we do that

any bus journey from Saint George's

to London for Wembley games so that

is neither here nor there.

How far

realistically can England go in

Russia?

That is the question we're

asking ourselves. We have a side of

high potential. We are excited by

our young players in the senior team

and those who have proved themselves

at European and world level this

year. We liked a little experience

of those big matches and we do not

have many big players who have won

major trophies but the future is

very exciting and it is a great

challenge for this group to see how

far they can go. We cannot go to a

World Cup and not try and win. Of

course a lot of these players, they

will peak in May be four years'

time, but we cannot write off the

tournament. Nobody in England would

except that.

If I offered you a

quarterfinal of the World Cup next

summer now, would you take that?

Not

now, no, we want in -- we have not

won in knockout match since 2006 and

the last two tournament had been a

disappointment so we have to

remember where we are starting from

this group of young players, but

they obviously ambitious. Everything

is ahead of them. And it is not for

me to put a limit on their

expectations.

He is stand if he does

and he is dammed if he doesn't with

those questions. Whatever he says,

however he responds, going for a

quarterfinal or can you win it? It

can be twisted one way or another.

There is no point entering a

tournament if you do not believe you

can win it and that is what he will

be saying to his players. Look what

happened to Portugal two years ago,

nobody thought they would go to the

Euros and when that. But I think

being realistic, in this country,

England, we do not expect England to

go because of how poor they have

been in recent tournaments, we do

not expect them from being terrible

to suddenly be world beaters, but we

do expect improvement.

You mentioned

how the goalless draw between

Purcell and England was good for

Brazil and temporary expectations.

What was the feeling in Brazil about

the England performance?

They were

shocked by how defensive that was

but I thought that was fascinating

because it could have been a

second-round game in the World Cup

and it is 0-0 to the opposition and

the longer it goes on, the better it

is. The coach was impressed by what

he saw. But there is a key moment in

the perception of the England team

here and abroad, which is the World

Cup in South Africa in 2010. It

seemed they had everything in favour

of them, cold weather, a coach,

Fabio Cannavaro, but still very poor

indeed. I would like to ask all in

this, now England have given

attention to the World Cup at youth

level, winning the under 17 and

under 20 World Cup, that generation

have tournament experience. Today's

generation and previous generations

do not grow up with tournament

experience, especially in a context

where the England players do not

play abroad, so they are not used

being away from home for any length

of time, how much of that has had an

impact on the poor performances in

recent tournaments?

Yes, I think so,

all of a sudden, you away for five,

six weeks. You train and you weep,

you go to bed. You train, you be, be

go to bed. You watch videos, you

have your chats with whoever it is,

the manager, the coaches. So it is

very different to what you are used

to. So it is of huge benefit, when

people talk about having experience

of tournament football, yes, it is

about being away from home and

learning what to do. The coaching,

and just how you react with that.

And that is definitely part of it.

He has already started to do it,

dipping into that U21 and under 20

squad. You would advocate that even

more, going forward?

To use those

with tournament experience. I think

you have two because it is an

incentive for the guys to do well.

If they are doing well and winning

tournaments and not getting a taste

of the first team with England, the

guys would think, there is something

not right here, that is why you have

got those teams. It is a huge step

up from U21, and 20, because I

remember the U21 team I played in

that won the Toulon tournament and

out of a squad of 21, 22 players,

there was only two, myself and David

James, that went on to play in the

first team with England. So plain

youth level, U21, and 20, there is

so much that can go right or wrong,

it is a huge difference.

We have

seen other countries by Paris club

football and rely on people with

good tournament experience at youth

level and bring them into seniors.

Uruguay did that.

That is how they

punch above their weight, they have

a population of just under three

million and it cannot hang onto its

best players so what is your

criteria for selection? You are

players in Mexico, Turkey, Spain,

all over the place. So Uruguay do

this right from the start, they use

the youth team to identify players

they think would be good enough to

play in globalised football and they

give them a crash course in the

identity, the importance of the

shirt. And if they do well at under

20 level, they pitch them straight

in. In the last couple of months,

the Uruguay team has totally changed

its characteristics. They had play

for a number of years, everybody

behind the ball and Doctor Soares.

They have put in two under 20

players from this year's World Cup,

and suddenly, you see a Uruguay

midfield that can hold possession

and that can orchestrate and that is

because they have given

responsibility to people they have

groomed all the way up. It was a bit

perhaps like England have started

doing with Gomes. Man of the Match

for England against Brazil. He was

not there based on his Liverpool

form, it was his form during the

England youth system. That is a

Uruguay have been doing for years.

And if they play more at

international youth level and not as

much for their clubs, we do not need

the discussion about the winter

break because they would not be

tired. They might have been flogged

every week in the Premier League.

It

is difficult for the manager to put

a guy in who has been doing well in

the youth team but not really in the

first team. That is where part of

the problem is, getting these

players from the youth level into

their first teams. History will tell

as the likes of Manchester City or

Chelsea will go out and they will

buy players.

We are moments away. In

Brazil and Argentina, they worried

about who they draw or is the

expectation... Is the expectation,

we expect to beat them all?

Of

course they are worried. What they

really want is logistics and Brazil

want Group B.

Group B is definitely

the most favourable group regarding

travel. A couple of slots in that

group and you will not be travelling

less than 3,000 miles. As you can

see, they are getting ready to bring

out the various dignitaries in the

Kremlin. Let's go live to Moscow.

There is Gordon Banks. Good

afternoon to Jonathan Pearce. Gordon

Banks takes to the stage here in the

Kremlin. So much history, and he

provided us with some of our great

historic moments, Gordon Banks, in

1966. And how about this man? Nikita

Simonyan has an 81, first Vice

President of the Russian football

federation, he scored against

England in the World Cup in 1958.

Martinez, manager of Belgium,

looking on. Helpers for the draw,

they will take the balls out of the

globes. This is Diego Forlan,

representing Uruguay, the winners

twice. Winner of the Golden Ball in

2010. The very soul of Argentina in

1986. The one and only Diego Forlan

-- Diego Maradona. With a lady that

looks like she has come from Narnia!

That is Gareth Southgate looking on.

The greatest player ever, arguably,

do you remember him for the second

goal against England? And failing

the drugs test and being sent home

in the World Cup in 1984. How about

this man? Laurent Blanc, winner in

1998, scored the first ever Golden

Goal in World Cup finals, against

Paraguay, he missed the final. This

man never stops smiling, and why

not? World Cup winner in 1994 and

2002, the only man to play three

consecutive World Cups. Didier

Deschamps looking on, manager of

France. Carles Puyol as the next man

World Cup winner in 2010 and he was

told at the 19 by Louis Van Gaal to

get his hair cut. Your beastly

refused! -- he obviously refused.

This is one of my heroes at what a

player he was, World Cup winner of

the year in 26 /2006 after

captaining Italy to victory. They

named him the Berlin Wall. I met him

on a beach in Brazil and I asked him

boys autograph, I have never done

that before. Now we need the host.

We will carry on in a minute. It

will be Gary and with him will be

the Russian journalist Maria

Komandnaya. This is Gary. He did

really well in rehearsal all week,

he has been working really hard

here.

Good evening, Gary.

Asking Maria a

question now. If she is about to

help make the draw. A very key

moment, obviously. A great deal of

responsibility. Are you ready? Yes,

I am ready! It is a great honour for

me to be on the stage with Gary, she

says, a momentous occasion. Followed

by fans all around the world.

Gary,

you were the top scorer at the 1996

World Cup, how does that compare to

conducting the final draw?

I think

it will be very different, football

came naturally. I think I prefer to

take a penalty in the World Cup

final and organise this straw! But I

will do my best.

Thank you.

We are

ready to begin, Gary, over to you.

Right, let's take a look at how the

draw is going to work. We have 32

teams and they have been divided

into four pots, each containing

eight teams. The allocation teams

and pots is based solely on the Fifa

Coca-Cola world ranking from October

2017, with the highest ranked teams

and host Russia in Pot 1 and the

lowest ranked teams in Pot 4. Let's

take a look at the pots. Pot 1

contains Russia, Germany, Brazil,

Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland

and France. Pot 2, Spain, Peru,

Switzerland, England, Colombia,

Mexico, Uruguay and Croatia. Pot 3,

Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica,

Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal and

Islamic Republic of Iran.

We will draw the Pots one at a time,

starting with Pot 1 and ending with

Pot 4. They will populate the groups

alphabetically. The teams in Pot 1

will occupy the first position in

each group. So A1, B1 and C1, and so

on. Those are the red balls you see

in each of the Groups to my right.

The teams in Pot 2, 3 and 4 will be

placed in one of the other three

positions in the Group were they are

drawn. Those positions are drawn

randomly from the three white balls

that you can see in each Group pot.

The one constraint to keep in mind

is that no two teams from the same

qualifying zone can be drawn in the

same Group. The exemptions of course

are the European teams as there are

14 of them. All Groups will have a

minimum of one and a maximum of two

European teams. That's why you might

see us skipping through the Groups

to make sure that no two teams from

the same region are drawn in the

same Group. Nice and simple! OK

then, explanation is over. Let's get

going with the draw. Maria.

Thank

you, Gary.

She will start things going. The

first team out, we know that A1 will

be Russia.

Interesting that Diego Maradona has

England's future in his hands!

Russia. We are so happy to welcome

you here for our first World Cup in

history.

There's the coach. Russia

will occupy the place of A1. Gordan,

if you want to take out the red ball

to confirm that for us, please. The

first host winners since France in

98. Won three of their last nine

games Russia, never got out of the

Group as Russia in three attempts.

We know they will be playing their

first game in Moscow.

There we go,

Russia of course will go into the

position in A1.

Kick-off in Luzhniki. In your hands,

she is saying, you hold the fate of

entire nations. Portugal.

European

champions led by the Fifa Best

Player of the Year, Cristiano

Ronaldo.

They will go in the

position of B1. Take the red ball

from B, please, Gordon.

Hoping to

emulate the champions of 2008

Germany. Spain went on to win the

World Cup having won the European

Championship.

B1.

There you have it.

B1 for Portugal.

They will kick-off

in Sochi. Down south. Seaside

resort.

The next team drawn will

be...

France.

France. The 1998 World

Champions.

France will go into Group

3. Diego, can you come forward and

take the red ball.

They have reached

the last two European based World

Cup finals.

They will kick-off east of miles. A

city that is 1,000 years old. Centre

in world for 2 for tanks and planes.

It was hit by bombardments.

Argentina.

Argentina. Two time World

Cup champions led by superstar,

Lionel Messi.

Le he scored the

hat-trick in the last game that got

Argentina through against Ecuador.

That would be Group D. The red ball.

That coach is not to be messed with.

They have not failed to clear the

Group stage in 48 years.

D1 for

Argentina.

Kick-off in Moscow.

He looks remarkably well, 91 years

of age.

Brazil. Five time World

Champions. The most successful team

in football history.

One of the

favourites and with the most

expensive in the world, Neymar. Can

you take out the red ball from E

please.

They have reached the last

eight in 11 of the last 12 World

Cups, Brazil.

E1 for Brazil.

We have only three

games left in Pot 1, erm Germany,

Belgium and Poland.

Kick-off in

Rostov, will Brazil. No South

American team can now be drawn in

with Brazil.

Germany.

Germany, the

reigning World Cup and confederation

Cup champions.

Group F, red ball,

please.

Is hoping to retain the

trophy, as Brazil did in 58 and 62.

They kick-off in the Luzhniki

Stadium. Belgium, many people's dark

hoes horses.

Belgium.

Belgium. They were

undefeated during qualification.

Scored 43 goals.

One of the form

sides in the tournament. Can you go

to Group G and take the red ball.

The longest unbeaten run ever

Belgium. 15 games unbeaten.

Yes, G1

for Belgium.

Poland with the super scorer who

netted 16 goals during the

qualifications.

They will go into

Group H, once again, Carlos.

They

will be H1. They haven't been out of

a Group since 1980. Their eighth

appearance. Won't being drawn in

with Poland. A good record against

them.

Pot 2 now. Now.

England's Group.

Europe guy. Winners of the first

World Cup.

They won the World Cup in

1950 and they will

In the host

nations Group to find out

whereabouts, please, Gordon. If you

would take from A. If it's A2, this

is the opening game.

Safe pair of

hands.

Oh, yes, indeed. He looks

great, doesn't he?

Used to be!

A4.

Their last game will be played

between Russia and Uruguay.

Uruguay

will kick-off their game, their

World Cup, in Ekaterinburg, the

furthest east venue.

Spain.

Champions in 2010.

It's already a

strong group.

Which position in the Group will

they be? Gordon, Group B, please.

Lost eight games in their last 40.

They are unbeaten under their coach.

What an opener it will be if it's

B2.

B2.

The opening game in Group B

will be Portugal versus Spain. What

a game.

Friday night that is at 7.00pm. Peak

time.

Peru.

Peru, they return to the

World Cup for the first time in 36

years.

They will go into Group C.

Can you take one of the balls from C

to determine their position.

They

were given a game 3-0 against

Bolivia, they got through by beating

New Zealand in the Intercontinental

Play-offs.

C3 for Peru.

Open up

their World Cup in Saransk. Now, has

he pulled out England?

Croatia.

They

finished third at the Fifa World Cup

in France in 1998.

Diego played out

Croatia to play against his

Argentina. Diego has always been

good with his hands! We go to Group

D, please, Diego.

Conceded five

goals in qualifying, Croatia. Not

been beyond the Group stages since

they finished third in 98. The coach

has had just three games in charge.

D3 for Croatia, in the same Group as

Argentina.

They play in Kalinigr a d

their opening game. The part of

Russia between Poland and Lithuania

on the Baltic Sea. Hotly disputed

city.

Switzerland. They played two

tough matches against Northern

Ireland in the play-offs.

The same

Group as Brazil. Group E please.

Help with the decision against

Northern Ireland, let's be honest.

Could be England v Germany, you

know.

E2.

E2 for Switzerland. Their

first game will be against Brazil.

17th June. Will Maradona pull

England out with Germany or will we

go withle Belgium or Poland?

Mexico.

They were here in Russia this year

and reached the semis at the

Confederations Cup.

They go into

Group F with Germany.

16th

appearance Mexico. They've been out

of the Group in the last six World

Cups.

F2.

F2 for Mexico. An opening

fixture with Germany.

Moscow, 17th

June. Is this England? In with

Belgium. The golden generation of

Belgium. Managed biro Bert owe

Martinez. It is.

The Three Lions

your home nation, Gary.

Yes. They

will be in with Belgium, a team we

played in the World Cup before, I

remember, 1990. Can you go from

Group G pot, please.

England in with

Belgium.

Final Group will be Belgium versus

England.

Diego, let's check it out.

That will be in Volgograd. Belgium

have only failed to clear the Group

stage once in the last six finals,

by the way. Colombia go in with

Poland.

Tell us in which position

Colombia will feature in Group H,

please.

Colombia squeezed through in

fourth.

H3.

H3 for Colombia. That's

the first two pots done with. We now

move to pot 3. We have in that pot

Denmark, Iceland, cost Costa Rica,

Sweden, Islamic Republic of require

ran.

England's opening game will be

on Monday 18th June in Volgograd.

Egyptian, the first ever African

team to qualify for the World Cup in

history.

Never won a World Cup

match. They are in with Russia and

Uruguay. Just the opening game. If

it's A2, it certainly is.

Egypt, their first game will be

against Uruguay.

Dependent on 20

macro, of Liverpool, winning all

seven of their eight qualifying

goals for Egypt.

Denmark, they have

already appeared at the World Cup

finals four times.

Denmark cannot go

into Group B because we already have

two European nation so we skipped a

group and we go to C and Denmark go

into Group C and you can find out

the position, please, Diego?

They

were the last European qualifiers.

They did well, unbeaten in 11,

Denmark.

C4.

France versus Denmark.

Going back to B.

Islamic Republic of

Iran, participated at the World Cup

four times.

Now we go back

alphabetically, Group B, Islamic

Republic of Iran, Group B.

Only one

game at World Cup finals, against

the USA in Bordeaux in 1998. They

have not been -- beating a European

side since beating Russia in 2011.

B4, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Very

tough draw for them. In St

Petersburg, 250-1 shot, ranked 32nd

in the world. 12 successive clean

sheets in qualifying.

Iceland, they

should start practising Viking wave

before next summer, including as!

Not now! Not now, probably not the

moment, Iceland have more volcanoes

than they do professional football

players, remarkable to make it to

this first World Cup, good luck to

them, in Group D. Let's find out the

possession -- the position from

Diego, please.

Smallest population

ever in a World Cup finals, 330,000.

In the last three games to qualify.

D2, what about that for an opening

game for Iceland against Argentina!

In Moscow, in the Spartak Stadium.

Costa Rica. Costa Rica,

quarterfinalist at the last World

Cup in Brazil in 2014.

They were

involved in the group of death and

they were the surprise winners of

that group, I recall. They go into

Group B, Laurent, please.

They did

so well four years ago, Uruguay,

Italy, Greece, a draw with England,

fourth appearance in six World Cups,

for Costa Rica.

Be three, Costa

Rica. We have only three teams last

in Pot 3, what team is next wished

Mark we cannot get Sweden because of

two European teams in Group G

already.

It looks like Tunisia or

Senegal.

Sweden, dramatically

defeated four-time champions Italy

in the play-offs.

They go into group

alongside Germany and Mexico.

Laurent, Group F please.

First

appearance in 12 years, for Sweden,

they did well to beat Italy in the

play-offs and Portugal and France.

They do not travel well.

Sweden

imposition F3. -- in position.

They

lost in qualifying in France and

Bulgaria, it is a tough group.

Tunisia.

They will be in with

England as they were in France in

1998. What a game it was down in

Marseille! Alan Shearer and Paul

Scholes.

England's opening game again.

G3,

Tunisia.

They played their first

game against England. That is in

Volgograd on June the 18th, a Friday

night at seven p:m..

Senegal.

They

went on to the quarterfinals in

their first World Cup in 2002.

Yes,

they go to Group H with Poland and

Colombia. Carles, please.

H2.

The

Senegal, opening game against

Poland. And that concludes all our

teams.

Watch out for them, they are

the dock courses.

A bit more and Tunisia, only won one

game in the final a long time ago.

Beating Russia not beating a

European team since May 2,000 six.

Saudi Arabia can now boast about

their fifth World Cup in football

history.

Not only that, Saudi Arabia

will be playing against Russia in

the opening game of the 2018 Fifa

World Cup year in Russia, what about

that, in Moscow? Save the day. And

if you could confirm that position,

Gordon, please.

Last win in the

World Cup was in June 1994 against

Belgium, it was some goal, can you

remember that? They have appointed a

new coach this week.

Russia, Saudi

Arabia...

The first group completed.

He used to be the Chile manager.

It

is great to have an Italian involved

in a World Cup!

Serbia.

Serbia were

defeated only once on the road to

Russia.

This is where we have the

skip some groups, the first time we

have got a little bit of

complication because we have

European teams in both Group B,

Group C and Group D, two in each, so

we have to go to Group E. So I will

ask Laurent to take out the final

ball from Group B, please. -- Group

E. E four, for Serbia, that group

involves Brazil, Switzerland, Costa

Rica and Serbia.

Their last game is

going to be against Brazil, up

against Costa Rica. Serbia. A strong

team, two defeats in their last 14,

they do not concede goals.

The

Moroccans were absent for 20 years

and now they are back to the World

Cup.

Yes, they did not concede a

single goal in qualification. We now

go back alphabetically to Group B

where Morocco fit, they will be with

Portugal, Spain and Iran. Gordon,

take your final ball, please.

Coach

by a wily old Fox, his fourth

African nations, winners of the

World Cup from the Ivory Coast by

four points, in the final for the

first time since 1998.

B three. B

three, Morocco, their first game is

against Islamic Republic of Iran.

In

St Petersburg on the 15th. England

opener against Tunisia in Volgograd.

Rounded things off against Belgium

in Kalingrad, seven p:m., that is

the 28th.

They had been in the

play-offs against Serie A and

Honduras.

Can you confirm the group

please, Diego?

The first game for

France, Australia. In Kazan.

Austria

have France, Peru and Denmark.

--

Australia.

Let's do the honours,

please, Fabbiano.

Panama still in

there, first World Cup finals,

Nigeria. Out they come.

Nigeria...

And Argentina!

Nigeria go into Group

D. Take your final ball, please,

Diego.

That will be five Nigeria and

Argentina games in six World Cup

appearances for Nigeria.

Japan,

Panama or Korean Republic, what team

will be next?

The last game for

Nigeria is in St Petersburg against

Argentina on June 20 six. Good

groups building up here. Who will

England get as the last team.

Looking forward to seeing them play

in the first World Cup in history.

Good luck to Panama, they go into

Group F because Mexico from the

federation so we skip ahead to one

group, Group G, please, Carles.

There you are! England with Belgium,

Tunisia and Panama.

Panama's

first-ever World Cup game will be

against Belgium, also in that group,

Tunisia and England.

Ranked 56 in

the world now, Panama. Runners-up in

the USA in 2013. They failed and ten

previous qualifying attempts.

Korea

Republic semifinalists in 2002 at

home.

And back in alphabetical order

to Group F, Laurent, please.

Again,

Republic of South Korea, ninth World

Cup finals in a row. They went out

in the group stage in seven of their

nine. With Sweden, Mexico and

Germany. A tough last game for them

against Germany. The last group is

Senegal, Colombia and Japan, and

Germany.

Japan, their sixth

consecutive World Cup finals.

England play Tunisia in Volgograd on

the 18th, that is a Sunday, and they

play Panama in Nizhny Novgorod

whether used to make submarines!

Whisper it quietly. And they end up

with Belgium in Kalingrad.

That ends the draw for the fever

World Cup in Russia. Before we move

on, let's remind ourselves of the

groups again, starting with the host

nations group, Group A, Russia, and

opening game against Saudi Arabia,

also Egypt and Uruguay.

Portugal,

Spain, Morocco and Iran in Group B.

Gary, what group seems to be the

toughest?

I think there are a lot of

tough groups in the naturally, but

the one that stands out looks to be

Group B with Portugal and Spain,

near neighbours, Rocco, very strong

in qualification and Islamic

Republic of Iran. That looks to be a

difficult group. The opinion of our

star players here today. Diego.

He

just asked him what he thinks of the

group with Argentina. Diego thinks

it is a feasible challenge. Because

of the type of teams, because

Argentina will have to step up their

game, they were very overreliant on

Messi. He is asking what he thinks

of the Spain and Portugal group,

that should be very important. And

the European champions Portugal, a

difficult game for Spain, a good

start.

Can I thank Mark our

assistants who have done such a

great job and nobody dropped a ball!

Well played, thank you very much

indeed. And to wish your

representatives of the various teams

that will play next summer, we just

want to wish you all the very best,

good luck and thank you.

Thank you,

Gary!

Well done, Gary. A great draw and I

hope you enjoyed it at home, it

looks like a very good draw for

England and we could play Poland,

Senegal, Colombia or Japan. It is a

decent draw. Back to you, Mark.

Thank you very much. A decent draw,

says Jonathan. We will see the

thoughts of everybody in the studio.

Belgium, Panama and Tunisia. England

will begin in Volgograd and Jimmy

18th against Tunisia. The middle

game will be a week later against

Panama. That will be in Nizhny

Novgorod. And the final in

Kalingrad, England against Belgium.

Belgium are the group seeds and that

is on June 28, the final evening of

group matches. As you can see, Jose

Fonte of West Ham and Portugal has

joined us and we will get his

thoughts in a moment.

Your thoughts?

I don't want to say it is a good

group or a bad group because I have

heard it so many times over the

years. It brings back memories, that

opening game, Tunisia, back in 1998.

Scoring, winning.

Great header!

Unbelievable. Seems to

have made a whole World Cup draw

about yourself again, remarkable!

This wasn't a bad goal.

What they do

have, Paul Scholes with his second

one on a hot afternoon in France

when England beat Tunisia. This

Group has Panama, who you said you

didn't want, difficult to get going.

It has the the attraction of

Belgium. Both sets of player will

know each other well?

We talked

earlier about the distance in

travel. Physical I read that

correctly, I think it's six days

after our first game. So we have six

days rest after our first game. If

they are worried about travel etc

that shouldn't be an issue.

What

about Panama, Tim?

First World Cup.

Lovely presence for a group of

players, majority in their mid 30s.

I can't see them doing what Costa

Rica did in Brazil.

Let's not go

there! ?

If we want to make it about

Alan Shearer, let's do that. Their

coach is steeped in World Cup

experience. Took Ecuador that their

first World Cup. Assistant coach for

Colombia in 90 and 94 and coach of

Coe lombia in 98 when they couldn't

cope with Alan Shearer.

He has done

his homework.

That is why we book

him. Fascinating group for Portugal.

What are your feelings on that?

Definitely a good Group to watch. As

I was saying to Alan, we have to

play them all. Yeah, very exciting

first game, Morocco is strong. They

have done

first game, Morocco is strong. They

have done well in the qualification

Iran with Portuguese manager will be

interesting as well.

Is it good to

get Spain out of the way first,

which is what you will do. The

fixtures are on the screen. In Sochi

on June 15th scientist

Definitely.

Important game. The first one is

always a tricky one, as Alan can

concur with that. It's always

difficult to go into the first game.

Hopefully, we can present ourselves

in a good way and get a good result

against Spain to give ourselves the

best chance in the other

against Spain to give ourselves the

best chance in the other two games.

What is the Portuguese mentality

towards Spain as fans and players.

You are reigning European Champions.

You are the heavy hitters you are

the seed not the Spanish?

Definitely. Big rivalry. It will be

like a Derby. It will be

fascinating, for sure. Everyone will

be up for it. It's a great game to

play in. We look forward to it.

Have

you set targets as a group for this

World Cup? Do you talk about that or

not?

Obviously, we are the European

champions, we have our ambitions, we

have to take it game by game, like

in the Euros. We are expected to go

through to the Group stages and we

are confident that we can do that,

but we have to keep our feet on the

ground and approach it game by game

like in the Euros.

England against

Belgium, back to Group G, the number

of different attacking weapons at

Roberto Martinez' disposal is

frighten. Hazard, Lukaku, De Bruyne,

they all having excellent seasons.

That will be a very, very Duff game.

They have got some top quality

players in that team.

We have been

saying it for a while I think now.

Certainly the last tournament, they

should go a distance in the

tournament because of the number of

players that they have at their

disposal now. That's a tough game.

It will be one that we will all look

forward to.

Does it help that so

many of them are applying their

trade in the Premier League? Does

though relationships help or hinder,

do you think, from an England

perspective?

I don't think it

matters. You do your homework

whether it's Belgium, Panama or

Tunisia. Gareth in between now and

the World Cup will have every bit of

information about every single

player, results, past results, form.

They will have everything available

to them. I don't think that matters.

Let us find out more about Tunisia.

We've been joined by John Bennett

from the BBC World Service who

reported from Africa on the

qualifying campaign.

They were away

to Congo in a crucial game in an

intimidating atmosphere, one of the

most intimidating at moss fierce in

world football. They were 2-0 with

13 minutes to go they got it back to

2-2. A test of character. It ended

up being their most important

result. They have proved their

character in qualifying. They had

good performances in qualifying.

Having said that, Gareth Southgate

should be relatively pleased to have

drawn Tunisia in the Group. For me,

they are the weakest African team at

this World Cup. They do have decent

players, unlike say Egypt or

Senegal, they are a team that lacks

stars. Their biggest star who played

for Sunderland. They have a winger

who is a good player. He plays in

Qatar. He has been linked with

Arsenal in the past. He played in

Qatar. Never fulfilled his

potential. It's a team without

stars. Most of them play in

doestestic football in Tunisia. Out

of their last squad, 15 of their

23-man squad played for just three

teams in the top-flight of Tunisian

football. It's a team that lacks

stars, but a team with a the the of

character and a lot of togetherness

and unity. They will go there and

feel they've nothing to lose. They

will go there feeling they can use

their flare players to cause an

upset. England should be relatively

pleased to have drawn Tunisia.

They

are not the strongest. Who would you

look out for at the moment. There is

a caveat, a lot can change by the

time we get to June? ?Before the

draw I was thinking from an English

perspective who I would have wanted

to avoid, the two teams I wanted to

avoid in the draw from the English

perspective were Egypt, because of

Mohamed Salah. With him in the team

they are an excellent team. They are

one-dimensional without him. So

their head coach will be hoping and

praying that he doesn't pick up any

injury during the Premier League

season with Liverpool.

Nigeria are a

team to watch as well because they

have star players going forward.

Look out for mock --

Morocco to cause an upset. They are

in their first World Cup since 1998.

They are in a tough group, aren't

they, expect them to possibly cause

an upset because their coach is

Tactically astute. They have nothing

to lose going to Russia.

Thank you

very much. Let us look at the cities

where England are going to

very much. Let us look at the cities

where England are going to political

their Group matches. The amount of

travelling that England will have to

do. They have come out in G4, you

can see there. Tunisia against

England will be in Volgograd. From

their St Peter'sburg base 960 miles.

Then when they go back to their base

they will then go to Nizhny

Novgorod, that's nearly, just over

50 miles for the game with Panama.

They will have to fly back. Add that

on if you are keeping account of

this. The final one is Kaliningrad

when they take on Belgium. 4,066

miles in total. Does the travelling

matter we had a debate earlier about

whether travelling matters or not

because of the modern player because

of the

because of the modern player because

of the comfort you travel

because of the modern player because

of the comfort you travel in In my

opinion is has an affect if you are

stuck in a plane for a long time and

then on the bus.

Normally the

airport is not close to where your

base is. You will be in the bus for

two or three hours. Russia is a big

country as well. We expect a lot of

travelling. In fact, it does... It

can affect the physical size of the

recovery, in my opinion.

After

England play their first game they

have six days to recover from that.

I don't see that being a major issue

with England, no.

2,400 for Portugal

in total. Your base is just outside

Moscow. Have you a game in Moscow as

well. For you as a player, what do

you want from a training camp? Do

you like to be in the thick of

things, do you want to be out of the

way, what do you want?

Exactly the

same as in France. It was fantastic.

We were based in the Rugby National

Centre, the training ground was

fantastic, gym incredible, we had

swimming pool, recovery systems in

place. For us, the most important,

the players is having that at your

disposal.

Did you have freedom as

well? Whatever happens in this World

Cup we will look for the opposite to

happen when we come round to the

next one, such as the role of the

media.

It's vital. You spend 50

days, if you go all the way to the

end, you spend 50 days together. Our

manager I remember clearly our

manager in France was very good.

Every opportunity we had a day off,

he would allow us to go into Paris.

He would allow us to see our family.

He would give us the freedom to

forget a little bit about the stress

that we were under. It's very

important to have some time for

yourself and to be with your family.

Your manager, it seems like he gives

you the best facilities. It looked

like he's slept in the car. He's

such a...

He's always working. He's

always thinking about how we can

win.

If you are always working, Tim,

you can't afford to pamper yourself,

the job first. You sense, don't you,

Gareth will try and give England a

little bit of that freedom if he

can?

A big plus that Gareth has is

that he's played in tournaments. I

think that's a big advantage. He

knows what to expect. He's been

there as a player. I think he

understands what is right, what is

wrong, what a player needs. So he

will take that into the management

side of it, no problem.

Do you think

Brazil will find this World Cup a

relief in many ways because of the

pressure on them at the last World

Cup as the hosts to use a cliche a

football mad country?

There are two

results - winning or disgrace

almost. They will clear up that

stain on the

almost. They will clear up that

stain on the carpet if they win

Looking at their draw. Two

interesting aspects. One, they will

- assuming they qualifying, the

cross over with Germany's Group. Who

they start against. The first game

against Switzerland. For the forward

line, for Neymar that's a evocative

game. Back to the World under-17 Cup

in 2009. Brazil against Switzerland

is

in 2009. Brazil against Switzerland

is the last Group game Switzerland

win 1-0. Brazil were looking for a

goal. They take Neymar off because

he's so ineffective. Brazil were

eliminated in the Group phase of

that. I honestly think that Neymar's

failure in that tournament, he was

taken off against Mexico that they

also lost, Neymar's failure in that

tournament delayed his arrival in

Europe. It made him realise that

global football is more difficult

than domestic football. That is a

game that I think had an effect on

his career. What a star. At senior

level, he's been on the losing side

in one competitive game. He couldn't

cope with it. At the end he had

attacked the referee. He got a long

suspension. How Neymar reacts to the

pressure is going to be one of the

great stories of the World Cup. It

couldn't be a more evocative start,

him against Switzerland.

He is

struggling with the pressure at the

moment at PSG if you believe some of

the stuff you read

He didn't have a

great game against England.

Fabulously talented player. There

are times they wants to do too much.

Time when his game is about drawing

fouls. The Brazil coach knows that

he's got a difficult player to

handle. A wonderful player. A player

who is not a luxury item.

handle. A wonderful player. A player

who is not a luxury item. Help wants

to train a good player in the group.

There's an element of spoilt child

about imhad. This will be the World

Cup that he plays closest to his

peak probably. The story of Neymar

in this tournament will be

fascinating.

Could you play on a

player's perceived emotional

fragility on the field?

We are

talking about a world-class player,

Neymar is one of the top five, for

sure, in the world. He's getting

experience. He's now at PSG after

being in one of the most clubs under

pressure. The players at Barcelona

are under extreme pressure every

day. I don't think really that

mentally we will take any advantage

of Neymar. He will be ready and up

of Neymar. He will be ready and up

for it. He's going to be tough to

play against him, that's for sure.

There will be certain players who

see the tournament as their defining

career moment which may be, did

Diego Maradona go in in 1986

thinking he needed to win the World

Cup to define him as a player?

I

don't know. We say about pressure

that we put on our team with

England, the pressure that Neymar

and those guys have to put up with

is at another level when it comes to

what it means to them and that

country. That was fascinating when

we spent time in Brazil to look at

that and to understand that. With

what he has to deal with in his

life, I think you will enjoy this

World Cup.

Switzerland, Costa Rica,

Serbia in the Brazil group at the

2018 World Cup. Alan accuse me of

being negative before the draw. So

take a look at this. This is

England's route to the final. Why

are you sniggering? Make your mind

up! I am too negative or two

positive!

We have been here so many

times!

This is based on is

predicting the group stage results

as well. And we have predicted that

England will win the group. Just go

with it, everybody, be positive!

That would be Colombia in the

last... This looks difficult

already! Colombia in the last 16.

Brazil in the quarterfinal, France

in the semifinal and Germany in the

final. But as Jose said, you have

got to beat them.

Well, that is

easy, we are going to the World Cup!

Simple!

If you are not quite as

confident, we are now going to do it

as if England were runners-up in the

group. And that would then be Poland

in the last 16. Germany in the

quarterfinal, Spain in a semifinal.

I apologise! I apologise, I don't

know who has decided Spain would end

up there! Spain in the semifinal and

Brazil in the final.

That is even

easier, we're definitely going to

win the World Cup!

I suppose England

will be happy, we don't want to get

too far ahead of ourselves, but the

fact the last 16 game, if do get

through, that would be Poland,

Senegal, Colombia, Japan group, can

you see a positive?

Yes, I can see a

positive, but I am sure we sat here

in 2010 with the USA, Slovenia and

Algeria and try to put our way

through the groups as well. I think

Gareth were big quietly pleased with

that, yes.

More details now on the

Panama.

Mani Djazmi covered the Asian

qualification for the World Service.

The feeling in the studio is England

will be happy to have got Panama.

Absolutely, and I think Panama will

be happy to get England and Belgium.

Although the familiarity has bred

contempt for the England national

team here, broad, England are still

one of the blue ribbon names.

Imagine being Panama in their

first-ever World Cup and they have

England and the stars of Belgium.

This week, their coach Gomes talked

about maintaining dignity so they

are not expecting to go through.

Just hoping to give a good account

of themselves. In the qualifiers,

they had the oldest team of the

teams that had qualified and they

had been gradually progressing in

the last few years. Reaching the

semifinals of three of the last four

goal cups, there are equivalent of

the Euros. But they qualified in

extraordinary fashion. I was going

to go to their final qualifier at

home to Costa Rica, but they lost

their penultimate game 4-0 to the

USA and I thought, USA have to get a

draw in Trinidad, there is no story.

The USA lost and they won with a

goal in the 87th minute after two

years, almost 2.5, of qualifying.

They clinched a qualifying place,

with three minutes to go of their

entire campaign. So they are there

in Russia to have a great time.

The

other thing in that game, am I right

in thinking their equaliser did not

cross the line?

No, it was a

controversial goal. That does not

mean they did not deserve to be

there, they played 16 games in

qualifying. To get to the World Cup.

Nobody expected it. They did not

even expected either. But just a

point of order in case everybody

thinks Panama could be the whipping

boys. Their coach Gomez was the

coach of Ecuador who he took the

last 16 when they made their World

Cup debut in 20 -- in 2002, so he

knows how to do it, but in that

group, they will be hoping to score

goals, enjoy the games, and not get

hammered.

Trust me, nobody in the

studio thinks they will be whipping

boys, we are too long in the tooth

for that! We hope to hear from

Gareth Southgate shortly, but these

are ten memorable matches from the

last ten World Cups.

Good play by Gammell, and again! It

is 3-1!

A brilliant individual goal! Good

shot! It is turned in, he was there

again! Unbelievable! 3-2, Italy.

Argentina... He has made it 3-2!

Amazing scenes here!

Oh, he has scored! One is sent off,

the other one is scored, amazing!

Yes! It is 2-1, Bulgaria!

The Germans can't believe it! The

holders are out of the World Cup.

Beautifully pulls down by Dennis

Bergkamp! Oh, what a goal! Dennis

Bergkamp wins it for Holland, that

was absolutely brilliant! The cross.

Oh, yes! And he puts career into the

quarterfinals. What a story! He has

scored and Italy are heading to

Berlin! What a goal! What a goal! It

is a red card, it is blocked on the

line, does that mean Ghana have a

penalty with the last click of the

game? Oh, he has missed! I cannot

believe it! Oh, it's seven! Brazil

are being humiliated, Humbolt and is

taken apart by Germany.

The Luis Suarez reaction to that

yellow card still amuses me, me? I

did nothing wrong! Argentina have

Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria. Yet

again. They start with Iceland,

Croatia is the middle and they end

with Nigeria in St Petersburg.

They

have just played Nigeria and their

defence collapsed against Nigeria in

the second half. They were 2-0 up

and they lost 4-2. What a great

start! Argentina against Iceland,

and Iceland. It will be interesting

to see how brave they will be and

how much they will look to exploit

the defensive weaknesses in that

Argentina side. Argentina getting

out of that group, the crossover is

with the group of France. From that

perspective, Brazil's group crosses

over with Germany, Argentina with

France, I think I am with you from

that perspective on your positivity!

Argentina will have concerns about

that group?

Argentina have concerns

about their own team at the moment.

They have a coach who wants to press

aggressively in your half of the

field, he has a midfield that does

not press, a back three who are slow

and who drop very deep and he is

playing wingers as wingbacks and

they have the run 80 metres and

defend at the end of it, so that is

why they collapsed against Nigeria.

At the moment, Argentina have enough

problems sorting out their model of

play.

Portugal were in the same

group as Iceland at the Euros. Did

you find they were a very defensive

team?

Well, I heard everyone saying

we were in an easy group and we

ended up not winning any of the

group stages. So there is no easy

games, as we all know. Iceland,

Croatia, Nigeria will be very, very

tough. This is a fascinating group,

in my opinion, this is a tough

group. We played against Croatia in

the Euros and it was one of the most

difficult games that we had. We won

in the last couple of minutes only,

in extra time. And Nigeria, with the

creative players they have,

fantastic group.

Really good group.

Back to Moscow and we can get Gareth

Southgate's reaction to the draw.

He's lively Jonathan Pearce. I will

take Gareth back to Marseille,

France 1998, Tunisia, it was the

opener, it is the Open net game.

That was the first thing that went

through my mind, fantastic day as a

player to play on a brilliant

occasion, incredible atmosphere, the

fans made that day. Nice to relive

that. What sort of a side are they?

We have to find that out now. We

have not done as much research on

the African teams yet, we do not

have to play them until now. Now is

the -- opportunity. It is great to

know where you are playing until you

are playing and now we can focus on

that.

How important is the break, a

sizeable break, six days between

that game and the game against the

new boys, Panama?

Again, there is a

bit of travelling and it gives the

opportunity may be for injuries if

you get them, to clear up. You are

always grateful for as much

preparation as possible for any

game.

It is their first finals,

people already would be writing them

off, people have said Costa Rica

would not do anything four years

ago.

We are good at writing teams

off and getting beaten by them! We

have to be prepared for those games.

It is fantastically exciting to be

here for the draw with every other

coach. A great experience. Really

looking forward to getting on with

it.

They're pots tree is very

experienced, he has been there with

two different countries, experience

counts at this level? -- their coach

is very experienced, Hernan Dario

Gomez!

Great mixing with experienced

coaches in terms of the World Cup.

Roberto, who we played in the last

game, is in the same position as me.

It is nice to have a fresh challenge

and looking forward to it.

That is

the final game, all Jim, Kalingrad,

it will be easier for English fans,

not from -- not far from St

Petersburg where you are based.

Travel wise, the way the tournament

is, you have to be adaptable and you

will be on the road, but the

kick-off times are decent as well.

You said you do not know a lot about

Panama or Tunisia but you know

Belgium because you see the players

every week in the Premier League,

they score goals for fun and they do

not concede either.

No, they are an

outstanding team and they are ranked

where they are in the world because

of the quality players they have got

and Roberto has done a fantastic

job. That is a top-quality

opposition.

Rate going to prepare

for. Do you now plot on and think,

we could have Poland or Colombia, do

you do that?

You have to focus on

the first game and go from there.

The objective is to qualify from the

group, you are never sure how many

points you need for that. And there

will be ups and downs along the way,

I am sure, so we have to be prepared

for those things.

Pele was here,

they were all here, Maradona, Gary

on stage, I said, this is the day

when people get out of their wall

charts. Do you still have that

little boy in new on a World Cup

occasion, due still feel that

excitement you had as a kid?

Through

the qualifying campaign, it you do

not necessarily think about days

like today where that hits home.

That is the beauty of the World Cup.

You watch the previous finals, the

big games, the big players and it

does take you back to that Bjorn is

of football. That is what something

like today is about, the country

knows what is coming and they can

get excited, we can start preparing

and that is why it is so fantastic

to be involved again.

A long time

since you stood on the pitch in

Villa Park and you organise that

penalty shoot out before the

semifinal for the youth team

players.

For me personally, it has

been an incredible journey to play

in a World Cup was an incredible

honour, and to lead my country as a

manager is beyond that.

So really

looking forward to being able to do

it. Good luck, Gareth, thank you

very much.

Gareth Southgate live with Jonathan

Pearce. His tournament experience we

have already mentioned, it will be

vitally important to the younger

players.

Hugely important. That is

one of the big advantages he has

asked a manager, he has been in, he

has been away for six weeks, he

knows what it is like, he knows what

is required, he knows what makes a

player tick and what a player

doesn't want and that will be a big

advantage to him.

Let's bring in

another point of view.

The former England winger

Chris Waddle joins us

from the BBC Sport Centre.

Do you look at that group and sense

a rant in seven months' time?

No, it

could be a rant! I expect England to

be if not first, second, Belgium is

a great team. Great players we know

a lot about. But in tournaments

where they are expected to go on and

get to the semifinals minimum, they

have not done it, this is their

tournament now and if they want to

stamp themselves around the world

and say we are a class outfit, they

have got the players, but they will

be under pressure as well. Panama

and Tunisia, unknown quantities.

Very, very eatable.

Belgium must bring back special

memories?

Got the goal. Got the

country going after that result. I

think they are a better side than we

played them, put it that I with a.

Listen, we have nothing to lose,

again. Let's hope we can go there,

relax and play.

It got everybody

going. You weren't going - the Group

stages in 1990 were dire.

Every team

thought the same. A funny Group, we

had Egypt and Ireland and Holland.

We got through. It I've said, the

hardest part of the tournament was

getting out of the Group. Nobody

wants to lose or put a point on the