FIFA World Cup 2018: Its Russia-Saudi Arabia in opener; Portugal, Spain in same group

Moscow: The 2010 World Cup winners Spain were placed in the same group as Cristiano Ronaldo’s European champions Portugal in an exciting draw for the 2018 tournament in Russia on Friday. Neymar’s Brazil meanwhile will have to negotiate a group including Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia as they seek a sixth title.

Holders Germany will face Mexico, Sweden and South Korea as they try to retain the title for the first time since Brazil in 1962. Lionel Messi and his Argentina team which struggled to qualify will play European debutants Iceland as well as a talented Croatia team and Nigeria. In a star-studded ceremony in the Kremlin, England were placed with Kevin de Bruyne’s Belgium, surprise packages Panama and Tunisia.

Russia to take on Saudis in opener:

Host nation Russia will face Saudi Arabia in the tournament-opening match on June 14 in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Russia’s other opponents in Group ‘A’ are Uruguay and Egypt. France and their potent strikeforce featuring Antoine Griezmann and teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe will play Australia, Peru and Denmark in Group ‘C’. Spain’s other opponents in a tough-looking Group ‘B’ are Morocco and Iran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a speech at the draw ceremony that Russia had a “strong affection” for football. “Our country is looking forward to the championship and intends to hold it at the highest level,” he said. “I am sure that the forthcoming World Cup will be a huge factor in the development of the sport both in the Russian regions and throughout the whole world,” Putin added. In the hours before the draw, Fifa President Gianni Infantino denied that doping was a problem even as Russia are at serious risk of being barred from the 2018 Winter Olympics for doping.

Infantino claimed that the level of testing in football is sufficient to show that the game is largely clean. “I don’t think there are many other international sports organisations who are doing as many anti-doping tests as football is doing,” Infantino told in a press conference. “If you would have a serious doping issue in football this would be known by now, whether in Russia or any other country of the world,” he added.