Rusia. FIFA has
made a group draw for the 2018 World Cup final on Friday (1/12/2017) at the
Kremlin Palace, Russia. A total of 32 teams that will participate in the
biggest competition in the world of football has been divided into eight groups.
The drawing event
opened with remarks by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. In the speech,
Putin conveyed about the values of sportsmanship in football. "Friendship
and sportsmanship is a lasting value," Putin said as quoted by The
Guardian.
In addition to
putin, Gianni Infantino as FIFA President also gave a speech. The man who
occupied the post after Sepp Blater's departure was convinced that 11 cities in
Russia hosting the World Cup will provide an extraordinary experience for
anyone visiting.
"I am
confident that the experience in 11 cities will be great for anyone who visits
the summer [when the World Cup is held]," said Infantino.
The drawing
process itself is guided by English football legend Garry Lineker and sports
journalist Maria Komandnaya. Both are helped by a number of legends such as
Laurent Blanc, Diego Maradona, Gordon Banks, Cafu, Fabio Cannavaro, Diego
Forlan, Carles Puyol, and Nikita Simonyan. Not only those legends, also
featured also the World Cup trophy that will be contested next year. The trophy
itself was brought directly to the stage by Miroslav Klose as the German
representative as defending champion.
"A lot of
great players have held this trophy, it was a great moment when I had the
chance to take him onstage," Klose said.
Here are the
drawings of Russia 2018 World Cup drawing
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
- South Korea
Group G
- Belgium
- Panama
- Tunisia
- English
Group H
- Poland
- Senegal
- Colombia
- Japan
- 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
- South Korea
Group G
- Belgium
- Panama
- Tunisia
- English
Group H
- Poland
- Senegal
- Colombia
- Japan
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