233 days from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the small emirate is focusing attention on the future competition which should take place from November 21 to December 18. While the distribution of the posters for the first round was eagerly awaited, the draw made at 6 p.m. this Friday, April 1 in Doha lifted the suspense.
► France face Denmark in Group D
The sentence has fallen: France, reigning world champion, will find Denmark of Christian Eriksen, semi-finalist of the last Euro, as well as Tunisia, in Group D. This draw turns out to be lenient, even if its eighth final could be tougher, with Argentina, Poland and Mexico as potential opponents.
→ EXPLANATION. World Cup 2022: what would be the worst and the best draw for the France team?
Denmark has often been the lucky charm of the Blues in major competition: at each of their major trophies, the Habs have crossed paths with the Danes on their way in the group stage, without ever losing (1-0 at Euro-1984, 2-1 at the 1998 World Cup, 3-0 at the Euro-2000, 0-0 at the 2018 World Cup)
► Qatar opens the ball against Ecuador in Group A
Qatar, the host country which is playing its first final phase of the World Cup, will open the ball against Ecuador, who have already competed four times, in Group A. Qatar will also have to face the African champion , Senegal, and the Netherlands.
► Iran and USA in the same group (B)
Iran and the United States, which have terrible diplomatic relations, are in the same group (B) as are England, Scotland, Ukraine and Wales.
Iran and the United States have already faced each other in the World Cup, in 1998 in France, and Iran won 2-1. During this meeting, the two teams posed together for a historic photo.
→ REREAD. The ball for the World Cup in Qatar is called Al Rihla
► Germany v Spain in Group E
Germany, placed in pot 2, despite having four world champion stars on the jersey, was the opponent that no one wanted among the top seeds. It was finally Spain who inherited it, for one of the flagship posters of the first round. Japan are also in Group E, along with New Zealand and Costa Rica.
► Brazil against Serbia in Group G
Brazil, record holder of victories with five trophies (the last 20 years ago), will have to be wary of Serbia of Dusan Vlahovic, who had beaten Portugal in qualifying, and Switzerland, in Group G.
Group C will consist of Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland. Group H will be made up of Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea. In Group F, Belgium will face Croatia. The two countries have only faced each other in friendly or qualifying matches, never at the World Cup or the Euro. Canada and Morocco are also in this group. For now, only 29 of the 32 participating countries are known.
