After months of anticipation, the world lastly has readability in the case of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after immediately’s group stage draw that occurred in Doha. For England, the quantity 5 ranked nation according to the latest FIFA rankings, are unquestionably one of many pre-tournament heavyweights and Gareth Southgate’s males may very well be chomping on the bit after viewing the group stage draw that has offered England with a incredible probability of topping Group B whereas providing some intriguing matchups alongside the best way after being drawn alongside the Islamic Republic of Iran, the US, and the winner of the remaining European Playoff that pits Wales in opposition to the winner of Scotland vs Ukraine.
The #FIFAWorldCup teams are set 🤩
We are able to’t wait! 🏆#FinalDraw pic.twitter.com/uaDfdIvbaZ
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) April 1, 2022
Although the Three Lions may very well be met with potential knockout stage opponents in France or Argentina within the Spherical of 16 and probably within the Quarterfinals, England ought to really feel assured going into group play in Qatar regardless of their marketing campaign kicking off simply eight days after the Premier League involves a pause.
Listed here are 101 Nice Targets’ assessments of England’s group stage opponents and what they might count on.
Islamic Republic of Iran (FIFA rating: twenty first)
TEHRAN, IRAN – OCTOBER 10: Iranian Gamers rejoice after sixth objective throughout FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Iran v Cambodia at Azadi Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Tehran, Iran. (Picture by Amin M. Jamali/Getty Photographs)
Head-to-head document: 0-0-0
England will go into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar having by no means come to grips with the Islamic Republic of Iran by means of any medium; pleasant, or aggressive. In that vein alone, it’s exhausting to gauge whether or not or not Gareth Southgate will view Staff Melli as a reputable risk to their possibilities of development of out Group B, however underestimating your opponent on the most important stage has bitten fairly just a few arms.
Iran, to their credit score, was the second-highest-scoring nation in AFC qualifying between rounds two and three (solely Japan scored extra targets), and definitely can boast a cadre of gifted attacking gamers that ply their commerce in Europe’s high leagues whereas being within the top-25 of FIFA’s newest rankings and the highest-ranked nation to come back out of Asia this cycle.
Star striker Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Saman Ghoddos (Brentford), and Mehdi Taremi (FC Porto) are all plying their commerce at a excessive stage, as is Belgian-based duo Ali Gholizadeh (Royal Charleroi SC), and Kaveh Rezaei (OH Leuven). England can definitely count on the aforementioned gamers to be able to taking possibilities ought to they be given them, however Iran possible won’t current the most important risk to their possibilities of topping Group B.
United States (FIFA rating: fifteenth)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – MARCH 24: The beginning eleven of the US pose for photographs throughout a FIFA World Cup qualifier sport between Mexico and United States at Azteca Stadium on March 24, 2022 in Mexico Metropolis, Mexico. (Picture by John Dorton/ISI Pictures/Getty Photographs)
Head-to-head document: 8-1-2 | 39GF – 9GA – 73% win price
The honour of “largest risk” to England in Group B possible falls to the US, and there’s a hidden stat of their historic head-to-head document that’s definitely an intriguing storyline that might unfold in Qatar. Regardless of England operating the rule over their former colony, the USMNT has had the final snort in aggressive fixtures between the pair, defeating England 1-0 in the course of the 1950 World Cup in addition to incomes an sudden 1-1 draw in opposition to the Three Lions in South Africa in 2010. However throughout their pleasant fixtures, England has put the USA to the sword fairly comfortably.
However the actuality is that the US might be embarking on its true highwater mark in the case of the extent of expertise that’s within the participant pool beneath former worldwide Gregg Berhalter. Family names like star trio Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Sergiño Dest will headline the Stars & Stripes, however a wealth of budding expertise will be referred to as upon by the point winter rolls round. Starlet choices the likes of Gio Reyna, Ricardo Pepi, Brenden Aaronson, Yunus Musah, Konrad de la Fuente, Josh Sargent, Tanner Tessmann, Chris Richards, and Gianluca Busio spotlight an extremely vibrant future that includes gamers 21-years-old or youthful which might be all plying their commerce in high European leagues time of writing.
The USA will undoubtedly look to instill their attacking qualities when the 2 lock horns in Qatar and their means to hit opponents extremely effectively and successfully on the break with a aspect that boasts quite a lot of tempo may very well be an actual risk to England in sure areas of the park. They can’t be underestimated by any means.
Wales (FIFA rating: 18th)
CARDIFF, WALES – MARCH 24: Gareth Bale of Wales at full time of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout spherical play-off match between Wales and Austria at Cardiff Metropolis Stadium on March 24, 2022 in Cardiff, Wales. (Picture by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Photographs)
Head-to-head document: 68-21-14 | 250GF – 91GA – 66% win price
If resuming a rivalry (although hardly historic when it comes to soccer) with the US was not sufficient of a storyline for the 2022 World Cup for England, the potential of clashing with neighboring Wales provides one more potential dynamic to an already fascinating group that might provide up a handful of surprises on any given day. However fortunately for England and boss Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions have by no means misplaced to Wales in a aggressive fixture throughout worldwide tournaments or qualifying applications. In truth, Wales has solely ever earned a single draw from eleven possibilities in that vein, however to their credit score, Y Dreigiau all the time makes it tough for his or her bigger neighbors.
Of their final six conferences, Wales have stored the scoreline with a one-goal distinction although they have been put to the sword to the tune of a 3-0 loss again in October 2020. Regardless of their poor document in opposition to England, the Welsh have change into a kind of bugbear sides in worldwide play that has earned a little bit of a status as being an enormous killer, which was on full show throughout their fairytale run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 in what was their first look in that match. Ought to they attain Qatar, it is going to solely be the second time they’ve managed to make the World Cup, however England will certainly know what to anticipate. The majority of the Welsh squad beneath Rob Web page has beforehand or at present does, ply their commerce within the English soccer pyramid, with the aspect highlighted by nationwide footballing icons Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey. And with the likes of Dan James, Ben Davies, Harry Wilson, Ethan Ampadu, and Connor Roberts certain to characteristic, that cussed staff sport that Wales has championed is bound to be on show.
Ukraine (FIFA rating: twenty seventh)
ROME, ITALY – JULY 03: Andriy Shevchenko, Head Coach of Ukraine seems to be dejected after the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Quarter-final match between Ukraine and England at Olimpico Stadium on July 03, 2021 in Rome, Italy. (Picture by Valerio Pennicino – UEFA/UEFA by way of Getty Photographs)
Head-to-head document: 5-2-1 | 13GF – 3GA – 62.5% win price
Many England followers will instantly assume again to the 4-0 drubbing that Gareth Southgate’s high-flying Three Lions outfit placed on Ukraine within the quarterfinals at Euro 2020, however going into that conflict there have been many who have been probably fearful that former supervisor Andriy Shevchenko’s The Blue and Yellow have been able to given earlier conferences. Earlier than that comfy win, England solely managed a 1-2-1 document in opposition to Ukraine which included two consecutive attracts throughout qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.
There isn’t a telling what Ukraine’s likelihood is of that includes in Qatar given the unjust invasion of their nation by Russia in a struggle that continues to rage, however the potential of them qualifying for simply their second look on the World Cup may very well be loads of motivation on the again of representing their nation throughout a continued time of turmoil. In what was their solely look on the most important stage again in 2006, Ukraine made the quarterfinals in Germany however ought to they attain the winter showdown this yr, they arrive with many questions certainly. They went undefeated in Group D together with France, however drew six of their eight matches and so practically have been beat out by Finland who solely completed a degree adrift whereas targets have been a little bit of a wrestle.
England will really feel assured in opposition to them on the again of their Euro outcome, however Ukraine does have some up-and-coming younger gamers that might push for time beneath new supervisor Oleksandr Petrakov, however as ever, the reliance on targets from Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk most likely places Ukraine on the radar as a aspect that may look to be direct. They ave all the things to play for; generally that’s greater than sufficient of a motivating issue.
Scotland (FIFA rating: thirty ninth)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 09: Scott McTominay of Scotland celebrates after scoring their staff’s third objective in the course of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park on October 09, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Picture by Ian MacNicol/Getty Photographs)
Head-to-head document: 48-26-41 | 203GF – 174GA – 41.7%
Because the lowest-ranked potential group-stage opponent England may face within the 2022 World Cup, Scotland is certainly their largest rival with a historical past that spans 115-matches (greater than some other opponent) and the fact that – at the least when it comes to historic significance – Scotland has a document of defeating England virtually as a lot as England has come out on high. However in present years England is much and away the dominant energy, posting a 7-2-1 document in opposition to their northern neighbors however Scotland can maintain their heads excessive given the truth that they earned attracts of their final two conferences.
Don’t let their FIFA rating idiot you, nonetheless. Scotland boasted one of the best document of any second-place aspect from UEFA qualifying (23-points) which included a 2-0 win in opposition to potential darkish horse Denmark on the ultimate day of group play. Supervisor Steve Clarke deserves a good bit of credit score for molding the Scots into a really aggressive outfit this cycle, and very like Wales, England might be very acquainted with the majority of the gamers that may very well be on the airplane to Qatar ought to they arrive by means of the playoff scheme.
In fact, the most important names that stand out are the likes of Andrew Robertson, Kieran Tierney, John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Ché Adams, Stuart Armstrong, and Ryan Fraser. This core of gamers allowed Scotland to boast a really credible defensive document in qualifying (simply 7-goals allowed) whereas providing a good few potential attacking choices. If there may ever be a storyline for Qatar, it could be a World Cup group that, for the primary time, would pit these two rivals in opposition to each other.