Europe's top sides handed straightforward routes to Qatar Globe Cup
England were pitted against old rivals Poland within their World Glass qualifying group on Mon after a draw which left Europe's best sides with apparently straightforward routes to the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, holland, Portugal, Croatia and England all avoided each other because of the seeding program and, barring key upsets, should qualify comfortably for the tournament found in Qatar.
Instead, the primary excitement may very well be the scramble among the middle-ranking teams to finish second in their groups and qualify for the play-offs.
Under a revised format, the 10 group winners qualify directly for Qatar while the runners-up get into a play-off system along with the best two teams from the Countries League, another competition.
Those 12 groups will be divided into three paths of several, with the winners of each also likely to Qatar. The group level will be enjoyed between March and November next 12 months with the play-offs in March 2022.
Environment champions France were used Group D alongside Ukraine -- a area they recently beat 7-1 in an agreeable -- Finland, Bosnia and distant Kazakhstan found in European Group D.
"The trips will be very long," said France mentor Didier Deschamps. "We must hang on until Tuesday to really have the calendar. This could bring additional problems. I'm not going to hop to the ceiling. We must always have enough humility and value for these teams."
Classic rivals England and Poland will face the other person again as they were placed in Group I along with Hungary, Albania, Andorra and San Marino.
Poland, led by prolific forward Robert Lewandowski, had been arguably the most dangerous part among the second seeds. Both sides have already been paired in five past World Glass qualifying competitions, with Poland famously reaching the 1974 World Glass at England's expense.
"There exists a great background with that fixture. There is a spell whenever we seemed to pull them all the time," said England supervisor Gareth Southgate.
"Poland are obviously an excellent side. Hungary merely got promoted into the Nations League top division - so those two specifically will be games that'll be tough."
Spain must see through Sweden, who qualified for the 2018 World Cup at the trouble of Italy, found in Group B, although regardless if they finish second, they'll still have another bite of the cherry found in the play-offs. Greece, Georgia and Kosovo will be the other teams for the reason that group.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, the existing European champions, must deal with Serbia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan in Group Some time Belgium encounter Wales, Czech Republic, Belarus, Estonia in Group E.
"We've faced Wales in the past and those games will always be competitive and the Czech Republic can be an always a competitive group," said Belgium trainer Roberto Martinez.
"Those several sides will be tricky. They are very similar in account with a whole lot of exciting little players coming through."
Even off-colour Germany should be able to complete Group J where their opponents are Romania, Iceland, North Macedonia, Armenia and Liechtenstein.
Group F were the most evenly-balanced group featuring Denmark, Austria, Scotland, Israel, Faroe Islands and Moldova.
Croatia, runners-up in 2018, will encounter Slovakia, Russia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta found in Group H. The Russian meet will be a repeat of the 2018 World Cup quarter-last which Croatia won on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
"We need to embrace the purpose of group favourites because that's what we will be, with Slovakia and Russia featuring as our strongest rivals for the very best spot," said Croatia mentor Zlatko Dalic.
"It will likely be tough because we've been pitted against the most notable teams from each one of the pots, but nothing less than qualifying for the Environment Cup can do."
GROUP A
Portugal
Serbia
Republic of Ireland
Luxembourg
Azerbaijan
GROUP B
Spain
Sweden
Greece
Georgia
Kosovo
GROUP C
Italy
Switzerland
Northern Ireland
Bulgaria
Lithuania
GROUP D
France
Ukraine
Finland
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kazakhstan
GROUP E
Belgium
Wales
Czech Republic
Belarus
Estonia
GROUP F
Denmark
Austria
Scotland
Israel
Faroe Islands
Moldova
GROUP G
Netherlands
Turkey
Norway
Montenegro
Latvia
Gibraltar
GROUP H
Croatia
Slovakia
Russia
Slovenia
Cyprus
Malta
GROUP I
England
Poland
Hungary
Albania
Andorra
San Marino
GROUP J
Germany
Romania
Iceland
North Macedonia
Armenia
Liechtenstein
