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World Cup 2018 Draw: 5 first-round games you can’t miss

By Clemente Lisi

SOCHI, RUSSIA - JUNE 29: Matthias Ginter of Germany is challenged by Miguel Layn of Mexico during the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 semi final match between Germany and Mexico at Fisht Olympic Stadium on June 29, 2017 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
SOCHI, RUSSIA - JUNE 29: Matthias Ginter of Germany is challenged by Miguel Layn of Mexico during the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 semi final match between Germany and Mexico at Fisht Olympic Stadium on June 29, 2017 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) /
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With the World Cup draw complete, here’s a look at five must-see games that will take place during the first round at Russia 2018.

The World Cup’s 32 teams finally discovered Friday who they will play in the tournament’s group stage following the final draw ceremony conducted in Moscow — and the outcome was a number of intriguing games.

A total of 64 games will be played in 12 venues in 11 cities this summer across Russia. The World Cup’s opening match taking place on June 14 when hosts Russia play Saudi Arabia at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The final will be played July 15 at the same venue.

Legends, including Pele and Diego Maradona, were in attendance during the two-hour draw, which was presented by former England striker Gary Lineker and Russian sports journalist Maria Komandnaya at the grandiose State Kremlin Palace. Russian President Vladimir Putin kicked off the event with a speech.

Russia headed into the draw as the lowest-ranked of the 32 teams and have now failed to advance past the group stage of any tournament since 2008. Attempting to do so at the World Cup, even with the advantages of playing on home soil, will be a difficult task. Defending champion Germany, meanwhile, open its group on June 17 against Mexico. The Germans have already collected a trophy in Russia, winning the Confederations Cup this past July and using the tournament primarily to test new players.

Notably absent from the draw were several of the game’s heavyweights, including four-time World Cup champion Italy and two-time runners-up the Netherlands. The United States also failed to qualify for the first time since 1986. Also absent will be Cameroon, the defending Africa Cup of Nations winners, and Chile, who captured the Copa America in 2015 and special-edition Copa America Centenario a year later.

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Now that the field of nations — which includes also includes newcomers Iceland and Panama — have been placed in eight groups (with no clear “Group of Death”), here’s a look at the five must-see games from the first round.

5. Group A: Russia vs. Uruguay

The host nation, the seeded team in Group A, have a manageable group with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay. The game, which could be decisive in determining who will advance to the knockout stage, against the two-time South American champions, however, will prove to be a true test for Russia. The game will be played on June 25 on matchday 3 at Cosmos Arena in Samara.

4. Group D: Croatia vs. Iceland

These European sides played one another twice in qualifying to get to Russia ’18. They meet again on the group’s last day on June 26 at Rostov Arena in the city of Rostov-on-Don. Croatia won the first game 2-0 at home in Zagreb; Iceland taking the second 1-0 in Reykjavik. Iceland went on to win Group I to qualify for its first-ever World Cup.

3. Group F: Germany vs. Mexico

The reigning World Cup winners will take on the best team in CONCACAF in the opening game of Group F on June 17 at Luzhniki Stadium. It will be a key game for both teams as they try to set the tone early. The teams met at last year’s Confederations Cup semifinals in a game in which Germany, featuring a B side, cruised to a 4-1 victory. Along with Sweden, who knocked Italy out during qualification, and South Korea, this is a group that some would label the “Group of Death.”

2. Group G: Belgium vs. England

Belgium, a darkhorse to win the World Cup, face England, winners of the 1966 World Cup, in the final, and possibly decisive, match of Group G that will be played June 28 at Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad. The game will be a rematch of the 1990 World Cup second-round game that the Three Lions won 1-0 thanks to an amazing David Platt goal.

1. Group B: Portugal vs. Spain

The group’s opening group on June 15 will feature a clash between defending European champion Portugal and their neighbors Spain, winners of the 2010 World Cup. The Group B game at Sochi’s Olympic Stadium will also feature Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the planet’s two best players, taking on several of his Real Madrid teammates, including Spain captain Sergio Ramos and midfielder Marco Asensio, in a game worthy of a final.

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