However the group stage draw isn’t actually a draw only for the group stage: It’s a street map for the complete event, too. If England is to win — because it believes it may, this time, with reasonably extra logic than that of the stopped clock — the incline grows instantly steeper as soon as the knockout stage begins. Senegal, essentially the most full staff Africa has despatched to a event for greater than a decade, might lie in wait within the final 16. Then it could possibly be France, the reigning champion, within the quarterfinals. No matter lies past that is probably not instantly related.
There’ll, after all, be some groups who’re happy with their fates: France, definitely, ought to have little hassle with Denmark and Tunisia and one in all Peru, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. The 2 South American contenders, Brazil and Argentina, will probably be assured, too.
Even the US shouldn’t be too displeased. “We have now the youngest squad on the World Cup,” Berhalter stated. “For us, that’s a profit. The fellows are fearless.” England is likely to be comfy favorites to win their group, however there isn’t any motive to imagine the US — returning after an eight-year absence — can not end second.
And there’ll, after all, be groups who’re left to rue their lot. Canada, for instance, gracing this stage for the primary time since 1986, has a bunch with no true heavyweight however someway tougher for it: Croatia and Belgium completed second and third 4 years in the past, whereas Morocco sailed by way of the arduous strategy of African qualifying.
In the end, although, Van Gaal was proper: There isn’t any approach of figuring out, eight months prematurely, who has been fortunate and who has not, of which is the graceful draw and which the tough. After all of the pomp and the circumstance, the video montages and the advertising and marketing spiel dressed up as mission statements, all you possibly can say with any certainty is that it’ll, when it comes, be colourful.
