SOCCER-WORLD/REACTIONS (CORRECTED) Reactions to European zone draw for 2018 world cup

Record ID: 146323

  • Title: SOCCER-WORLD/REACTIONS (CORRECTED) Reactions to European zone draw for 2018 world cup
  • Date: 25th July 2015
  • Summary: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (JULY 25, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF KONSTANTIN PALACE FLAGS WAVING IN WIND MONUMENT OF PETER THE GREAT GUESTS AND FIFA DELEGATES WALKING INTO DRAW HALL AHEAD OF THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP PRELIMINARY DRAW PEOPLE WALKING TOWARDS DRAW HALL PEOPLE WALKING INTO DRAW HALL
  • Embargoed: 9th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAEO2UWTLM99M4H49BFP0UNPU7G
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE - SHOTS 17, 18 AND 19 ARE DUPLICATED IN ERROR
    Spain and Italy were placed in the same qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as were the Netherlands and France, but holders Germany were handed a kinder campaign with the Czech Republic their chief rivals in the draw made on Saturday (July 25).
    Things do not look so straightforward in Group A where the Netherlands and France face tricky opponents in Sweden, Bulgaria, Belarus and Luxembourg.
    France coach, Didier Deschamps, said: " "It is quite a strong group with the Netherlands and Sweden which are among very good European nations. To be in a group like that leaves us in many possible outcomes, but qualifying stages are always difficult. We know our opponents but we wait to find out the order of matches, but I repeat we have a homogenous group and a solid one and this will be evident"
    When asked about the Netherlands in particular, the 1998 World Cup winning captain, added: "They have finished third in the last World Cup, they were top seeds in their group and the teams which top their group are from the best European nations and the Netherlands are part of these best teams. We are going to face them next March in a friendly but for sure they are a very good team"
    The French Football Federation President, Noel Le Grait was positive about the draw.
    "It is a balanced group, very strong. I think that the Netherlands, Sweden, France and Bulgaria, without ignoring the others (Belarus and Luxembourg). In any case, it a very tight group. It will be an even group with good teams that play good football. The Netherlands had a marvellous World Cup, Sweden with Ibra (Zlatan Ibrahimovic), for France it is a great attraction so I think the group is balanced, not easy and I think that France will progress and will in a position to qualify - I hope."
    Sweden coach, Erik Hamren, admitted it would be difficult for his team to qualify from the group, which would mean a third consecutive World Cup in which Sweden haven't made the finals.
    "I can say so we are not the favourites. We have a big challenge if we are going to make it to the World Cup but also it's an interesting and fantastic challenge," Hamren told Reuters.
    Spain, world champions in 2010, and Italy, who won the last of their four titles in 2006, are favorites to fill the top two slots in Group G after being paired with Albania, Israel, Macedonia and Liechtenstein.
    Only the group winners will automatically advance to the finals, however, with the eight best runners-up from nine groups fighting it out in playoffs for four other berths.
    "Of course, it's a tough group but I think it will be a stimulating because if you have to face Spain, one of the strongest teams in the world then it can be stimulating for the players," Italy coach Antonio Conte told Reuters.
    Germany, who won the World Cup for the fourth time in Brazil last year, will face the Czechs, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan and San Marino.
    England, whose only World Cup win came in 1966 but who have been regular qualifiers in recent years, again look well placed after being grouped with their oldest rivals Scotland in Group F, along with Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta.
    "The Scotland fixtures are the ones I suppose that especially for the British-based media that stand out because it's such an old rivalry," England manager Roy Hodgson said to Reuters. "It's the oldest rivalry I believe amongst footballing nations so if the friendlies are anything to go on - the one we had at Wembley and the one up at Celtic Park not so long ago - if they're anything to judge by they'll be very, very exciting and it will be very tense and intense games and the atmosphere will be unbelievable so for people who maybe want to see a really fanatic football atmosphere is like I would invite them to Wembley when we play Scotland or to Scotland when we play up there because they'll see what passionate football supporting is all about."
    Wales will have high hopes of reaching the finals for the first time since 1958 having been placed, after the benefit of a rare top seeding, alongside Austria, Serbia, Ireland, Moldova and Georgia.
    "I think you look at our group and in terms of the quality, the Republic of Ireland coming up fourth seeds tells you how competitive it is, you know," Wales coach Chris Coleman said. "Austria are good team, we know about Serbia and you know when you're playing against teams like Georgia and Moldova it's never easy but honestly I've got the same feeling I did down in Nice before the campaign we're involved in now, qualifying for the Euros (Euro 2016).
    "It's about us, it's about us concentrating on ourselves and keeping the lads fit and having a little bit of luck because when that happens, when our lads are at their best there's not a team on this planet that we're not capable of beating.
    "We've already shown that. We've got to continue it, we've got a lot of work to do but it's an interesting draw, it's a good one, it's a positive one I think."
    Ireland manager, Martin O'Neill said: "Well Wales are going very well in the European Championship (qualifiers); they're almost already there and it's obviously; I think them having jumped from fifth seeds I think to first seeds I think they'll be pretty pleased but, you know, we've got a chance.
    "We know the Welsh players inside out and Austria are going strongly themselves but it's a group I think a lot of teams would be pleased to be in, including Wales and Austria."
    The other groups look open, with Portugal, Switzerland and Hungary in Group B, Romania, Poland and Denmark in Group E, Belgium and Bosnia in Group H and Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine and Turkey in Group I.
    Belgium coach, Marc Wilmots, said: "
    Hosts Russia qualify automatically, meaning 14 European teams will be in the finals in three years' time.
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