England landed a fairly favourable World Cup draw in Friday’s outing at Washington DC but their prospective schedule could pose issues with their preferred training base
Thomas Tuchel carried on England’s best tradition by getting a lucky ticket in the World Cup draw. Former England boss Gareth Southgate gained a reputation for getting good draws during his eight year reign. And there were certainly no cut-throat gestures in the draw hall In Washington this time either. England got Croatia, Ghana and Panama and, without sounding typically arrogant, they are three teams that Tuchel must feel they can beat to progress from Group L. It is a bit early to get the bunting out but there is good reason to feel excited, optimistic – and a little carried away. Croatia are certainly tough opponents. Now England can begin to dream and map their path for next summer. Tuchel was brought in to deliver the Holy Grail – and this draw will surely leave him dreaming of winning the World Cup.
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It certainly was no Group of Death like France who drew Senegal, Norway and the winner of a play-off in March. Scotland got the glamour of Brazil to bring back memories of Spain 82 – but that is a tricky path. However, England will have to do in the scorching temperatures on the East Coast with their opening fixture against Croatia on June 17 in Toronto or Dallas.
England discover their schedule, venues and kick-off times in yet another ceremony on Saturday but the smart money might suggest the TV companies would fancy Dallas which at least has a roof as it is the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
What a start that would be for England boss Tuchel but Croatia will be tough – particularly as there is so much history between the two nations. England beat Croatia in Euro 2004. Croatia ended England’s qualifying hopes for Euro 2008. Croatia famously beat England in the 2018 World Cup semi final.
But Tuchel will hope their last meeting in a major tournament will be a good omen as England beat Croatia in the opener of the Euros in 2021 at Wembley. The second game is against Ghana in either Toronto or Boston on June 23 then they face Panama on June 27 in Philadelphia or New Jersey. Ghana did not qualify for the forthcoming AFCON but do boast Premier League stars Mohamed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo. England smashed Panama – with Harry Kane getting a hat trick – 6-1 in the 2018 World Cup which gave them so much momentum to reach the semi finals that year. And the merchants of doom will point to the fact that England could get co-hosts Mexico in the last 16 so, despite being in the new-look tennis style seeding, tournaments are never easy. Brazil could crop up in the last eight. Tuchel spoke about the substitutes potentially staying in the dressing room – like Borussia Dortmund in the Club World Cup – rather than bearing the scorching sun in the US. That may well have to be the case this summer if the temperatures and weather are a repeat of the red-hot conditions last summer. They may also have to think about a new training base as the fixtures are nowhere near their preferred training base in Kansas City. But it could be good news for fans in popular, well travelled cities. And of course Philadelphia will be gearing up to the 250th anniversary of the United States on July 4.
And, my word, they may as well have played the star spangled banner through the lavish, over-the-top ceremony which ran for a staggering two hours and 15 minutes. It was a gut-wrenching ceremony with FIFA president Gianni Infantino fawning over US President Donald Trump who was awarded a special Peace Prize for his work in the Middle East and attempts to do the same in Ukraine. This should have been about football and yet it turned into a party political broadcast for Trump which seemed wholly inappropriate. Whatever Trump deserves for his efforts, this did not feel like the stage for it. This is the first 48 team World Cup but even having an extra 16 teams surely did not excuse such an excessive, over-the-top ceremony which was delayed even longer than a VAR check. Tuchel looked on from the seats in the draw hall among other big name bosses like Carlo Ancelotti, Didier Deschamps, Mauricio Pochettino and of course Scotland boss Steve Clarke. The draw seemed like an inconvenience amid the music, cringy videos, showbiz and sports stars with US comic Kevin Hart insisting he knew his Tom Brady from his Jude Bellingham. It was nice when football actually got a mention – and now at least, after the longest draw in World Cup history, we can finally think about the football.
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