Australia were one of the last nations to dawdle into qualification for Russia 2018. Well, it was less a dawdle and more a beleaguered galumph, albeit one made with a strong, clenched jaw and a determined look.
At 2am Australian time, the draw began inside the ornate walls of the Kremlin, which were capped in freezing snow.
The Socceroos will play France, Denmark and Peru in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with their fixtures being as follows:
Socceroos 2018 FIFA World Cup group stage fixtures
France vs Australia, 8pm AEST Saturday 16 June 2018, Kazan Arena.
Denmark vs Australia, 1am AEST Friday 22 June 2018, Samara Arena.
Australia vs Peru, 12am AEST Wednesday 27 June 2018, Fisht Olympic Stadium.
» Full FIFA 2018 World Cup fixture
An opening game against France is not ideal; France are an astonishingly deep and talented team, with the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba primed to illuminate the tournament.
We have, however, been given the totally achievable task of avenging our neighbours New Zealand, who were knocked out at the final hurdle of qualifying by Peru.
The South Americans are ranked tenth in the world, but few would honestly place them above the likes of England or Uruguay, even Croatia or Colombia.
Denmark are a team that Australia can have reasonable ambition of competing with – outside of Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen and Leicester’s Kaspar Schmeichel, the Danish squad are not a collection of household names.
All-in-all, this is a very pleasing group to be drawn into, and hopes of progression to the Round of 16 – the top two teams in the group go through – are not deluded.
The Roos will play in Kazan, Samara and Sochi, with France first up, then Denmark, then Peru. It’s probably the reverse order than was desired, but, regardless, a huge sigh of relief was heard echoing tiredly around the country.
A nightmare group in which the Roos were pitted – like dewey-eyed sows against the arachnids of Klendathu – against Germany, Uruguay and Denmark was entirely possible.
Australia were the sows in the last World Cup as – admirable, plucky performances aside – three defeats were inflicted in three group stage matches, with the flight home booked at the earliest opportunity. It would be slightly deflating to be subjected to a repeat of that.
Looking elsewhere, there are some other tasty match-ups; clearly the Iberian derby, the opening match of Group B, will be an engrossing affair.
Spain will be hungry to relegate memories of their group stage exit in the last World Cup to the forgotten annals of history, and the Portuguese will be keen to reassert their status as European champions.
Belgium and England’s match will be one to watch in Group G. Largely, though, the big nations – except in Group B – are fairly well spread out; Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay will all be very confident they can win their groups, and earn favourable Round of 16 opponents.
This is a very different feeling from the dread that gripped the Australian football-loving public back in 2014.
The Socceroos don’t have a manager at the moment, but as soon as one is hired, planning will begin. This time, damage control will not be the priority.
Gosh, there it is, creeping back again, a dizzy fluttering in the stomach, a buttery lump in the throat – the World Cup is coming, and with this group, we’re looking forward to it.
Group A
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Uruguay
Group B
Portugal
Spain
Morocco
Iran
Group C
France
Australia
Peru
Denmark
Group D
Argentina
Iceland
Croatia
Nigeria
Group E
Brazil
Switzerland
Costa Rica
Serbia
Group F
Germany
Mexico
Sweden
South Korea
Group G
Belgium
Panama
Tunisia
England
Group H
Poland
Senegal
Colombia
Japan
chris
Guest
Maestro cheques in the mail
KJ
Roar Rookie
In the world cup finals, aren't we always the underdogs? Does this need to be specifically repeated?
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
There's no such thing as an easy group, but have to say the use of rankings for pots the way they have done seems to have worked, as there really isn't a group of death or a really easy group among them. They seem relatively well balanced groups in general.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Both Denmark and Peru would have moved up the rankings after the pots were locked in for the same reason Australia did: Failing to get direct entry and having to go to a playoff. It meant they were among the handful of teams playing extra competitive matches during the international breaks where teams that had already qualified were probably playing friendlies. Because of the hopeless ranking calculation that means friendlies automatically drop your ranking even if you win, teams playing competitive matches (ie playoffs having not received direct entry) got a ranking boost at that point. So Denmark and Peru moving up the rankings after the pots were committed to the draw doesn't reflect them being better as much as just that they got to play extra competitive matches.
Damascus
Guest
I wasn't responding to you but just making the point the Herald was raising expectations when really we are the underdogs in the Group by a fair way - Peru dont seem to be world beaters but the 2 European teams play at the high levels unlike our players - Lowy is spending money as he has before getting good press...
Maestro
Guest
Still waiting for the $45m back from the inglorious World Cup bid that got 1 vote!!!
Nemesis
Guest
Wouldn't listen to any mainstream media analysing football. The rankings are the only tool we have for seeding teams, but I can use my eyes to observe which teams are currently stronger than others. France, Peru & Denmark will all be tough. But, there were tougher teams we could have ended up playing in the Groups;
Nemesis
Guest
Yup. I'd say Peru was the weakest option in Pot 2.
Damascus
Guest
Well drawing 9, 11 and 12 out of 32 teams when we are 39 is pretty bad if u ask me and the Herald is claiming we will get thru - are they serious???
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
that's a lot of teams in pot 2
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
damascus were you responding to my innocuous post? I simply made the point that some of the groups look wide open, and that there's a possibility of 2 or 3 Asian teams making it through to the next stage (as in being genuine 50/50 chances). As for the Australian group, don't be too swayed by the rankings. Yes, on their day, France, Denmark and Peru can match it with anyone, but equally, they are not consistently good (unlike a Germany, for example), furthermore, the lesser Sth American countries have always struggled in Europe, so I firmly believe when we meet Peru, it will be on a fairly equal footing. Lastly, if our three opponents are thinking that Australia are the easybeats of the group, well, that is precisely the sort of thinking upon which the socceroos can thrive, in fact, the new socceroos coach should push that line publicly for all that it's worth.
Nemesis
Guest
No sensible football fans is saying it's an easy draw. What people are saying is: it could be worse. What would be worse? For me, it would be it would've been worse to have any of the following: Pot 1: Germany, Brazil, Argentina Pot 2: Spain, Croatia, Uruguay, Mexico, Colombia, Switzerland, England Pot 3: Egypt, Iceland
damascus
Guest
How is this a good draw - is Lowy money paying the newspapers to be positive we draw 9, 11 and 12 (how peru is in top 12 is odd) and we are 39 and 2 are from northern hemisphere. Is it because we didn't draw Germany, England and Russia.? Can anyone explain this?
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Some of the groups are so wide open that there's a reasonable chance of 2 or 3 Asian teams making it through to the next stage.
chris
Guest
Not really. That was the only chance we had against a 10 man Italy
j,binnie
Guest
bobym - A report just to hand (not confirmed) is that Ange has had another interest bubbling away in the background. This has him connected to a vacancy about to take place in Japan, at Yokohama, a club with very strong connections to the Nissan Motors group and even more intriguing, the City Football Group, who already own Melbourne City in Ange's home town. If true, one can only wish him luck as we have to assume his family would move to Japan with him.and it would get him back into "club coaching" without the bugbears of his former job. Cheers jb.
bobbym
Guest
Pity our coach didn't have the ticker to take them through to the finals.
Kangajets
Guest
U talk rubbish . Chippers hit the crossbar.
TheVolley
Guest
I breathed a sign of relief when Iran was drawn into Portugal and Spain's group. That meant no other AFC team could land there. Iran's ranking (pot 3) did not do them an favours. There were 2 groups I wanted us to avoid - Portugal/Spain and Germany/Mexico/Sweden. All other groups were ok, however Saudi Arabian landed a peach of a group. If we play our best football (including not making the usual dumb defensive mistakes/giveaways), we can be competitive.
AGO74
Guest
Denmark game is 10pm actually.