Thanks, Paul, for your thoughts. That concludes the matchday live blog for today. Back tomorrow for more more more.
Paul MacInnes writes: “As I think I mentioned in my intro post, I didn’t make much of the ceremony. For something that was clearly positioning itself as of the same grandeur and import as the Oscars or Grammy awards, it was all quite leaden, simply in terms of entertainment, and consistently wince-inducing. The many awkward attempts at call and response, largely led by Gianni Infantino, were regularly met with quiet in the room. Not great. The only good improv, meanwhile, came when Rio Ferdinand offered his co-presenters out after the ceremony.
“Anyway, that’s taking it on its own terms. Of much more important concern was the politicisation of the event, the obsequiousness with which it treated Donald Trump, whose administration has killed more than 80 people in the waters off Venezuela this year to pick one statistic at random, and the wilful inversion of meaning, especially relating to the word ‘peace’. Most egregious moment of all, for me, however, was when Infantino claimed that the Fifa Peace Prize (subtitle: Football Unites the World) was being awarded to Trump on behalf of “the billions of people who love this game”. No, it wasn’t, and if anything actually showed the hubris of this current Fifa leadership it was the claim that it can speak for a world it largely ignores. This may yet return to haunt them.”
Updated
“What was the most egregious moment in this World Cup draw?” asks Stephen Dowbury.
Paul MacInnes writes: “No, I don’t. Just in the sense that I don’t think there’s any group with four strong sides in it, the traditional definition of a group of death (or three strong sides, as it was in 1982, where a second group stage saw Italy, Brazil and Argentina play off against each other).
“Group I is tough, for sure, with France and Norway joined by another strong nation in Senegal. But the fourth place comes from an international playoff, and will be one of Iraq, Bolivia and Suriname who - and I hope to eat crow over this! – are not quite up to the same mark. In fact, I’m increasingly looking at Group A as perhaps the most unrelenting in its demands.”
Updated
“It seems most people are painting Group I as the ‘Group of Death’? writes Jerôme Timmons. “Agree?”
Nick Ames gives his take on the World Cup draw.
Really, the Americans should be playing more than three games. At least four. Probably five. Perhaps six.
Paul MacInnes writes: “This is a great question because it gets to the heart of what makes the World Cup the best sporting tournament known to humanity. There’s France-Norway in Group I, Mbappe v Haaland, and Spain Uruguay in Group H, with Marcelo Bielsa going up against the world’s best and a football culture he helped so much to shape.
“But that’s just the top level. I love watching Japan and their game against the Netherlands in Group F will be a striking clash of styles, energy against technique. Can Ralph Rangnick’s Austria, who played so well at last year’s Euros, lay a glove or two on Argentina in Group J? Egypt versus Iran is two regional heavyweights going up against each other in group G.
“Then you have the newbies, like Curacao, who have three great fixtures against Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador, in their bid to make a little history. The games come big and small, the teams familiar and fresh alike. That’s what makes the World Cup group stage so absorbing.”
Updated
Q&A continues: “Which matches are you most looking forward to?” enquires Simon Boland.
You can follow the Villa v Gunners team news here with Barry Glendenning.
Aston Villa v Arsenal teams
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Watkins. Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Buendia, Digne, Garcia, Malen, Sancho, Bogarde, Hemmings.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Timber, Hincapie, Calafiori, Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Merino, Eze. Subs: Arrizabalaga, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Salmon.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside)
Paul MacInnes writes: “Absolutely, no problem. With the global climate collapsing the prospect of torrential rain striking on any given match of next year’s tournament has increased exponentially and if there’s any team accustomed to playing through puddles it should be… only kidding. I actually think this is set up interestingly for Scotland. With 8 of the 12 third place sides qualifying for the R32, it seems plausible
that 4 points might be enough to progress.
“A victory against Haiti in the opening match is essential (and yes, Scotland have flubbed such gimmes many times before), but then you have two gos at getting a point, with Brazil – who are not flawless - potentially already through by the time they come to face the Tartan Army in matchday three. So a first ever knock-out match is a possibility. But even if it all ends in flames, there is the prospect of some David Narey-style memories being made along the way. And, let’s face it, that’s the likeliest outcome isn’t it?”
“Can you give me any hope for Scotland?” pleads Arron Davis. “Please.”
Paul MacInnes: “A good question because despite the way in which the draw was structured – with pots decided by Fifa ranking and the top four ‘seeds’ kept apart until the semi-finals – there is still a bit of variation in terms of the quality or strength of each group.
“In part this is because we have three host nations included in the top pot, meaning the USA were able to get a far easier draw than they might otherwise and indeed the gods obliged with the Americans playing Australia, Paraguay and one from Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey.
“Given a fair wind and home support this gives Mauricio Pochettino’s side a chance of finishing top in Group D and playing a third place qualifier in the new, supersized knock out round of 32. Not so fortunate, in my opinion at least, were Mexico. Another host nation, they will face the perenially tough challenge of South Korea, a South Africa side that qualified ahead of Nigeria and potentially either Denmark or the Republic of Ireland.”
Updated
Which teams should be happiest – and unhappiest – at the draw that they have been allocated?” poses Clarissa Smithson.
Q&A with Paul MacInnes
Good morning and I hope everyone is enjoying the prospect of a return to actual football after whatever that was in Washington last night. Putting the awful politics to one side for a second, it was just a bad show to watch. Kevin Hart looked like he hadn’t been given a script, never mind learned, it and the Robbie Williams thing, Desire, gave me a strong desire to encase myself in concrete. I can’t see Gianni Infantino replacing Michael McIntyre anytime soon either (though they do share a nauseous kind of glossiness). As for the draw, is Scotland’s Group C a challenge or an opportunity? Could the US have had it any softer? And are Croatia and Ghana potentially tricky opponents for England?
At 11am, Paul MacInnes will be on hand to answer your questions on the World Cup draw. Get them sent to matchday.live@theguardian.com
There’s another big soccer event in the US today, the MLS Cup: Messi v Muller, a retread of the 2014 World Cup final, though this time it’s Inter Miami v Vancouver Whitecaps.
Slough play a real team in the FA Cup, Macclesfield FC, the third round beckons for both of them. Billy Munday spoke to Scott Davies about an important issue.
Southampton play Birmingham today, as they attempt to recover from Will Still being their latest managerial misadventure.
That’s about the size of it.
Good morning, football. I’m feeling a hangover, not through overindulgence, but some kind of reaction to having to unfurl myself from the embarrassment of what the World Cup draw told us about the world today. I wasn’t much aware of Kevin Hart’s work: I am not keen to seek out more. Same goes for Danny Ramirez. Rio Ferdinand, stick to the wind-ups, mate. I felt sorry for Heidi Klum. As for Gianni Infantino, when even Donald Trump is looking at you like you have taken things too far, it’s time to wind it in. Urgh.
And with that, John Brewin will be taking the reins of this Matchday live until the first Premier League match of the day.
“When Gideon Kodua came off the bench and scored a 92nd-minute winner for Luton Town in their seven-goal thriller against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup last month, the impact was felt far beyond Kenilworth Road. The 4-3 win did not just take Luton into the second round of the competition, but it ensured that 8,000 trees will be planted in Uganda over the next few months thanks to an initiative by the sportswear manufacturer Reflo…”
We’re just over two-and-a-half hours away from the opening Premier League match of the day between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park (12:30pm GMT). Take this post as a final reminder to sort out your Fantasy Premier League team if you haven’t already!
Ruben Amorim also denied not trusting Manchester United’s academy by pointing to his selection of Kobbie Mainoo in the matchday squad. Mainoo was an unused substitute in Thursday’s 1-1 draw at home to West Ham. The 20-year-old midfielder, who has been at the club since he was six, has made 10 appearances this season but only one start, against Grimsby in the Carabao Cup.
Ruben Amorim has warned Manchester United need to improve and gear up for a “tough match” as Wolves’ winless streak will end sooner or later. After a five-match unbeaten run, setbacks on either side of last Sunday’s comeback win at Crystal Palace have darkened the mood at Old Trafford. United suffered an embarrassing 1-0 home loss to 10-man Everton and 10 days later boos greeted the final whistle following a 1-1 draw with 18th-placed West Ham. Bottom-placed Wolves have secured just two points in a winless first 14 games of the season. “Everything can happen and that will change – there is no team in the history of the Premier League that didn’t win one game, so it can be any game,” the United manager said. “We need to try to improve, to rest the players, work really well and prepare for a tough match because with us it’s always a tough match.”
Nuno Espirito Santo says everyone at West Ham needs to give their utmost as they face their relegation battle head-on. Nuno has overseen some marked improvements since being appointed manager in late September, yet the Hammers remain in the drop zone despite Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United. “We have to face it,” he said. “We are fighting for survival. We cannot hide it. The results of other teams we cannot control. It is up to us.”
West Ham travel to Brighton on Sunday buoyed by their comeback point at Old Trafford, with such spirit helping them collect more Premier League points from losing positions than any side other than Aston Villa since Nuno’s arrival. “Everybody in the club realising we have to give the best of everything,” Nuno added: “We have to give the best of us to get out of this situation. That is the reality. A club like us, as big as we are, we have to face the situation. It is hard to build with urgency. But the boys are committed and we think we can do it.”
Lucas Paqueta will start on the south coast after serving a one-match ban, while Nuno is hoping Crysencio Summerville can be involved.
Updated
Amid the chaos of the World Cup draw, let’s not forget that we have seven Premier League fixtures to look forward to this afternoon…
Aston Villa v Arsenal
Everton v Nottingham Forest
Newcastle v Burnley
Manchester City v Sunderland
Tottenham v Brentford
Bournemouth v Chelsea
Leeds United v Liverpool
Just a reminder that Paul MacInnes will be on hand for a World Cup draw Q&A later on this morning. Feel free to leave a comment below the line or send your questions in to matchday.live@theguardian.com before 11am.
Kári Tulinius has messaged in to say:
“Given that eight out of twelve third-place teams will get to the knockout stage, four points should be enough to get through. Given the potential disparity in quality between France, Senegal and Norway on the one hand, and one of Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq on the other, it’s not unlikely we’ll get a group where the third place team has four points and a positive goal difference. It could be the Group of Everybody Lives. The era of group stage drama may be over.”
Speaking after the draw, the England head coach Thomas Tuchel said: “I think it’s a very complex group, a very difficult group but, OK, it is what it is.
“Croatia are difficult. It’s a big opening match and it could easily be a quarter-final or even later in the tournament but we don’t wish for things. We don’t want to avoid at all costs anything.”
Anyone else?
Taking a look at this, which group do we think is the ‘group of death’? Group I is looking like a tricky one, Group C and Group F too.
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Euro Playoff D
Group B: Canada, Euro Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Euro Playoff C
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Euro Playoff B
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Fifa Playoff 2
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Fifa Playoff 1, Colombia, Uzbekistan,
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
At the end of an extraordinary day in the US capital and a World Cup draw that lurched between the ridiculous and the sublime (with a greater emphasis on the former, if the truth be told), Thomas Tuchel and England now know. Croatia in Toronto or Dallas. Ghana in Boston or Toronto. Panama in New Jersey or Philadelphia. And that is just the group games…
It was a case of Déjà vu for England last night when discovering they will meet two nations they played against at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Three Lions were drawn against Panama – who they beat 6-1 in the group stage – and Croatia – who they lost 2-1 to in the semi-finals that year.
England will also face Ghana in Group L.
Updated
Another key moment from the draw yesterday was Donald Trump receiving… an award. The President of the United States was named the first winner of the newly created Fifa peace prize, claiming “the world is a safer place now” as he received the medal and trophy.
Paul MacInnes will be on hand for a World Cup draw Q&A later on this morning. Feel free to leave a comment or send your questions in to matchday.live@theguardian.com before 11am.
Before we begin looking ahead to this afternoon’s games, let’s quickly talk about THAT World Cup draw from yesterday. Firstly, the groups, as things stand, look like this…
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Euro Playoff D
Group B: Canada, Euro Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Euro Playoff C
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Euro Playoff B
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Fifa Playoff 2
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Fifa Playoff 1, Colombia, Uzbekistan,
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
Preamble
Hello, good morning and welcome to another Matchday live! Well, where do we start? How about yesterday’s World Cup draw? That was… something. Anyway, we’ll get into that properly a bit later.
Today we’ll be looking ahead to this afternoon’s Premier League, Championship and EFL games and looking back at some of the midweek fixtures.
We’ve also got a big WSL clash between Arsenal and Liverpool to look forward to. What more could you want?
I’ll be with you this morning to assess it all - join me!
