Summary

  • England in Group G with Belgium, Tunisia & Panama

  • England's first game against Tunisia in Volgograd

  • Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Egypt. Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran

  • Russia v Saudi Arabia is first game of World Cup

  • 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 H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

  1. How far do England need to travel?published at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Media caption,

    How far do England need to travel?

  2. They think it's all over!published at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Gary Flintoff
    BBC Radio 5 live at the World Cup draw in Moscow

    .Image source, BBC Sport

    And that is that. Gareth Southgate must be happy with that draw. All the coaches posed for a photograph on the stage after the show ended. They all have media commitments to attend to - but most are happy chatting with each other. The media can wait!

  3. England's record against their group opponentspublished at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    England have not lost to Belgium in their past 11 meetings – their only defeat against them came in 1936. That was their only loss in 23 games overall.

    The Three Lions have met Tunisia twice before, drawing a friendly in 1990 and beating them at the 1998 World Cup in France, while England have never met Panama.

    So that's P23, L1 against their group-stage opponents.

  4. Brazil 'will clean up stains on the carpet'published at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Tim Vickery
    BBC Sport South American football expert

    There's only two results for Brazil - winning and disgrace.

    They will clear up some of that stains on the carpet if they win. but looking at their draw, if they progress, the cross over is with Germany's group.

  5. 'England could beat Poland easily'published at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Chris Waddle
    Ex-England winger for 5 live Sport

    If England finish second you probably get Poland - if we got Poland, no disrespect to them, we could beat them quite easily on our day.

  6. Route to the final?published at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    If England win their group they could play these teams on the way to the final:

    Colombia, Brazil, France and then Germany in the final!

    If they are runners up it could be this

    Poland, Germany, Spain and then Brazil!

  7. Southgate's plus pointpublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Alan Shearer
    Former Newcastle striker on BBC Match of the Day

    The big plus Gareth has is that he's played in tournaments.

    He knows what to expect, he's been there, he knows what's right, what's wrong, what a player needs.

    It's a big advantage.

  8. Where are England playing?published at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    England v Panama (24 June)

    Approximate distance from Moscow: 265 miles

    Location: The administrative centre of the Nizhegorod oblast (region), Nizhy Novgorod lies to the east of Moscow at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers.

    Background: Inspired by the aspects of nature in the Volga region, in which it is situated, the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium draws on wind and water in its circular design. This is embodied in what Fifa describe as a "semi-transparent undulating facade". Like all good modern stadiums, it also lights up at night.

    Situated on a site in central Nizhny Novgorod, on the west bank of the river Volga where it merges with the Oka, construction on the stadium began in 2015. FC Olimpiyets Nizhny Novgorod, the club who stand to inherit the ground after the World Cup, were formed in the same year, out of the ashes of the dissolved FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod.

  9. Postpublished at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    If you're working out how far you may have to travel - check out this excellent read from Patrick Jennings.

  10. Does distance matter?published at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Jose Fonte
    West Ham and Portugal defender

    In my opinion, travelling long distances does have an effect.

    If you're stuck on a plane and then on a bus, especially when the airport is never usually close to your base. Russia is a big country so we have to expect travel. It can effect the physical side of recovery.

  11. The hand of God deliverspublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

  12. Postpublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Matt, that will be fine - just have some TVs on in the bar!

  13. Get involvedpublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    #bbcfootball or text 81111

    Matthew Brown: Just text the Mrs telling her that England are playing on the day of our wedding (23rd June) let's see how that goes down.

    GOOD LUCK FROM ALL OF US!

  14. Where are England playing?published at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Tunisia v England (18 June 2018)

    Time Zone: BST +2 hours

    Approximate distance from Moscow: 585 miles

    Location: Formerly Stalingrad, it is situated in south west Russia, on the western bank of the Volga River.

    Background: A purpose-built stadium for the World Cup, the Volgograd Arena is being constructed on the site of the demolished Central Stadium, which had been there since 1958.

    With its meshed, lattice-like exterior and cabled roof, it is one of the more distinctive venues for the competition. According to Fifa's official website, "the special way in which the stadium's roof has been constructed, with cables reminiscent of the spokes of the wheel on a bicycle, lends the arena an extra element of airiness".

    After the World Cup, the stadium will be reduced to 35,000 capacity and will become the new home of Russian top-flight side Rotor Volgograd.

  15. Can Belgium impress?published at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Alan Shearer
    Former Newcastle striker on BBC Match of the Day

    We've been saying it for a while that Belgium should go the distance in a tournament because of the players at their disposal.

  16. Who will win the World Cup?published at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    We know the groups and you can plot your team's route to the final here.

    Now, vote for who you think will win the tournament at the top of the page (or on the right-hand side on desktop).

    GroupsImage source, .
  17. Fonte on Portugal v Spainpublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Jose Fonte
    West Ham and Portugal defender

    It's a big rivalry and it will be like a derby. It will be fantastic. Everyone will be up for it.

    We have ambition but we have to take it game by game. We're expected to go through but we've got to keep our feet on the ground.

  18. Best game of the group stage?published at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Got to be Spain v Portugal hasn't it?

    If you're booking time in front of the tv/off work, that one is on 15 June.

  19. What do we know about Panama?published at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Tim Vickery
    BBC Sport South American football expert

    It's their first World Cup and it's a lovely present for a group of players who, in the majority, are in their thirties.

    I can't see them doing what Costa Rica did in Brazil and reaching the quarter-finals.

  20. Low-key opener?published at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2017

    Russia v Saudi Arabia

    On paper the opening game on 14 June is not a cracker - but we'll all still be loving it of course.

    Russia will fancy their chances of getting out of that group won't they?

    1. Russia
    2. Saudi Arabia
    3. Egypt
    4. Uruguay