With the World Cup 6 ½ months away, the eyes of the vast soccer society turned to Moscow for Friday’s draw, which determined the eight first-round groups and set the path for the favourites to reach the final. Should it come as any surprise that, with President Vladimir Putin in attendance at the State Kremlin Palace, Russia enjoyed a soft landing? The tournament host — second-lowest ranked in the 32-nation field — dodged the other European entries and was paired with the lowest-ranked nation (Saudi Arabia), plus a country that qualified for the first time in 28 years (Egypt) and a strong Uruguay side. Russia and Uruguay are the clear favourites in Group A to advance to the round of 16. Read more: FIFA insists it will hit World Cup income targets despite missing big sellers U.S., ItalyPutin, no doubt, is smiling.

Source: thestar December 01, 2017 18:33 UTC