The draw for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was made on Friday in Doha. It sees Germany and its host of FC Bayern players with Manuel Neuer, Niklas Süle, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sane, Thomas Müller and Jamal Musiala placed into Group E alongside Spain, Japan and the winner of the intercontinental play-off between Costa Rica and New Zealand. "At tournaments, it's always about form on the day in knockout games. You need to have your nose in front. You need to be clever," Neuer said on MagentaTV. “It’s an exciting and interesting group. We’ve got great intentions for this World Cup,” said Germany head coach Hansi Flick.
Germany and captain Manuel Neuer will face Spain, Japan and the winner of Costa Rica vs. New Zealand in Group E.
Dayot Upamecano, Benjamin Pavard, Kingsley Coman, Lucas Hernandez and Corentin Tolisso will hope to be part of the France squad that plays in Group D against Denmark, Tunisia and the winner of the other intercontinental play-off. That will see the winner of the United Arab Emirates vs. Australia take on Peru. After scoring in Poland’s play-off win, Robert Lewandowski will now have Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico in his sights in Group C.
All-FCB clash in Group F
There will be a meeting of two Bayern players in Group F as Alphonso Davies and Canada take on Croatia and Josip Stanisic. That section is completed by Belgium and Morocco. "We're ready, the whole country is behind us. I'm so excited to play in this World Cup," Davies said after the draw in a live stream on his Twitch channel. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Cameroon left it late in their qualification play-off and will now go up against Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland in Group G. Bouna Sarr and Senegal are in Group A alongside hosts Qatar, Ecuador and the Netherlands.
The 2022 World Cup takes place in Qatar from 21 November till 18 December.
2022 World Cup group stage:
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: England, Iran, USA, European play-off winner (Scotland/Ukraine vs. Wales)
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France, intercontinental play-off winner 1 (UAE/Australia vs. Peru), Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain, intercontinental play-off winner 2 (Costa Rica vs. New Zealand), Germany, Japan
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Listen to FCB head coach Julian Nagelsmann in the latest edition of the FC Bayern Podcast:
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