World Cup draw

 World Cup draw

For a while it almost felt like the Oscars, that elaborate and garish ceremony where America hands out awards for blockbuster Hollywood films. There was pomp and ceremony, seemingly endless preambles to some epic moment and the kind of reception the Americans would normally have accorded to their President Donald Trump. Ironically, Trump was in the building and he didn't have far to travel because this was the soccer or football World Cup draw for the men. And it was the capital city of the USA, Washington. But how Trump seemed to lap this one up because he was the centre of attention and we know how comfortable he is with that arrangement. 

But yesterday was all about the football World Cup(the round ball version played in England rather than the American version played with helmets, an oval ball, touchdowns, cheerleaders and showbiz razzamatazz. Then there was the good, old fashioned football played in England which used to be played on mud, snow and, historically, against that famous backdrop of wide, open terraces and grounds that looked so old, ramshackle and dilapidated that health and safety became an urgent concern. 

And yet all eyes were on Washington, the capital of the Land and Free, the home of one Donald Trump and his Republican colleagues. Yesterday, the country that gave us glamorous film stars from another age, towering skyscrapers and vast buildings, gave another revealing insight into its psyche. Suddenly, we were reminded of its huge marketing teams, its mountainous burgers and Coca Cola franchises, that apple pie smile and Uncle Sam. We love the United States because it just seems a world away from their European partners. In England, the formation and origin of the game goes right back to the halcyon days of the Industrial Revolution. In the USA, it's a more recent innovation dating back to the 1970s.

We gathered in Washington, USA, and kept waiting and waiting for the main show. The hours ticked away inexorably or so it seemed. Still, there was no sign of the World Cup draw and, for a while, it looked as though the organisers had forgotten about it and were ready to postpone the whole event for another day. Surely they weren't going to leave it until the last possible moment since that would be most unprofessional, terribly inefficient and quite unlike the USA. Eventually we had lift off and the World Cup was still a live object, a viable proposition. 

Both Scotland and England were waiting like kids the day before Christmas Day. They were really excited because surely Santa would be delivering the best presents. There was Thomas Tuchel, business like and pragmatic, suitcase alongside him and various documents in his hand. He walked into the hall where the World Cup draw was being conducted and just kept smiling. Now the cynics would have insisted that Tuchel had to put on a happy facade because, although England have always flattered to deceive at World Cups, we were still in with a good chance of winning what would only be their second World Cup. We've been here before. Of course we were. 

So it was that the national managers, dignitaries, officialdom and Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, took their respective places rather like men who were at an important business conference. England know how this one works. It's second nature, in their bloodstream, deep inside their raging hormones, part of their adolescence from a long time ago. In recent history, England have qualified for World Cups rather like the same audiences who turn up for the tennis at Wimbledon every year. 

We know what to expect from England, those audible sighs of disappointment, the frustrated groans, the devastation we always feel when it all goes horribly wrong. The eternal optimists will be hoping for the greatest achievement of all. Next year will mark the 60th anniversary since that remarkable day at the end of July, 1966 when England won the World Cup and were acclaimed World champions. Sooner or later, it'll happen again but we're not hoping for much since stage fright always seems to get to us. Still, it could be England again but let's have no sleepless nights. 

Eventually, after what must have seemed like a whole century in Washington, the table tennis balls were thrown into the plastic bowl and the top seeds were thrown together in a machine that reminded you of your local bingo hall. Then you realised that there were no full houses and no prizes for a line. This was the World Cup draw. For Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions this will mark the end of the phoney war. There is an air of hard nosed robustness about England, a steely resolve to do well in next year's World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada but no bold promises or guarantees. 

So here's the good news or maybe the bad news depending on your much broader perspective. England are in the same group as Croatia, Ghana and Panama. Sounds familiar? Indeed it is. In the 2018 World Cup held in Russia, Gareth Southgate, full of the joys of spring and always upbeat, guided England to the World Cup semi final against Croatia and, not for the first time, the national team will be poised to hit the jackpot and win the World Cup. But seven years ago in Russia, we were all biting our fingernails and nervous in a way that had always been the case. Sadly, after an early England goal from full back Kieran Trippier, from a perfect free kick, Croatia, masterminded by the exceptional Luca Modric, fought back gamely and emerged as winners. 

In another World Cup group qualifier, England simply demolished Panama 6-0 and once again we were all lulled into a false sense of security. Reality insisted that the world class world beaters of Argentina, France, Germany, Spain, Brazil and Italy were the real thing rather than a country renowned only for its canal. Once again Panama are on England's radar and will be wondering whether there's a conspiracy against them. There may well be countries in next year's World Cup who will just meekly accept defeat from the kick off next June, that compliant submissiveness that always casts them as whipping boys. But England have to remain quietly confident and nothing more at this stage. 

Ghana will provide England with tough and brave opposition but England must fancy their chances in a one off scenario. The emergence of Nigeria, Senegal and Cameroon as credible forces in the world game, is one of the most heartening developments in the global game. Ghana, of course, have to be respected by Thomas Tuchel's England but not dreaded or terrified of. Football in Africa has always been a fusion of heroic athleticism, wondrous stamina and admirable enthusiasm.  England, though, will be rigorously prepared.

And so it is England will want to savour the identity of their World Cup opposition. The pundits will tell us that England and Croatia will win their group qualifier by the length of a really long street. But there is no such thing as a formality so let's take one step at a time. Croatia may come to haunt England for many a year to come but there is an inescapable feeling that we can do it this time. It'll be 60 years next year so England will bring it home because it's heading that way and there can be no arguments this time. 

For Scotland of course, who haven't qualified for a World Cup since 1998, this is all new and the unknown. There are bound to be cobwebs and rust in the old machinery so it's time to err on the side of the caution. Those golden days of World Cup in West Germany and Argentina during the 1970s must surely feel like ancient black and white episodes of Steptoe and Son. And indeed Scotland will be hoping for rather more than a pile of junk. But Willie Ormond and Ally Mcleod's drawn, haggard face are now no more than distant images from World Cup years of yesteryear. 

This time Scotland, it'll be case of history repeating itself and deja vu. In the World Cup of Spain 1982 the Scots were drawn into the same group as the breathtakingly brilliant and once impossible to beat Brazil. It was always likely to be a daunting task and Scotland, despite all the valour and bravado, could never live with the six times World Cup winners and promptly left the tournament in the early stages. But Scotland love to challenge the Establishment and the underdog mentality does tend to suit them more than most. 

For Scotland now, there is Morocco who surprised everybody in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but way back then, were annoyingly stubborn opposition for England in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Half way through, the late and much missed Ray Wilkins, a superbly refined playmaker, gave away a foul. In hindsight, Wilkins should have counted to ten but, in the heat of the moment, Wilkins had a rush of blood to the head. The former Chelsea and Manchester United player threw the ball at the referee and was immediately sent off. England were then held to the dullest goal-less draw by the Moroccans.  

The Scots also have the unknown quantity to deal with in the same group as Morocco. Haiti once participated back in the 1974 World Cup of West Germany. None of these World Cup group preliminaries can ever be properly predicted in advance. But Haiti can safely be dismissed as lightweights and whipping boys so Scotland may be considering the prospect of drinking several glasses of whisky by way of celebration.

And so it was that Donald Trump, in uncharacteristically understated mood, politely thanked everybody in Washington, honoured to be among world football glitterati and litterati. For a minute, Trump was humble and grateful to be the among the great and good of the Beautiful Game. We were now witnesses to the World Cup Nobel Peace prize, an impressive looking trophy that shone and gleamed rather like Trump himself. Trump, for once, looked as though he was a privileged guest at some grand looking function.

 He said all the right things and then closed his speech with a few well chosen words. Next June we will once again be crowding around English beer gardens and heaving pubs. And then Scotland, joined quite possibly by both Wales and the Republic of Ireland, will be exchanging light hearted pleasantries. World Cups bring the best out in all of us, those footballing aficionados and wise sages who know everything there is to know about the game. If not then you would have to plump for the sorcerers and magicians of Brazil for so many decades now. They have to be in the running for the victorious World Cup crown.