World Cup draw 2022 but not a desert storm.

 World Cup draw 2022 but not a desert storm.

So it is that the World Cup of 2022 in Qatar will take place in the most unusual of circumstances. FIFA, in their infinite wisdom- or not if that is your considered opinion- gets underway. We've all heard about Saudi Arabia's disgraceful human rights records, its intolerance of anything that should be considered as the norm and, above all its opposition to alcohol. Now what international football tournament of any note would ever consider a wholesale ban on booze, alcohol and the liquid refreshments that have sustained so many generations of football fans throughout the ages. 

Yesterday the draw was made for the pre-Christmas world football shindig and of course we're all invited quite cordially. All of the pomp and ceremony was observed but then we were treated to singers and musicians of varying qualities. It all felt very modern, cool and mainstream, a funky preamble to the real thing which kicks off just as most of us have wrapped most of  our festive presents and trinkets. It could be a cracking World Cup and the potential is there for some of the most memorable football ever played. 

And so it was that amid the sandy deserts and sultanate of Saudi Arabia, football was the main topic of discussion, a top priority, a summit of footballing excellence where the movers and shakers at the top table mix it quite happily with football's court jesters, fire eaters and celebrated jugglers. It would never be a proper World Cup without the extraordinary presence of a Brazil and once again they will provide this World Cup with its lavish expressionists, its vastly gifted players and its astonishing, record breaking, five times winning record. 

In Brazil's group are Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon, eminently winnable games and surely undemanding to the outsider. But world football has now achieved a much more impressive globalisation and accessibility than any of us could have imagined, say 50 or 60 years ago. Then football was restricted to a much more confined space, smaller, claustrophobic areas of interest and fascination. The numbers were considerably smaller and most of Europe, certainly, was cut off from the bigger, outside world. But now almost everybody has got a Tablet, I-Pad, Smartphone and the Internet. The world is open to everybody at every conceivable hour of the day. 

West Germany, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Argentina and most recently both Spain and France have dominated recent editions of the Jules Rimet World Cup. World Cup memories and images are now indelibly graven onto our minds for no other reason that some of us would love nothing better than to see dear old England back in the driving seat of world football. 1966 is now turning into a major source of historical humiliation and after last year's Euro 2020 Final defeat by Italy, surely the time is right, the mood is right and the sight of obscenely wealthy Arab sheikhs handing over the trophy to Harry Kane would leave us permanently enthralled. 

Four years ago in Russia England produced by far some of their best and most sublime football since Sir Bobby Robson's England turned heads quite magically in 1990. When Paul Gascoigne was booked in the semi final against Germany, most of the nation knew in its heart of hearts that the game was up. England's finest and most glorious natural talent would have missed out on a World Cup Final that they would not participate in because Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle sadly mistook football for rugby union, wildly missing their penalties. But we forgave them, didn't we?

Qatar, the host nation have Ecuador, Senegal and the Dutch in their group, perhaps an impossible dream for the Saudis but your football heart would long to see the Dutch to go through if only because Holland were the unluckiest team to lose two consecutive World Cup Final showpieces during the 1970s. And we know what the Dutch can do if the mood takes them. Their football has an almost honeyed delicacy and the first touch is exquisite as we all know.

Portugal should make comfortable progress from their group with Ghana, the leading African representatives, Uruguay and South Korea. Ghana are a considerable force to be reckoned with but Portugal and Uruguay should be heavily backed in their group. Uruguay once provoked fury when Scotland were almost driven off the pitch with irrational tackling and thuggish tactics. This could be much closer than some of us might think. 

Belgium, Canada, Morocco and Croatia comprise another group. Belgium, of course, have always been the gallant losers rather than the successful international side with World Cup pretensions. You would have to see the Belgians as straightforward winners of this group if only because they should have too much for both Canada and Morocco. Belgium are one of football's leading classicists, clearly its melodious woodwind and percussion section rather than the spoons and wash boards.

Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland are bunched together in their group. For all the political interference and warlike stance of recent years, Argentina are still painters and illustrators of the perfect South American game. Argentina had sorcerers and wizards in their country back in 1978 when Buenos Aires was showered with ticker tape, Mario Kempes, Leopoldo Luque, Ossie Ardilles and Ricky Villa endeared themselves to the Latin mindset and the whole of Argentina was besotted. It should be Argentina in the next round while Mexico will surely get very excitable and animated.

The current World Champions France should have too much strength and depth to emerge from a group including either Peru, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia. The reinvention of France as one of the most powerful footballing nations was one of the most heartening sights in Russia four years ago. For years and years France were shy, retiring wallflowers at World Cups or European Championships. But in 1998 the likes of Emmanuel Petit and Thierry Henry coaxed the French out of their introspective shell and France won the World Cup quite handsomely in Paris. Four years ago France once again re-discovered their Montparnasse and their Monet.  

Then there's Spain, Costa Rica or New Zealand, the never knowingly underestimated Germany who always seem to turn up for all blue riband international football tournaments and finally Japan whose football seems to have grown in stature in recent years. Spain and Germany, without any shadow of a doubt, have to be at the forefront of our minds and it's hard to see them either struggling or panicking at any point in their group matches.

So there we are Ladies and Gentlemen. The World Cup draw Qatar has been made, the runners and riders will be limbering up for the rest of the year and for those whose body clock may have to get used to World Cup Finals being held just before the first winter gusts and, quite possibly snowfalls, then this could be the time for making adequate preparations. England we await again. Gareth Southgate, the stage will be yours.