Qualifying draw of WC?2018 held
England to face old enemy Scotland
AFP
England will face old enemies Scotland in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after they were paired together at a lavish draw ceremony in Saint Petersburg on Saturday, reports AFP.
Both sides will also face Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta in Group F.
World champions Germany were drawn alongside Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan and San Marino.
Arguably the toughest group sees 1998 champions France drawn alongside three-time World Cup runners-up the Netherlands and a Sweden side captained by Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
There is also a meeting of two former winners in Group G as Spain and Italy were paired along with Albania, Israel, Macedonia and Liechtenstein. Group D sees another local clash as top seeds Wales will meet the Republic of Ireland as well as Austria, Serbia, Moldova and Georgia.
The winners of all nine European groups will qualify automatically for the World Cup with the eight best runners-up facing off in two-legged playoffs for the remaining four spots.
Copa America champions Chile will entertain Brazil in their opening qualifying match with the most keenly anticipated South American encounters between Argentina and Brazil taking place on matchdays three and 11.
The United States will have to finish in top two of a group also including Trinidad and Tobago to make it to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying.
