Russia World Cup 2018:A Group-by-group Analysis

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（译者单位：复旦大学）

The draw for the 2018 football World Cup has taken place at the Kremlin. 2018年世界杯分组抽签仪式已在克里姆林宫落下帷幕。

The 32 teams that qualified for the biggest event in the sporting world now know who they will be facing in this year’s tournament that takes place in Russia from June 14.

最盛大的体育赛事——世界杯足球赛将于今年6月14日在俄罗斯举行，32支参赛球队的分组现已公布。

Egypt and Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah will make his World Cup debut.Neighbours Spain and Portugal find themselves in the same group.

Iceland will become the smallest nation to play in the World Cup.

In the last two World Cups, the reigning champions have been knocked out at the group stage.

Will Germany be able to cross that hurdle? Or retain the title?

Here, we break down the eight groups and see how the 32 teams stack up against their opponents.

利物浦队的埃及球星穆罕默德·萨拉赫将首次在世界杯亮相。毗邻而居的西班牙和葡萄牙两国则将同组竞技。

冰岛将成为本届世界杯国土面积最小的参赛国。

前两届世界杯，卫冕冠军均在小组赛环节出局。

德国队这次能否破除魔咒或卫冕成功？

本文将为您逐一分析八组参赛队伍，看看32支球队的胜算如何。

GROUP A: Russia. Saudi Arabia,Egypt, Uruguay

Russia can’t afford to be knocked out early, and this group could be worse for them.

Egypt pose the main danger to the hosts and Uruguay. It may be their fi rst World Cup since 1990, but star player Mo Salah was irresistible in qualifying.

Saudi Arabia have the honour of playing in the opening game against Russia, but Asian confederation teams are traditionally the weakest.

A组：俄罗斯、沙特阿拉伯、埃及、乌拉圭

俄罗斯队承受不起过早的出局，如今的分组对其表现可能不太妙。

埃及队是东道主和乌拉圭队的头号劲敌。虽然这是埃及队自1990年以来首次入围世界杯，但明星选手穆罕默德·萨拉赫在预选赛中所向披靡。

沙特队有幸与俄罗斯队在揭幕战中对阵，但亚足联球队的实力向来最为薄弱。

GROUP B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran

An intriguing looking match between Portugal and Spain beckons because of the quirk of 2010 winners Spain, ranked 8 in the world, being nudged out of the top seeds by hosts Russia.

But despite Morocco’s ability, don’t be fooled into thinking this is the pick of the groups. In fact, Portugal and Spain should both expect to progress.

B组：葡萄牙、西班牙、摩洛哥、伊朗

葡萄牙与西班牙的对决看起来会很有意思，因为排名世界第八、荣获2010年世界杯冠军的西班牙队时运不济，被东道主俄罗斯队挤出种子队行列。

尽管摩洛哥有一定实力，但千万别以为它就是本组的出线首选。事实上，葡萄牙和西班牙都有希望晋级。

GROUP C: France, Australia, Peru,Denmark

C组：法国、澳大利亚、秘鲁、丹麦

France are the clear favourites to win the group comfortably, but Denmark’s late surge into form makes them a real threat. Australia should never be underestimated after another epic qualification campaign.

法国队显然能在小组赛中轻松获胜，但奋力搭上末班车的丹麦队却构成了不小的威胁。澳大利亚队在世界杯预选赛附加赛最后一场的不俗表现，亦令其不容小觑。

Peru, playing in their fi rst World Cup for 36 years, would be much more of a threat if the tournament was played in Brazil.

若世界杯在巴西举办，那么36年来首次入围世界杯决赛圈的秘鲁队会构成更大威胁。

GROUP D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

As if the Iceland fairy tale hadn’t brought enough joy, their first ever World Cup will be against Argentina in Moscow.

They will receive global support, but shouldn’t be expected to succeed. The smallest ever nation to qualify has already performed miracles.

With resurgent Nigeria—who have had to face Argentina in FIVE World Cups—and gifted Croatia completing the quartet, this is undoubtedly a strong group.

D组：阿根廷、冰岛、克罗地亚、尼日利亚

仿佛冰岛神话带来的乐趣还不够多，冰岛队历史上首场世界杯比赛将是在莫斯科与阿根廷队同台竞技。

冰岛队会获得全世界的支持，但胜算寥寥。这个有史以来世界杯决赛圈最小的参赛国已经创造奇迹了。

加上东山再起的尼日利亚队、天赋异禀的克罗地亚队，这一小组无疑将上演强强对决。尼日利亚队曾在五届世界杯中不得不对战阿根廷队。

GROUP E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

After their 2014 humiliation, Brazil’s recovery has been impressive enough for many people to make them favourites for the tournament.

It could amount to a scrap between three underrated teams for a place in the knockout stages.

Serbia were the team to avoid of Pot 4. And don’t forget Costa Rica werequarter-f i nalists our yer g.

E组：巴西、瑞士、哥斯达黎加、塞尔维亚

2014年耻败过后，东山再起的巴西队令人印象深刻，是很多人眼中的本届夺冠热门。

另外三支球队往往被人低估，他们为另一个小组出线名额全力以赴。

在第四档的球队中，塞尔维亚队是谁都不愿意碰上的。另外别忘了，哥斯达黎加队四年前曾打入四分之一决赛。

GROUP F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, Korea Republic

Germany hardly got a mention in the immediate post-draw analysis, but that’s just the way they like it. Low-key—and usually there at the fi nish.

The trophy holders should be expected to reach the knockout stages without too much trouble.

Mexico and Sweden can be talked up, neither are easy opponents, but it could be an opportunity for Korea to finally perform like they did in 2002 outside of their own country.

F组：德国、墨西哥、瑞典、韩国

抽签结束后的即时分析中，德国队几乎没有被提到过。但这正是德国人喜欢的方式——平时低调，最终往往一鸣惊人。

卫冕冠军要小组出线应该不成问题。

对墨西哥队和瑞典队无需吝惜赞美，两者皆非等闲之辈。而韩国队也许终于有机会在本国之外再现2002年的雄风。

GROUP G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

June 18 in Sochi will be an historic and wonderful day for Panama—their first ever World Cup game, against a talented Belgium team.

The two European teams will be expected to qualify from this one.

But in 1978 Tunisia became the fi rst African team to ever win a World Cup match, and can certainly win points in this group.

G组：比利时、巴拿马、突尼斯、英格兰

对巴拿马队来说，6月18日的索契小组赛将是极具历史意义的非凡经历——这是他们的世界杯首秀，将对阵人才济济的比利时队。

两支欧洲球队估计会从这一组脱颖而出。

但在1978年，突尼斯队成为了史上第一支赢得世界杯比赛的非洲队伍。在这一小组中，他们当然不会一分不得。

GROUP H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

H组：波兰、塞内加尔、哥伦比亚、日本

The last and arguably the most open of all eight groups. Senegal’s exploits in 2002 are unforgettable, and their team is strong again.

这是8个小组中的最后一组，也可能是实力最弱的一组。塞内加尔队在2002年的战绩令人难忘，如今又再显雄风。

〔〕〔〕

Poland earned a top seeding with a ranking of six in the world, but despite their considerable talent Colombia often struggle away from South America.

波兰队世界排名第六，因此跻身种子队伍之列。哥伦比亚队虽然极具天赋，却常常需要苦战才能从南美洲出线。

It could be an entertaining, close group in what was an intriguing draw. ■

在引人入胜的抽签中，这一组可能是既有趣好玩又势均力敌的一组了。 □