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

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（譯者單位：復旦大學）

The draw for the 2018 football World Cup has taken place at the Kremlin. 2018年世界杯分組抽簽儀式已在克里姆林宮落下帷幕。

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.

最盛大的體育賽事——世界杯足球賽將于今年6月14日在俄羅斯舉行，32支參賽球隊的分組現已公布。

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.

利物浦隊的埃及球星穆罕默德·薩拉赫將首次在世界杯亮相。毗鄰而居的西班牙和葡萄牙兩國則將同組競技。

冰島將成為本屆世界杯國土面積最小的參賽國。

前兩屆世界杯，衛冕冠軍均在小組賽環節出局。

德國隊這次能否破除魔咒或衛冕成功？

本文將為您逐一分析八組參賽隊伍，看看32支球隊的勝算如何。

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組：俄羅斯、沙特阿拉伯、埃及、烏拉圭

俄羅斯隊承受不起過早的出局，如今的分組對其表現可能不太妙。

埃及隊是東道主和烏拉圭隊的頭號勁敵。雖然這是埃及隊自1990年以來首次入圍世界杯，但明星選手穆罕默德·薩拉赫在預選賽中所向披靡。

沙特隊有幸與俄羅斯隊在揭幕戰中對陣，但亞足聯球隊的實力向來最為薄弱。

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組：葡萄牙、西班牙、摩洛哥、伊朗

葡萄牙與西班牙的對決看起來會很有意思，因為排名世界第八、榮獲2010年世界杯冠軍的西班牙隊時運不濟，被東道主俄羅斯隊擠出種子隊行列。

盡管摩洛哥有一定實力，但千萬別以為它就是本組的出線首選。事實上，葡萄牙和西班牙都有希望晉級。

GROUP C: France, Australia, Peru,Denmark

C組：法國、澳大利亞、秘魯、丹麥

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.

法國隊顯然能在小組賽中輕松獲勝，但奮力搭上末班車的丹麥隊卻構成了不小的威脅。澳大利亞隊在世界杯預選賽附加賽最后一場的不俗表現，亦令其不容小覷。

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.

若世界杯在巴西舉辦，那么36年來首次入圍世界杯決賽圈的秘魯隊會構成更大威脅。

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組：阿根廷、冰島、克羅地亞、尼日利亞

仿佛冰島神話帶來的樂趣還不夠多，冰島隊歷史上首場世界杯比賽將是在莫斯科與阿根廷隊同臺競技。

冰島隊會獲得全世界的支持，但勝算寥寥。這個有史以來世界杯決賽圈最小的參賽國已經創造奇跡了。

加上東山再起的尼日利亞隊、天賦異稟的克羅地亞隊，這一小組無疑將上演強強對決。尼日利亞隊曾在五屆世界杯中不得不對戰阿根廷隊。

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組：巴西、瑞士、哥斯達黎加、塞爾維亞

2014年恥敗過后，東山再起的巴西隊令人印象深刻，是很多人眼中的本屆奪冠熱門。

另外三支球隊往往被人低估，他們為另一個小組出線名額全力以赴。

在第四檔的球隊中，塞爾維亞隊是誰都不愿意碰上的。另外別忘了，哥斯達黎加隊四年前曾打入四分之一決賽。

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組：德國、墨西哥、瑞典、韓國

抽簽結束后的即時分析中，德國隊幾乎沒有被提到過。但這正是德國人喜歡的方式——平時低調，最終往往一鳴驚人。

衛冕冠軍要小組出線應該不成問題。

對墨西哥隊和瑞典隊無需吝惜贊美，兩者皆非等閑之輩。而韓國隊也許終于有機會在本國之外再現2002年的雄風。

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組：比利時、巴拿馬、突尼斯、英格蘭

對巴拿馬隊來說，6月18日的索契小組賽將是極具歷史意義的非凡經歷——這是他們的世界杯首秀，將對陣人才濟濟的比利時隊。

兩支歐洲球隊估計會從這一組脫穎而出。

但在1978年，突尼斯隊成為了史上第一支贏得世界杯比賽的非洲隊伍。在這一小組中，他們當然不會一分不得。

GROUP H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

H組：波蘭、塞內加爾、哥倫比亞、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.

這是8個小組中的最后一組，也可能是實力最弱的一組。塞內加爾隊在2002年的戰績令人難忘，如今又再顯雄風。

〔〕〔〕

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.

波蘭隊世界排名第六，因此躋身種子隊伍之列。哥倫比亞隊雖然極具天賦，卻常常需要苦戰才能從南美洲出線。

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

在引人入勝的抽簽中，這一組可能是既有趣好玩又勢均力敵的一組了。 □