File photoThe coaches of the 2018 World Cup favourites welcomed a draw that keeps most of them apart in the group phase — with the exception of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and 2010 winners Spain.
Ronaldo’s Group B battle against Spain and many of his Real Madrid teammates in Sochi on June 15 will be an early highlight of a tournament that was mapped out by Friday’s draw in the Kremlin.
“They are the champions of Europe, they have fantastic players and we are talking about the highest level,” Spain coach Julen Lopetegui told Spanish TV station Cuatro.
Spain, clicking into gear again after underperforming in recent years, were seen as the team to avoid after missing out on a place among the top seeds.
When the hand of Diego Maradona dipped into the glass bowl and pulled out England in Belgium’s Group G — avoiding Brazil, Argentina and Portugal — the English press termed it “the day the Hand of God made amends”.
