WCup draw is ‘like a box of chocolates’
Print Edition
England manager Roy Hodgson borrowed a line from the hit movie “Forrest Gump” on Monday when he described this week’s World Cup draw as “like a box of chocolates.”
Hodgson will be in Brazil for Friday’s ceremony when his team will discover who they face in next year’s finals.
England is not one of the top seeds and could find themselves in the same group as hosts Brazil, world champions Spain or even arch-rivals Germany.
“We will hope for the best but it is like Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates,” Hodgson said, without a hint of irony.
“We will open it up and see what we get, then try and digest it.”
While fans will chew over England’s opposition, Hodgson said he was equally concerned with where his side would play in the vast South American country.
The southern cities like Sao Paulo will be relatively mild in the Brazilian winter but matches in northern venues such as Recife, Fortaleza or the jungle city of Manaus will be hot and humid and could favor some Latin American and African sides.
“I think the draw comes at a time when speculation is rife and people have a lot of fun looking at the potential possibilities,” said Hodgson, 66.
“It is a nice game to play but I have got to say that I have not involved myself too much in that. We will get what we get really — the most important thing is to be there.
“You always hope the draw is going to be kind to you in terms of where you are going to play,” added Hodgson.
“There are venues in Brazil that will be harder to play in than others. Maybe in terms of the teams you are drawn against, some on paper look harder than others, but I’m more concerned, if anything, by the venues than by the teams we draw.
“You have a bit better chance if you get one of the venues where the climate is kinder.
“Manaus is the place ideally to avoid and Porto Alegre is the place ideally to get,” he said referring to a city in the far south of Brazil where its cooler.
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