World Cup draw great for England, says Peter Shilton
Saturday 2 December 2017 01:20, UK
Peter Shilton believes England could not have had a better draw for the World Cup finals in Russia next summer.
Gareth Southgate's men have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Tunisia and Panama, playing Tunisia first in Volgograd on June 18.
They then face Panama in Nizhny Novgorod on June 24 with Belgium last up on June 28 in Kaliningrad.
Shilton, who made 125 appearances for England between 1970 and 1990 and remains the country's most capped player, is in no doubt the draw has been kind to Gareth Southgate's team.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: "They say there are no easy games in a World Cup, everybody is there to do their best and to do well and the pressure will be on England to beat both Tunisia and Panama.
"That will have its own hidden agenda but really it couldn't have gone any better for England.
"Those two teams are ideal to get a bit of confidence, get a couple of good results. You know if we can't beat those teams you shouldn't be in the World Cup.
"So if we have got any aspirations of doing well we've got to beat those teams and that will give us momentum.
"The Belgium match may not be that important and it may be an opportunity for Gareth to try one or two things as well.
"There is the scenario of what goes in other groups and the tactics of World Cups when it comes to the final game but certainly it's a great draw for England."
Shilton was asked which group he thought was the toughest of the eight groups.
"It's definitely Group D - Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria, all tough teams to beat," he added.
"I think Argentina are obviously the class team, they've got some great players so they'll be favourites definitely."
