The 32 countries contesting next summer’s World Cup in Russia learned their group stage fate on Friday afternoon as the draw was held at the Kremlin in Moscow.
England manager Gareth Southgate will be happy with his side’s draw, which sees them paired alongside fellow Europeans Belgium, World Cup debutants Panama and 1998 group stage opponents Tunisia.
But while all of England’s games will be a must watch, what other fixtures should football fans mark in their diaries? Sportsmail picks out five group stage fixtures every football fan can’t afford to miss…
The draw for World Cup 2018 to place in the Kremlin, Moscow, on Friday evening
England manager Gareth Southgate watches on in the crowd as their fate is decided
Russia vs Saudi Arabia – Group A
14 June, 4pm – Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
As tradition dictates, the hosts will contest the opening game of the World Cup and it will come complete with the opening ceremony at the spectacular Luzhniki Stadium, which will also host the final a month later.
Expect an incredible show from the host nation and a fantastic atmosphere throughout the match.
With Saudi Arabia and Russia making up the two lowest ranked sides in the competition, it is certainly not the glamour tie that organisers would have hoped for but represents a realistic chance for the hosts to get off to a winning start.
The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow will be filled to capacity for the opening World Cup game
Portugal vs Spain – Group B
15 June, 7pm – Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
The reigning European champions will face their neighbours in the opening round of fixtures in Group B in what represents the first true heavyweight clash at next summer’s World Cup.
Having won their first major title at Euro 2016 last summer, a Portugal side likely to be lead by Cristiano Ronaldo will go into the fixture with their tails up.
Spain, on the other hand, have suffered a decline from the dizzy heights that saw them win two European Championships and a World Cup in the space of eight years, but are threatening to rediscover their best form with the likes of Alvaro Morata and Marco Asensio emerging onto the world stage.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be attempting to take his last chance to add a World Cup to his CV
Argentina vs Iceland – Group D
16 June, 2pm – Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow
As host Gary Lineker pointed out, Iceland have more volcanoes than professional footballers, but their team will be looking to make an explosive impact at their first World Cup against an Argentina side who barely managed qualified.
Having made the Euro 2016 quarter-finals and qualified for the World Cup with ease, Iceland go into the tournament on a wave of confidence and face an Argentina side currently in crisis.
It all adds up to a potential giant killing for the mid-Atlantic island.
And, if not, at least we’ll see the famous Icelandic clap in action again.
The minnows of Iceland will be trying to kill off more giants at their very first World Cup
Germany vs Sweden – Group C
23 June, 4pm – Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
It was Sweden’s form in the qualifying stages that saw them finish above 2010 finalists Holland, who failed to reach their second successive major tournament.
The Swedes then put in two incredible defensive displays to see them past four-time winners Italy in the European play-offs.
Now, the Scandinavian nation have the chance to prove they are worthy of their giant-killer tagline against reigning world champions Germany.
The fixture could be made all the more tantalising if Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic decides to put international retirement on hold.
England vs Belgium – Group G
28 June, 6pm – Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Both England and Belgium will have hoped to have sealed their place in the Second Round by the time this concluding fixture in Group G comes along, but the winner will be able to throw down a big gauntlet ahead of the knockout stages.
Should the form book prove true, it is also likely to decide who tops Group G and, in theory, receive and easier draw in the first knockout game.
The winner of the group will face the Group H runner-up (Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan) while the runner-up will gave to deal with the winner of that same group.