World Cup: Key dates, possible opponents and latest odds ahead of Russia 2018
WE are in! The Socceroos are officially off to Russia for the World Cup. But what’s next? From possible opponents to key dates, here is what you need to know in the lead up to Russia.
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WE are in!
Following Wednesday night’s 3-1 win over Honduras, the Socceroos have booked their place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
But what’s next?
From possible opponents, to when the first game kicks off and when the final will take place, here is what you need to know in the lead up to the World Cup.
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WHEN IS THE WORLD CUP?
The World Cup kicks off on Thursday 14 June with Russia playing in the opening game. The final will be held in Moscow on Sunday 15 July.
Break down: Group Stages: June 14 — June 28
Round of 16: June 30 — July 3
Quarter Finals: July 6 — July 7
Semi Finals: July 10 — July 11
Third place play-off: July 14
Final: July 15
HOW MANY PLAYERS WILL GO
The Socceroos coach will name a 23-man squad in the weeks leading up to the tournament.
There is likely to be a preliminary 30-man squad prior to that as a train on squad before making the final call in Russia.
ON THE BOX
SBS
Will show 25 games live, including:
— All Socceroos matches
— The opening match
— The semi-finals and final
OPTUS
Has the rights to all 64 matches
WHAT ARE THE POTS? (Currently)
POT 1: Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France
POT 2: Spain, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia, Peru/Denmark
POT 3: Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran, Denmark/Serbia
POT 4: Nigeria, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Serbia/New Zealand
THE VENUES
Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow) 81,000 capacity
Krestovsky Stadium (Saint Petersburg) 68,134
Fisht Olympic Stadium (Sochi) 47,659
Volgograd Arena (Volgograd) 45,568
Kazan Arena (Kazan) 45,379
Otkrytiye Arena (Moscow) 45,360
Mordovia Arena (Saransk) 45,015
Rostov Arena (Rostov-on-Don) 45,000
Cosmos Arena (Samara) 44,918
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium (Nizhny Novgorod) 44,899
Central Stadium (Yekaterinburg) 35,696
Kaliningrad Stadium (Kaliningrad) 35,212
LATEST TAB ODDS
How far will Socceroos go?
$1.25 Knocked out group stage
$4.00 Knocked out in R16
$11 Knocked out in QF
$26 Knocked out in Semi Finals
$126 Runner up
$201 Winner
TOURNAMENT SOCCEROOS GOALS
$1.35 Under 2.5 goals
$3.00 Over 2.5 goals
WILL AUSTRALIA WIN A MATCH?
$1.30 No
$3.40 Yes
2018 WORLD CUP WINNER
$6 Germany, Brazil, France
$8 Spain
$9 Argentina
$13 Belgium
$19 England
$21 Portugal
$26 Croatia
--------------------------
$201 Australia
Originally published as World Cup: Key dates, possible opponents and latest odds ahead of Russia 2018