Nothing will ever quite make up for that dastardly act in Mexico in 1986 but the Hand of God did do England something of a favour here.
Diego Maradona drew the balls from Pot 2 and put Gareth Southgate’s side in Group G, with a relatively modest amount of travelling and a relatively easy task of progressing to the last 16.
Belgium remains tough opponents and England will do well to beat Roberto Martinez’s side when they are ranked fifth in the world, but Tunisia and Panama should not represent an insurmountable task even if some of Southgate’s players did contrive to lose to Iceland.
Nigeria will look to qualify alongside Argentina but Croatia might be the obstacle to their qualification if they fail to win when they face the Croatians.
