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The lowdown on England's World Cup Group G opponents

Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne and Dries Mertens for Belgium

England have been drawn in Group G at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and will face Tunisia, Panama and Belgium for a place in the knockout stages of the tournament.

But what do we know about the three teams they will come up against?

Here, we take a look at when and where the matches will take place and who the key figures are who will be standing in England's path to glory…

TUNISIA
7pm, 18 June 2018, Volgograd
Ranking: 27th
Head-to-head record: P2 W1 D1 L0
How did they qualify? Winners of CAF Group A
Manager: Nabil Maaloul
Star man: Wahbi Khazri
World Cup odds: 500/1

Tunisia reached their first World Cup since 2006 by topping a qualifying group containing Congo DR, Libya and Guinea, winning four games and drawing the other two. In their previous four World Cup appearances, they have never made it beyond the group stage.

Tunisia, nicknamed the Eagles of Carthage, are managed by former midfielder Nabil Maaloul. Their squad does not contain many familiar names, although England will have to watch out for ex-Sunderland winger Wahbi Khazri, while Aymen Abdennour, the Valencia defender on loan at Marseille, will hope to keep things tight at the back.

Players of the Tunisian national football team celebrate with their national flag after qualifying for the 2018 World Cup finals
Image: Tunisia players celebrating their qualification for the 2018 World Cup

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England's most capped player Peter Shilton says Gareth Southgate's side could not have had a better draw

PANAMA
1pm, 24 June 2018, Nizhny Novgorod
Ranking: 56th
Head-to-head record: N/A
How did they qualify? Third in CONCACAF Qualifying
Manager: Hernan Dario Gomez
Star man: Roman Torres
World Cup odds: 1000/1

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Rank outsiders Panama are competing in the World Cup for the first time following their dramatic - and controversial - qualification. Their 2-1 victory over Costa Rica ensured the elimination of the United States and included an opening goal that did not appear to cross the line. Panama supporters will not care - the celebrations were wild.

Although there are no superstar names in the squad, there are a number of players with experience in Major League Soccer, including Roman Torres, the hero of the Costa Rica game, who has won the MLS Cup with the Seattle Sounders. Others have played in Europe and everyone will be looking forward to what is a momentous occasion for Panama.

Panama's Roman Torres takes a picture of his team's fans after he scored against Costa Rica during their 2018 World Cup qualifier in October 2017
Image: Roman Torres enjoys a moment with fans on a magical night against Costa Rica

BELGIUM
7pm, 28 June 2018, Kaliningrad Stadium
Ranking: 5th
Head-to-head record: P21 W15 D4 L2
How did they qualify? Winners of UEFA Group H
Manager: Roberto Martinez
Star man: Eden Hazard
World Cup odds: 12/1

Belgium's own Golden Generation head to Russia on the back of an emphatic qualifying campaign which saw them win nine of their 10 qualifiers and draw the other. Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku was their top scorer in that phase, hitting the net 11 times, and, along with Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Napoli's Dries Mertens, is one of their many attacking options.

England's World Cup fixtures and dates
Image: England's World Cup fixtures and dates

They're backed up by an impressive defence built around Tottenham pair Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, with Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois in goal. Manager Roberto Martinez will know England's players well after managing Wigan and Everton in the Premier League, but he will have to find a way to get his players performing on the big stage after their Euro 2016 disappointment when they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Wales.

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