Gareth Southgate admits the prospect of England facing Ukraine at the 2022 World Cup is "irrelevant" in the face of the war which is raging in the Eastern European country.
Ukraine was invaded by Russia in late February, when president Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to attack their neighbouring country. The war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people, while it also led to the postponement of Ukraine's World Cup qualifier against Scotland.
The fixture had been scheduled for the international break just gone but will instead be played in June, with the victor due to face Wales in the final play-off round. The winner of that tie will progress to the World Cup in Qatar this summer, completing Group B alongside England, United States and Iran.
But Southgate confessed football is merely a trivial matter given the horrific situation in Ukraine and sent a classy message while reacting to the World Cup draw. "I think in this situation all of our thoughts are with Ukraine and the people of Ukraine," the England manager told BBC Sport. "When that tie is played, how that is played out is irrelevant really, it's for the rest of us to adapt, adjust and provide them with the opportunity to play whenever they're able to."
England last played Ukraine in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, winning 4-0 at Rome's Stadio Olimpico thanks to a double from Harry Kane and goals from Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson. Southgate's comments on the Eastern European country were echoed by United States manager Gregg Berhalter as he gave his verdict on the group, saying: "We think it's a good group. Every opponent in the World Cup is difficult.
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"With England it's an exciting match-up, Iran are a diverse opponent who did well in qualifying and then we'll have to wait to see our third opponent. Overall, I'm pleased with the group and excited to get started. We played Wales recently in a friendly, we know Scotland and then you're pulling for Ukraine naturally because of what's happening in the country." Berhalter also opened up on his personal relationship with Southgate, claiming the 51-year-old is like a "mentor" to him.
He added: "We go way back. He's a guy I look up to. He's always been there for me and given me advice. When I first took the job I looked to him as a mentor. I'm looking forward to competing against him. I just reached out to him when I got the job and asked would he tell me more about international football. And being the guy he was, he did."
