World Cup 2018: Belgium, Tunisia and Panama react to Group G draw – and to facing England

England's opposing managers give their take following the World Cup draw

Following the World Cup draw in Moscow on Friday, the England manager Gareth Southgate said he was "excited" for the tournament and admitted the group could have been more "dangerous" than it turned out.

England were drawn against Belgium, Tunisia and Panama, but what did their opponents think of the draw and of facing Southgate's England team?

Roberto Martinez – Belgium

On the Premier League: “You have to accept that the players have got big, important roles to fulfil from now until the end of the season, winning titles, playing in big games. I think we share a big challenge, Gareth [Southgate] and myself, that the players are in the most demanding league in football, no break in the winter. We need to get the right balance in getting them fully fresh for the World Cup after the end of their domestic season."

On Belgium's chances of success: “In many ways when you go into the World Cup the teams that are a bit the favourites are the nations which have won the World Cup before, there is a psychological level that you have to achieve in order to have that. We are going to be humble but I don’t think we should look away from the quality that we have in our squad. We want to go to the World Cup to enjoy our football and to enjoy the responsibility of having such a strong generation.”

Romelu Lukaku will lead the Belgian line (Getty Images)

On playing England and Gareth Southgate: “He’s someone I know well and we have shared big tournaments together covering the Poland and Ukraine Euros. He is a gentleman, someone I admire and I wish him the best of luck – apart from the game against Belgium! It is a game where there are no secrets – no secrets about Belgium from England or for us about the England team."

On the group: "It was a very good draw in terms of the group – very diverse to be playing Panama who are going to be bringing the excitement of playing in the World Cup for the first time after an incredible qualification in which they knocked the United States out of the World Cup. Then Tunisia with their style bring all the ingredients to have a very diverse group. We are going to be travelling a lot and preparing well for that, and I am really looking forward to the first game in Sochi.

"If we think we are going to go into the last game with the job done, we are underestimating what we are going to face in the World Cup. If anything, when you go into the World Cup with the pressure to win the game, it can be very difficult for the players to express themselves. Believe me, Panama are not just in the finals – we saw that with Costa Rica in 2014. Their players can celebrate and almost enjoy themselves and I think we need to be very careful in the games against Tunisia and Panama."

Nabil Maaloul – Tunisia

On the group: "It is a difficult draw of course, we have Belgium and England. Belgium are currently fifth in the world and England are 15th so we are going to try to play our game. We know the England team have improved massively with the new coach, and Belgium also have improved too. We have a chance. On paper Belgium are favourites in the group but second place will be contested by the Tunisia team and England.

Tunisia celebrate reaching the World Cup (Getty)

"For me the best team are Belgium, they are the group favourites. They have a lot of players who play in England and they are currently playing really well for a lot of clubs in England, so they are favourites and second place is between Tunisia and England. I hope it won’t be the same scenario as in 1998 [when England beat Tunisia 2-0]. I hope we’ll have a very different scenario for the Tunisia team. But it is also true that England have improved massively this year under the new coach."

On England: "I think the England team now is not the same England as a year ago. They are not the same team. England are very different. They are right now very different from one or two years ago, they’ve become a competitive team with tactically disciplined players. Hary Kane is doing wonderful things and for is one of the best attackers in the world right now. I think we are capable of competing with this England team and capable of beating them."

On the player he fears most: "Harry Kane. Dele Alli is also a big player. Too many players…"

Hernan Dario Gomez – Panama

On the group: “Here with Panama, we’re very happy with this group because that’s why we’ve come - to play the big teams, the big names, Belgium, England and Tunisia. I drew both England and Tunisia in France [1998 with Colombia], so happy. Panama is currently at a point of learning, of progressing, it’s a high level for Panama and we have to get a lot better but that’s why we’ve come isn’t it? To play against the big names."

Panama's midfielder Armando Cooper (AFP/Getty Images)

On England: “I watched [England’s] last match with Germany, good. Young. A young team, that’s recently been renovated. Organised. Practical. We have played Wales [a few weeks ago, a 1-1 draw] who are more or less the same style. We also played against Iran, who are like Tunisia. We have knowledge of what we’ll come up against. I haven’t come here to play against the same sides. We want to face sides that show you, that educate you. It’s a World Cup. Panama is preparing for exactly this."

On dangerous players: “For me, the only truly dangerous player in the world is [Lionel] Messi. They all have good players, Belgium, England.”

On memories of England against his Colombia in 1998: “The goal that Beckham scored! Owen… They were a good team, a very good team. They had more quality than us.”