Story by Colin Tung

Saturday, 5 December, 2009 – The 32 countries participating in next June’s FIFA World Cup were drawn into eight groups in Cape Town, South Africa.

Hosts South Africa were automatically drawn into Group A and they will meet Mexico in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup. Two-time winners Uruguay and 1998 champions France make up the rest of Group A.

In Group B, a banned Maradona would have been pleased to see his Argentina squad get drawn with Nigeria, South Korea and Greece.

In Group C, the United States, after being drawn with England, must be dreaming of repeating their 1950 “Miracle on Grass” feat that saw them, with semi-professional players, deliver a shocking defeat to what was then considered a mighty England team at the World Cup.

Football, or “soccer” as they call it there, may be professional now in the United States but defeating an England team tipped to win the World Cup may be as big a miracle as the one in 1950 or more recently, when they beat Spain at the Confederations Cup. Algeria and Slovenia complete the group.

Germany face some stiff competition in Group D with Australia, Serbia and Ghana also in the group.

In Group E, the Netherlands face Denmark, Japan and Cameroon.

Group F will see World Cup debutantes Slovakia going up against Paraguay, Italy and New Zealand. The Kiwis are making only their second appearance at football’s showcase event.

In Group G, football fans will be getting arguably the “Group of Death”. The Latin flair of five-time champions Brazil and the Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal go up against Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast and obscure North Korea.

Lastly, in Group H, European champions Spain have been drawn in a relatively easy group with Switzerland, Honduras and Chile.

World Cup Groups

Group A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France

Group B
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece

Group C
England
United States
Algeria
South Korea

Group D
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana

Group E
Netherlands
Japan
Denmark
Cameroon

Group F
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia

Group G
Brazil
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Portugal

Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
Chile