Spain on course for Argentina clash
Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw – if everything goes according to how the bookies are calling World Cup 2010 – England are careering towards a clash in Cape Town with Brazil in the last four.
Last night’s draw ensures that, provided they take care of their own part of the deal, the European champions can prove their worth in the best way possible: a World Cup final against the five-times champions in Johannesburg on July 11.
Brazil’s may be in the standout candidate for ‘Group of Death’ but should emerge from Group G along with the Ivory Coast – at the expense of Portugal.
Spain have an easy start – Group H providing Switzerland, Honduras and Chile as fragile foes – but they must then do it the hard way.
They will be up against it when Ivory Coast attempt to block their progress in Cape Town as early as Round Two.
Meanwhile champions Italy, fifth favourites at 12/1, lie in wait for their European rivals. The Italians should top their group before dispensing with Denmark. This should set up a quarter-final showdown with Spain.
When England open their campaign against the United States at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on June 12, they will hope to become familiar with their surroundings.
Because if Fabio Capello’s men emerge from Group C in pole position, they will return to the same venue for a second-round match which they hope will also not present too many problems.
England ought to come up against one of Australia, Serbia and Ghana – tough, but beatable opponents, leading to a quarter-final match which, again, could have been much worse – France being the likely opponents.
It is only in the semi-finals where England’s luck of the draw runs out, as they would be expected to face Brazil.
The World Cup specialists are themselves assured a relatively easy passage with a tantalising South American derby against Chile (who should edge out Switzerland and Honduras in Group H) setting them up for a quarter-final clash against the always under-achieving Dutch.
Argentina must face Mexico, who they beat in the 2006 finals who, as in 2006, must conquer to set up a probable quarter-final tie with Germany.
World Cup Betting: Spain 4/1; Brazil 5/1; England 11/2; Argentina 9/1; Italy 12/1; France 12/1; Germany 14/1; Holland 14/1; Ivory Coast 25/1; Paraguay 40/1; Mexico 50/1; Chile 50/1; USA 66/1; Serbia 66/1; Ghana 75/1; South Africa 80/1; Cameroon 80/1; Denmark 80/1; Uruguay 80/1; Nigeria 100/1; Australia 125/1; Greece 125/1; Switzerland 175/1; Slovenia 175/1; Japan 200/1; Slovakia 200/1; South Korea 250/1; Honduras 400/1; Algeria 500/1; New Zealand 750/1; North Korea 1000/1.
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