World Cup: Ireland to meet Germany in Group E

Mick McCarthy will be fairly pleased the Republic of Ireland have been drawn alongside Germany, Saudi Arabia and Cameroon in Group E of next summer's World Cup.

The Republic will play the Germans in the second match of their campaign, in Japan on June 5.

It will be the first time Ireland have faced the three-times champions since 1994.

The Republic have never played Saudi Arabia or the Cameroon

England face a rematch with Argentina in Group F, which also contains manager Sven Goran Eriksson’s native Sweden and Nigeria.