Friday 6 December 2013

GROUP DRAW FOR 2014 WORLD CUP IS OUT



2014 Fifa World Cup final draw: Spain face Dutch in final repeat

Spain will open their defence of the World Cup next year with a repeat of the 2010 final with Netherlands.
Vicente del Bosque's side will also face South American opponents Chile and Australia, who progressed from the Asia qualification competition, in Group B.
Asked if Spain were in the toughest group, Del Bosque said: "No, I don't think so, the group with Uruguay, Italy and England is also tough."
Three-time winners Germany are in Group G with Portugal, Ghana and USA.

World Cup stat attack

  • Spain met Netherlands and Chile at the 2010 World Cup but have never played a match against Australia
  • The first meeting between Brazil and Mexico was a World Cup match in 1950 which won Brazil 4-0
  • Italy and England have met seven times in competitive games - the Azzurri lead by five wins to one, with one draw
United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who won the World Cup as a player in 1990 with West Germany, said: "I kind of had in my stomach that we were going to get Germany.
"Obviously it's one of the most difficult groups in the whole draw, having Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo and then Ghana, who has a history with the United States. It couldn't get any more difficult or any bigger."
"So, we will be meeting old friends," said Germany coach Joachim Low, who was Klinsmann's assistant during the 2006 World Cup.
"Jurgen and I have had a very good and close relationship for a long time."
Hosts Brazil open the month-long showpiece on 12 June in Sao Paulo against Croatia in Group A, who qualified for the tournament after defeating Iceland in the play-offs.
The five-time winners will then play Mexico and Cameroon to decide who reaches the knockout stages.
"We've got a difficult group, but the opening match of the World Cup against Brazil will be spectacular. I can't wait," Southampton's Croat defender Dejan Lovren  said on Twitter.
Lionel Messi's Argentina are in Group F along with debutants Bosnia-Hercegovina, Iran and Nigeria.
Manchester City's Argentina striker Sergio Aguero said on Twitter:  "There's no easy match in the World Cup, but effort and hard work always gives rewards!"
Aguero's country have twice been champions, but last won the tournament in 1986.
England are in a tough Group D. They open up against Italy, who knocked Roy Hodgson's side out of Euro 2012, 2010 semi-finalists Uruguay and Costa Rica.
Meanwhile, 1998 winners France, who defeated Ukraine in a dramatic play-off tie, will face neighbours Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras in Group E.
Belgium, fifth favourites with some bookmakers to win the World Cup, are in Group H with Russia, South Korea and Algeria.
And in Group C, Colombia, who came second in the South American qualifying group, will face Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan.
Group draw for the 2014 World Cup:
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon.
Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia.
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan.
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy.
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras.
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Iran, Nigeria.
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA.
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea.