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| FIFA President Sepp Blatter gives a news conference on the eve of the World Cup draw. |
Group A
Brazil
Croatia
Mexico
Cameroon
Group B
Spain
Netherlands
Chile
Australia
Group C
Colombia
Greece
Cote d'Ivoire
Japan
Group D
Uruguay
Costa Rica
England
Italy
Group E
Swtizerland
Ecuador
France
Honduras
Group F
Argentina
Bosnia
Iran
Nigeria
Group G
Germany
Portugal
Ghana
USA
Group H
Belgium
Algeria
Russia
South Korea
All right, let's do a quick group-by-group breakdown of how things shook out.
Group A: Brazil couldn't have asked for a much better draw in Group A. It's got Croatia, which came to the World Cup via the playoffs after beating Iceland, plus a struggling Mexico team and Cameroon. For the opener, it has Croatia in Sao Paulo. So the home side will definitely be favored to win the group. For second place, you have to think Cameroon has a shot.
Group B: This is going to be fun. We start things off with a replay of the 2010 final between Spain and the Netherlands. Chile and Australia are in there too. I'd like to think Chile can spring a surprise, especially if the Netherlands collapse under the weight of a few egos, but it's hard to look past the European sides there.
This is the group that keeps on giving, too. The runner-up has to face Brazil in the second roun
Group C: This looked like it was going to be a Group of Death when Colombia and the Ivory Coast came out of the hat. But both of those sides should find it surprisingly playable with Greece and Japan in there. For all the attacking talent of Colombia and the Ivory Coast, though, don't expect too many thrilling games if defense-first Greece is involved.
Group D: England doesn't like this one bit. It has to play its opener against Italy in Manaus, the most remote of all the Brazilian venues. Plus, you've got Uruguay, a semifinalist in 2010, playing close to home. And then there's Costa Rica, already set up to be the whipping boys of the group. Clegg will disagree, but I see Uruguay and Italy qualifying here.
An interesting sidenote: England returns to Belo Horizonte, where it lost to the US 1-0 in 1950.
Group E: France pulled off a miracle in the playoffs, overcoming a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat Ukraine, and here's Les Bleus' reward. Some will say it's undeserved, given how uninspiring the 1998 champions were in qualifying, but you have to like them for the Round of 16 now. France has Switzerland, Ecuador and the rank outsiders of the tournament, Honduras. Switzerland was pretty solid in qualifying and could hope to advance, but Ecuador will like its chances in South America.
Group F: Argentina will be laughing. Messi and his buddies in blue-and-white have Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria. Don't expect Iran to do much, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in its first World Cup as an independent nation, could spring a surprise and sneak into the second round. But don't discount Nigeria, which is in Argentina's group for the third time in four World Cups. I'll take those two to emerge from this group
Group G: The U.S. has its work cut out for it. Germany could be the best team in the world. Ghana is the team that has proven to have the US number and Portugal has Ronaldo. Have fun with that Omar Gonzalez. There are great narratives here. Klinsmann against Germany and his former assistant Loew. A Ghana U.S. re-re-match. Ronaldo, the superstar, vs. Germany, the superteam. A Boateng on Ghana against a Boateng on Germany. Plenty of fun.
Group H: With Belgium as the first seed and Russia as the second European team, this is a group anyone can advance from, even the likes of South Korea and Algeria. The Belgians are the favorite to advance but after that it’s a bit of a pickem situation. You never know which Russia will show up. South Korea has gone to a semifinal before, and Algeria gave the U.S. fits in South Africa. Belgium and Russia are the obvious favorites, but this could be very unpredictable.
Source:http://blogs.wsj.com/
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