England and Croatia renew rivalry
DURBAN, South Africa — England have been drawn against Croatia, who eliminated them from Euro 2008, in the draw for the 2010 World Cup which was made in Durban on Sunday.
England’s Wembley loss to the Croatians relegated them to the second batch of European seeds and in an ironic twist they will meet again in a competitive group which also includes Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Andorra.
World champions Italy have been paired with Bulgaria, the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro as they bid for a fifth World Cup triumph.
The winners from the nine European groups advance with the eight best runners-up going into playoff matches to decide the other four qualifiers for the finals in South Africa.
Croatia manager Slaven Bilic admitted that it was the draw that he did not want despite his side’s superb 3-2 win last Wednesday.
We are not afraid of anybody but England have a terrific team with brilliant players, he told Sky Sports News.
France, beaten on penalties by Italy in the 2004 World Cup final are grouped with Austria, Faroe Islands, Lithuania, Romania and Serbia while Germany have Russia, Wales, Finland, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein.
Greece, the team that leapfrogged England to secure the final place among the top seeds, were rewarded with a place at the head of what looks like the weakest of the groups in the European zone.
The reigning European champions will face Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg.
Sunday’s draw also threw up some intriguing clashes in the Asian qualifiers with North and South Korea paired in group three.
Meanwhile China were drawn against Australia, Iraq and Qatar in a tough looking group one.
Hosts South Africa face Nigeria in the African zone of qualifying. South Africa are automatically through to the 2010 World Cup but must compete as the qualifiers count towards the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola.
At a glittering draw ceremony, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and South African President Thabo Mbeki both said that preparations for the finals were well advanced.
It’s the kick-off, it’s the window to South Africa, said Blatter at the start of the draw which was attended by around 3,000 delegates as well as being watched massive global television audience.
Now there’s no doubt that the 2010 World Cup will be here, will be a big success, he added. E-mail to a friend
