by H!WSaG!
England face USA, Algeria and Slovenia in World Cup
December 4, 2009 in England, News by H!WSaG!
England have been drawn to face the United States, Algeria and Slovenia in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Fabio Capello’s men will play the United States in Rustenburg on 12 June, Algeria in Cape Town on 18 June and Slovenia in Port Elizabeth on 23 June.
Five-time champions Brazil face a daunting group that includes Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea.
Holders Italy were drawn with Slovakia, Paraguay and New Zealand.
France, the 1998 winners and 2006 runners-up, will play hosts South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay, who staged and triumphed at the first World Cup in 1930.
European champions Spain are unlikely to fear Chile, Switzerland or Honduras and three-time winners Germany will take on Serbia, Ghana and Australia.
The Netherlands, ranked number three in the world, must navigate their way past Denmark, Cameroon and Japan.
Two-time champions Argentina are pooled with 2004 European champions Greece, Nigeria and South Korea.
As with every World Cup since 1998, teams must finish in the top two in their group to qualify for the knockout phase.
England’s seeding as one of the eight top teams in the competition meant they would always avoid Brazil, Spain, Holland, Italy, Germany and Argentina and South Africa in the group stage.
If England emerge from Group C they will play either Germany, Serbia, Ghana or Australia for a place in the quarter-finals.
South Africa will get the tournament started against Mexico at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, on 11 June 2010.
2010 World Cup draw
Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria, Greece
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark
Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Cost, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland
