World Cup draw: Three groups tough, three easy, two even (Roundup)

Costa do Sauipe (Brazil), Dec 7 (IANS) The eye catching 2014 FIFA World Cup draw ended here with the make up of three tough and three easy groups for traditional powerhouses. The other two without favourites look even.

Five-time world champions and the hosts, Brazil should meet little challenge to top Group A, which includes Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon, reports Xinhua.

Brazil, this year’s Confederations Cup champions and the favourites of next year’s campaign, will face Croatia in the World Cup opener June 12.

Brazil coach Scolari, who had led Brazil to the World Cup top podium in 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, said, “I am satisfied with the draw.”

Ronaldo, former Brazilian football star and now a member of the management board of Brazil 2014′s Local Organising Committee, said that starting the competition in one of the weaker groups could be a good thing.

Brazil’s real challenge will be the last 16 knockout in which they would meet the runners-up from Group B containing defending champions Spain, last time runners-up Netherlands, Chile and Australia.

Group B is one of the tough groups as Chile often play the role of troublemaker with their aggressive attacking style.

Spain and the Netherlands, the two teams that contested the 2010 final, will meet first in the group opener June 13 while Chile take on Australia.

Spain coach del Bosque said, “Chile have expert players and are very physical. We know they will be a very difficult team to face.”

Group C seems to offer even chances to the four non-favourites, Colombia, Greece, Cote d’Ivoire and Japan.

Colombia is strong in attack, Cote d’Ivoire is experienced with great players like Didier Drogba and Gervinho and Greece has every chance to reach the round of 16.

Japan, the best organised team in Asia, boasts several stars playing in European leagues.

Group D is really tough with three former world champions, Uruguay, England and Italy. It will be extremely difficult for Costa Rica to survive.

Italy was the most unlucky team in Friday’s draw as they were picked from European Pot 4 to Pot 2 to fill the spare slot and subsequently met seeded Uruguay and finally saw England.

There is little doubt that the two survivors from the group will come from the three powerhouses.

England striker Wayne Rooney said, “If we want to be the best, we have to beat the best. Tough group but (I’m) really looking forward to it!”

The luckiest team in the draw was France, the lowest ranking unseeded European qualifier which avoided a direct pick into Pot 2 as the rule had been changed.

Finally, France were drawn into the easy looking Group E alongside Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras.

Group F offers little challenge to another hot favourite Argentina whose opponents are Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria.

Bosnian attacking midfielder Miralem Pjanic said, “I am reasonably happy with the draw, Argentina are favourites. I think we’ll compete with Nigeria for second place.”

Group G, comprising Germany, Portugal, Ghana and the United States, is tough and it would be hard to find a clear winner.

Jurgen Klinsmann, now coaching the United States, and his former assistant for Germany Joachim Low (German coach) are set to face off June 26.

“That’s one of those crazy stories football writes,” said Klinsmann.

Making their seventh straight appearance at the World Cup finals, the United States will first play against Ghana which eliminated them from the last two World Cups.

Meanwhile, Jerome Boateng and Kevin Prince-Boateng will face off again at the World Cup, for Germany and Ghana respectively after meeting each other in 2010.

Portugal coach Paulo Bento said, “It’s a tight group. Germany have their history and lot of potential. Both USA and Ghana are well organised and have good players in some of the top European clubs.”

Group H witnesses no favourites and all four — Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea — seem to have equal chances.

Russia coach Fabio Capello said with a smile, “Our group is not as hard as others, like B and G for example. Each team is very different. People might say Belgium is the favourite thanks to their good qualifiers but we still hope to top the group.”