England will open their quest to lift the World Cup by tackling the United States in Rustenburg on Saturday, June 12. Fabio Capello could not have hoped for much better from a group that will also see the Three Lions tackle Algeria and Slovenia in Group C. Any clash with the United States is bound to revive memories of that shock defeat during the 1950 tournament in Brazil.
England will open their quest to lift the World Cup by tackling the United States in Rustenburg on Saturday, June 12.
Fabio Capello could not have hoped for much better from a group that will also see the Three Lions tackle Algeria and Slovenia in Group C.
Any clash with the United States is bound to revive memories of that shock defeat during the 1950 tournament in Brazil.
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 Coast, Portugal Group H: Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland
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 Coast, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland
From the Dutch perspective, the advantage is that if we win the group, we play against the #2 from Italy's group (Paraguay) which should mean we're in the quarter finals. Those Italians lucked out. The French, lucky considering the pot they were in, but I wouldn't underestimate Mexico and Uruguay.
Nate Silver, who's got his own index, did some number crunching which to some extent confirms my expectations.
You heard it here first. Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
They don't have a lot of depth in their team, but you're playing them for the first game. They're going to be dangerous.
Also, remember the last time an underperforming French team drew the host...
Unlikely. I don't reckon I'll be picked.
As far as I'm concerned, they're playing them. And indeed France may well struggle -they do have the worst coach in the world.
"Also, remember the last time an underperforming French team drew the host..."
When was that? Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi
As for the 'last time', I got my facts mixed up.
