The convoluted draw for next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil yesterday produced a set of groups in which most of soccer’s big guns will fancy their chances of reaching the knockout stages.
Group D, featuring former winners England, Italy and Uruguay, along with Costa Rica, is probably the exception, while Spain and Netherlands, who met in the 2010 final, will have to be well prepared to see off Chile and Australia in Group B.
Host nation Brazil will kick off the tournament against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12 and the favourites should be relatively happy with a Group A also containing Mexico and Cameroon as they seek their sixth title.
“We ended up in a strong group, one that gives you goose bumps,” said Brazil captain Thiago Silva.
“A strong African side, perhaps one of the best, Mexico, who have been a tough adversary for us, and Croatia, who are a strong team physically. It’s very difficult but we’re ready.”
One former champion is sure to go out from Group D, with England against Italy in the jungle city of Manaus a mouth-watering opener for the two European giants.
“We know how good Italy are because we lost to them in the quarter-finals at the (2012) Euros,” said England boss Roy Hodgson.
“The game is going to be tough from a climate point of view for both teams. We’re both in the same boat.”
Forward Diego Forlan, who helped Uruguay to the semi-finals in 2010, said: “In comparison with what other teams got, it’s the hardest group of this World Cup.
“But you have to play the matches and at the last World Cup we were in a very complicated group but came through well.”
World and European champions Spain begin their defence with a repeat of the physical 2010 final against the Netherlands in Salvador.
“We will have to be prepared right from the first day, focus ourselves,” said coach Vicente Del Bosque, knowing the group runners-up are likely to face Brazil in the first knockout round.
“I expect that Brazil will be first in their group so we will have to take great pains to do the same,” he added.
Germany will come face-to-face with their former striker and coach Juergen Klinsmann, now in charge of the US, with Portugal and Ghana completing the Group G lineup.
“Of course, a special moment for me to play against Germany but we beat them in a friendly this year and once you get on the pitch they are the just the opponent,” said Klinsmann, who won the World Cup as a player in 1990.
France, who qualified via the play-offs, will be pleased with a Group E placing alongside Ecuador, Switzerland and Honduras.
“It could have been more complicated,” said coach Didier Deschamps.
“We know Switzerland well, they were seeded so obviously the toughest opponent. We don’t know Ecuador and Honduras that well and it will have an influence on our preparation.”
Bosnia, the only one of the 32 teams taking part in their first World Cup finals, will have a dream start to their World Cup adventure as they kick off against Argentina in the Maracana before facing Iran and Nigeria.
“Argentina are the group favourites and it will be a very special occasion for us to play our opening match against them at the Maracana Stadium,” said coach Safet Susic.
“We should have an even chance alongside Nigeria to clinch the runners-up spot, although no one should underestimate Iran either.”
Fancied Belgium head up Group H alongside Algeria, Russia and South Korea while Group C, containing Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan, looks the toughest to predict.
The final is in Rio on July 13.
Group A
Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
June 12 Sao Paulo, 22.00 - Brazil vs Croatia
June 13 Natal, 18.00 - Mexico vs Cameroon
June 17 Fortaleza, 21.00 - Brazil vs Mexico
June 18 Manaus, 21.00 - Cameroon vs Croatia
June 23 Brasilia, 22.00 - Cameroon vs Brazil
June 23 Recife, 22.00 - Croatia vs Mexico
Group B
Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
June 13 Salvador, 21.00 - Spain vs Netherlands
June 13 Cuiaba, 24.00 - Chile vs Australia
June 18 Rio de Janeiro, 24.00 - Spain vs Chile
June 18 P. Alegre, 18.00 - Australia vs Netherlands
June 23 Curitiba, 18.00 - Australia vs Spain
June 23 Sao Paulo, 18.00 - Netherlands vs Chile
Group C
Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
June 14 B. Horizonte, 18.00 - Colombia vs Greece
June 14 Recife, 24.00 - Ivory Coast vs Japan
June 19 Brasilia, 18.00 - Colombia vs Ivory Coast
June 19 Natal, 24.00 - Japan vs Greece
June 24 Cuiaba, 22.00 - Japan vs Colombia
June 24 Fortaleza, 22.00 - Greece vs Ivory Coast
Group D
Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
June 14 Fortaleza, 21.00 - Uruguay vs Costa Rica
June 15 Manaus, 03.00 - England vs Italy
June 19 Sao Paulo, 21.00 - Uruguay vs England
June 20 Recife, 18.00 - Italy vs Costa Rica
June 24 Natal, 18.00 - Italy vs Uruguay
June 24 B. Horizonte, 18.00 - Costa Rica vs England
Group E
Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
June 15 Brasilia, 18.00 - Switzerland vs Ecuador
June 15 Porto Alegre, 21.00 - France vs Honduras
June 20 Salvador, 21.00 - Switzerland vs France
June 20 Curitiba, 24.00 - Honduras vs Ecuador
June 25 Manaus, 22.00 - Honduras vs Switzerland
June 25 Rio, 22.00 - Ecuador vs France
Group F
Argentina, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria
June 15 Rio de Janeiro, 24.00 - Argentina vs Bosnia
June 16 Curitiba, 21.00 - Iran vs Nigeria
June 21 Belo Horizonte, 18.00 - Argentina vs Iran
June 21 Cuiaba, 24.00 - Nigeria vs Bosnia
June 25 Porto Alegre, 18.00 - Nigeria vs Argentina
June 25 Salvador, 18.00 - Bosnia vs Iran
Group G
Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
June 16 Salvador, 18.00 - Germany vs Portugal
June 16 Natal, 24.00 - Ghana vs United States
June 21 Fortaleza, 21.00 - Germany vs Ghana
June 22 Manaus, 21.00 - United States vs Portugal
June 26 Recife, 18.00 - United States vs Germany
June 26 Brasilia, 18.00 - Portugal vs Ghana
Group H
Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea
June 17 B. Horizonte, 18.00 - Belgium vs Algeria
June 17 Cuiaba, 24.00 - Russia vs South Korea
June 22 Rio de Janeiro, 24.00 - Belgium vs Russia
June 22 Porto Alegre, 18.00 - South Korea vs Algeria
June 26 Sao Paulo, 22.00 - South Korea vs Belgium
June 26 Curitiba, 22.00 - Algeria vs Russia
Last 16 Pairings
Match 49 June 28, Belo Horizonte, 18.00 - A1 vs B2
Match 50 June 28, Rio de Janeiro, 22.00 - C1 vs D2
Match 51 June 29, Fortaleza, 18.00 - B1 vs A2
Match 52 June 29, Recife, 22.00 - D1 vs C2
Match 53 June 30, Brasilia, 18.00 - E1 vs F2
Match 54 June 30, Porto Alegre, 22.00 - G1 vs H2
Match 55 July 1, Sao Paulo, 18.00 - F1 vs E2
Match 56 July 1 ,Salvador, 22.00 - H1 vs G2
Quarter-Finals
Match 57 July 4, Fortaleza, 22.00 - Winner M49 vs Winner M50
Match 58 July 4, Rio 18.00 - Winner M53 vs Winner M54
Match 59 July 5, Salvador, 22.00 - Winner M51 vs Winner M52
Match 60 July 5, Brasilia, 18.00 - Winner M55 vs Winner M56
Semi-Finals
July 8 Belo Horizonte, 22.00 - Winner M57 vs Winner M58
July 9 Sao Paulo, 22.00 - Winner M59 vs Winner M60
Third-Place Play-Off
July 12 Brasilia, 22.00
Final
July 13 Rio de Janeiro, 21.00
Note: Schedule includes Malta times.
Please click on the image below to view World Cup draw: