France, the 1998 champions and 2006 runners-up, were drawn in the same group as hosts South Africa in the draw for the 2010 World Cup finals today.
South Africa will meet Mexico in the opening match at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg on June 11 in the 32-nation tournament which finishes with the final on July 11 in the same stadium.
Former World Cup winners Uruguay are the fourth member of Group A.
The toughest looking section features five times winners Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea in Group G. Holders Italy meet Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia in Group F. England face the United States, Algeria and Slovenia in Group C.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 11.
Group A - 1. South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B - Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Group C - England, United States, Slovenia, Algeria
Group D - Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
Group E - Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F - Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group G - Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H - Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
REACTIONS:
FRANCE COACH RAYMOND DOMENECH
"Relieved ? One can be relieved after the games. The draw is quite balanced. We will play the host nation and this is never an easy task. It is not easy to play an 'away' game," he told television channel TF1
ENGLAND COACH FABIO CAPELLO
"I think it is one of the most balanced groups. Algeria have beaten Egypt so they are a dangerous side. I remember there have been groups that looked easy but then became really complicated," he told Sky Italia.
SLOVENIA STRIKER MILIVOJE NOVAKOVIC
"I can be happy after the draw, we got a good group, the first match (with Algeria) will be the most important and will determine our future," he told TV Slovenia
"These are opponents that we can beat. England is a favourite but it is positive that we play with them last and that our fate will be determined before that."
GERMANY COACH JOACHIM LOEW
"We've got an interesting group. We've played Australia, not long ago at the Confederations Cup. It'll be an important match for us, the opening match. It'll be important to win that," he told reporters.
"I've got a lot of respect for Serbia. They beat France and easily won their group. They've got a lot of good players and they're a very strong team. I wouldn't call Ghana an outsider. They're one of the stronger teams."
NETHERLANDS COACH BERT VAN MARWIJK
"It is a dangerous group and we shouldn't underestimate any of our opponents," he told NOS TV. "Denmark won their (qualifying) group with Portugal, Hungary and Sweden, so are a strong opponent."
"We recently beat Japan 3-0 in a friendly match, but it wasn't easy at all and the score was a bit flattering, while I consider Cameroon as one of the strongest three countries in Africa."
ITALY COACH MARCELLO LIPPI
"The more you concentrate on easy teams the more they become difficult. We've got to prepare and study these teams and their characteristics," he told Sky Italia.
IVORY COAST MANAGER VAHID HALILHODZIC
"It's the toughest draw. They (Portugal and Brazil) are the favourites but we will prepare to create an upset," he said on Eurosport France.
SPAIN COACH VINCENTE DEL BOSQUE
"We can't complain. We can't hide the fact we are one of the favourites to win."