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Germany get lucky group in 2006 World Cup
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-10 09:45
Hosts Germany are expected to enjoy a plain saling in the World Cup group
stage while Argentina and the Netherlands will lock horns in the so-called
"group of death", according to the final draw unveiled on Friday.
The toughest section of the draw has Argentina, the Netherlands, Serbia &
Montenegro and Cote d'Ivoire matched in Group C.
general view of the stage during the 2006 FIFA
World Cup finals draw in Leipzig, eastern Germany, December 9, 2005.
Germany, Costa Rica, Poland and Ecuador were drawn in Group A for the
World Cup finals in Germany. [Reuters] | The
Netherlands, who reached the final the last time the World Cup was held on
German soil in 1974 and who met Argentina in the World Cup final four years
later, were the most dangerous non-seeded floater in the 32-team draw.
They are likely to advance with Argentina from their group but neither will
under-estimate World Cup debutants Cote d'Ivoire, or Serbia & Montenegro.
Germany will meet Costa Rica in the opening match of the World Cup finals in
Munich on June 9 but concerns about security may overshadow their next match
against Poland in Dortmund five days later.
Germany will complete their Group A campaign against Ecuador in Berlin on
June 20.
An Ivory Coast soccer fan watches the draw for
the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany live on a screen in the country's main
city of Abidjan December 9, 2005. Argentina, Ivory Coast, Serbia and
Montenegro and the Netherlands were drawn in Group C for the World Cup
finals in Germany.[Reuters] | Germany coach
Juergen Klinsmann said: "It could have been worse. We're happy. We think this
group is absolutely do-able. Every opponent will be difficult, every game will
be a huge challenge. Ecuador will be tough, they beat Brazil in qualifications.
Costa Rica was third behind the U.S. and Mexico and naturally Poland will also
be hard."
World champions Brazil begin the defence of their trophy against Croatia in
Berlin on June 12 with Japan, coached by former Brazilian great Zico, and
Australia making up their quartet in Group F.
Australia, back in the finals for the first time since they were held in West
Germany 32 years ago, open their campaign against Japan who they are likely to
face on a more regular basis after moving from the Oceania to the Asian
confederation earlier this year.
England's coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will face his own countrymen from Sweden
in Group B for the second successive World Cup with Paraguay and Trinidad &
Tobago making up the group.
The majority of players in Trinidad's squad play their football in England
and Dwight Yorke, their most famous player, won the Champions League with
Manchester United six years ago.
England, ranked second in the seedings behind Brazil, will meet Paraguay in
their opening match in Frankfurt on June 10 before meeting Trinidad in Nuremburg
on June 15 and Sweden, who they have not beaten since 1968, in Cologne five days
later.
"I talked to the Swedish coach before the draw and we agreed we did not want
to meet at this World Cup. But overall we are happy with the draw, its not easy
but it could have been worse," Eriksson said.
Familiar foes and neighbors France and Switzerland, who met in Euro 2004 and
then both came through the same World Cup qualifying group unbeaten, were drawn
together again in Group G, opening their campaigns against each other in
Stuttgart on June 13.
France, who went out in the first round as defending champions four years
ago, will then meet South Korea in Leipzig before playing African debutants Togo
in Cologne on June 23.
Ukraine begin their first World Cup finals against Spain in Leipzig on June
14 in a Group H game with Tunisia and Saudi Arabia completing their section.
Italy, the United States and the Czech Republic, who all met in the same
opening round group in 1990, were brought together again with newcomers Ghana
completing their Group E.
Italy, bidding to win the World Cup for the first time since 1982, open
against Ghana in Hanover on June 12.
The close links between Portugal and its former colony Angola will add spice
to their opening Group D meeting in Cologne on June 11 when Angola make their
World Cup debut. Seeded Mexico and Iran complete the section.
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