World Cup thread

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ManlyBacker

Winging it
Australia will open its World Cup campaign against three-time champion Germany in Durban.

The draw was staged at a glittering ceremony in Cape Town early this morning, with the Socceroos also being pitted against Ghana and Serbia in Group D.

The first match against Germany will kick off on Monday, June 14 at 12:00am (AEST).

The Socceroos then take on Ghana in Rustenburg on Saturday, June 16 at 9:30pm before rounding out their group clashes against the Serbs in Nelspruit on Thursday, June 24 at 4:30am.

Sixth-ranked Germany will be the Socceroos' most difficult opponent, having qualified for the last four Cup finals as well as reaching the Euro 2008 decider.

Their last clash was a thrilling 4-3 win for Germany at the 2005 Confederations Cup in Frankfurt.

Ghana joined Australia in reaching the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup, while Serbia topped its qualifying group in front of 1998 world champion France.

The Serbs are currently ranked 20th in the world, one place ahead of Australia, while Ghana, which features Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, is 37th.
 
I know it is 7 months away but it is on again.

That is a very tough draw for Australia. Some countries just received a walk-up to the Finals like England and Spain. NZ look well placed to have a shot getting Italy (ggrrrr), Paraguay and Slovakia. And on World rankings France should be in the twenties on current form and as we know lucky to be there.

Full list is:
Group A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France

Group B
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece

Group C
England
United States
Algeria
Slovenia

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


Current FIFA rankings of the 32 qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa from June 11 to July 11:

1. Spain
2. Brazil
3. Netherlands
4. Italy
5. Portugal
6. Germany
7. France
8. Argentina
9. England
11. Cameroon
12. Greece
14. United States
15. Mexico
16. Ivory Coast
17. Chile
18. Switzerland
19. Uruguay
20. Serbia
21. Australia
22. Nigeria
26. Denmark
28. Algeria
30. Paraguay
33. Slovenia
34. Slovakia
37. Ghana
38. Honduras
43. Japan
52. South Korea
77. New Zealand
84. North Korea
86. South Africa

Note: Croatia (10) were the highest ranked team not to qualify and Russia (13) the only other top-20 country who failed to make it.
 
Its not a bad group to be in, the Germans always seem to fire no matter where they are ranked at the time so having them as the top ranked team in the group isnt so bad. We are fighting it out with serbia and ghana, both team we can beat but we will have to earn our tights to get through.

Group G is a tough one - ivory coast at 16 are up against 2nd and 5th ranked teams, that would have been a bad draw for us

Group A
South Africa 86
Mexico 15
Uruguay 19
France 7

Group B
Argentina 8
Nigeria 22
South Korea 52
Greece 12

Group C
England 9
United States 14
Algeria 28
Slovenia 33

Group D
Germany 6
Australia 21
Serbia 20
Ghana 37

Group E
Netherlands 3
Denmark 26
Japan 43
Cameroon 11

Group F
Italy 4
Paraguay 30
New Zealand 77
Slovakia 43

Group G
Brazil 2
North Korea 84
Ivory Coast 16
Portugal 5

Group H
Spain1
Switzerland 18
Honduras 38
Chile 17
 
I'm hoping some of the African sides (particularly Nigeria and Cameroon) can make a run deep into the competition on home soil.  Australia would have to fancy their chances of progressing, with the game versus Ghana the key.  They will have the crowd against them and the Aussie Super 14 sides have traditionally hated going to Rustenberg.  Last time NSW played there they were goaded as sheep shaggers by the ground announcer for the entire game.  What you'd expect from a Boer stronghold.
 

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