World Cup 2014 Draw Match of the Day

Pele at number three! He has scored. He can do it, too!

He has got it, Pele has scored! This is great stuff!

That is a great goal! What a beauty! Waiting for a cross! Bowl!

It is samba time! Oh, and he has been beaten, it is a goal. Ronaldo

is rampant now! Can he pull it back? He will. Fly an macro he

schools from an incredible angle. They have produced a few players in

their time. That will warm you up on a cold winter's afternoon. It is 63

years since Brazil has held a World Cup but we will be live in Bahia De

seen next year's tournament shake the great take place. Juergen

Klinsmann is in charge of the United States. All the big names are there.

The great names of football have come across the word. We are in

Salford with Roberto Martinez and Alan Shearer. It is always an

exciting moment with the draw to the World Cup. If you want to win a

World Cup it starts now. You have to see who you are going to play and it

gives you real excitement for the next few months. Do you remember

when you are playing for the England team? Yes. Did you think about the

England drawers. There are so much going on at this time in the season

but you can guarantee the players will be sat around the television

now. We got to France and I was disappointed with our group when we

got to Tunisia, Romania, Columbia. I wanted one of the big guns to get

the tournament going but it is an exciting time for players. There is

a lot of England need to avoid this team and that team. Is that perhaps

a sign that our expectations are low? No, you have got to play who

you get drawn against. If you are going to be successful you have to

play the big guns somewhere in the tournament. I will feel if you can

get a big one early on, it actually gets you going. We have seen it four

years ago when we thought we had a good group in South Africa. It does

not work out like that. Roberto, a word on Spain, they are holders of

the World Cup and yet they are only fourth favourites, that is a bit

surprise in, isn't it? No, it is understandable. It is a South

American tournament so the South American teams will be favourites

and rightly so. Spain have still got the winning mentality and the other

one is that it is the end of generation. They feel it is the last

opportunity to end their careers on a real high. And if there is ever a

star football that could produce success that part of the world it is

the Spanish way, isn't it? We saw in the Confederations Cup that Brazil

had a real mixture. Germany can add to those conditions really well --

adapt to those conditions. It will go down to the small detail. The

draw today will be more important than people will think to see who

will be the favourites. Brazil are the bookies favourites which is hard

as a home advantage. One of the great names in football and they

have won it more than anyone else. After that you have Germany,

Argentina and Spain in that next bracket. It is hard to look beyond

those next four. There might be one team that comes round. We were so

impressed with the way Chile played at Wembley not so long ago. Uruguay

have also got some top players. You will be hard to look past Brazil,

particularly the way they perform to the Confederations Cup and with huge

pressure that is on them to perform. We think we are under

pressure in this country to perform, it is not a lot compared with what

they are under. You can have your say on how far you think England

will progress on the online vote on our website. Terms and conditions

can be found online. Voting is open until the end of the draw. We will

bring you the result at the end of the show. It is not quite as simple

as a straight draw. There are seedlings, pots and geography to

consider. Fortunately, Professor Dan Walker is on hand to explain all.

31 nations will be at the World Cup, alongside homeboys Brazil. The

draw will divide that lot into eight groups of four. Before it starts,

fever puts the countries in 24-macro separate pots, to make sure the

seeded teams avoid each other in the group stage. But one will have

Brazil in there and the other top seven teams in the FIFA rankings as

of mid-October. The other three pots are divided on a regional basis.

Number two is made up of teams from Africa and South America. Pot three

has qualified should from Australasia and northern Central

America and England are in pot for along with the other European

qualifiers. Because there are nine teams in pot four, before the draw

can begin, one of the non-seeded European nations will be randomly

drawn out of that pot and place tinpot two. That could be in glint.

Once the draw itself begins, result will automatically be placed in

group A before the rest of the seeded teams are randomly drawn.

Then the seeded team in pot two is drawn with one of the South American

seeds so there cannot be more than two European qualifiers in each

group. The rest of the teams in pot two are allocated a group each and

this process is repeated for pots three and four. But Chile and

Ecuador cannot be placed in a group with another South American team.

This means there are all sorts of possibilities for England involving

so-called easier and much tougher opposition is. Two teams from each

group will qualify for the knockout stages.

And that is what they are playing for, the World Cup trophy. It

arrived a little while ago. Spain have held it for four years. The

organisers described this as the trophy moment and so it was. The

draw is always complicated but this time, the thing about the pre-draw

where they will take when European team out of a pot and put it into

another has got its own connotations, hasn't it? It is very

difficult. When you experience the World Cup, you realise the approach

of the nations is very different. I was surprised in Africa to see the

approach compared with the European and South American. Sometimes you

feel it is easier to play against European sides because as a

footballer, you do not give the importers that probably a South

American team gets to the tournament. It is important to avoid

South American or Central American teams because it means more than

just playing a game of football. Shouldn't it have been the last two

to qualify? It is probably too late to get them to change now! What

about the best case scenario for England? We thought we had that four

years ago with our group of Algeria, Spain and Slovenia, but that was not

to be the case. Hence the reason why it may not be a bad idea to get one

of the big names in there. If you win two, then you are guaranteed to

go through into the round of 16. You would not want the worst group of

Spain, Chile and the USA. This is if they move to pot two. It is

conceivably worse. We would like to avoid that one.

There are two teams of hot, humid conditions. In the Confederations

Cup the humidity was the worst problem. The heat you can cope with

but the humidity, if you are not used to it, you will find it

difficult to be yourself. Italy and Spain were incredibly hot. That can

affect you in a particular game. I think to get a big team in your

group helps. It sets the standards for the competition. If you have got

two teams to go through, it gives you a margin of error to adjust

things. The build-up to Brazil has been marred with issues off the

pitch with public protests against the cost of staging the tournament

and problems with building the stadiums. It culminated last week in

a tragedy in Sao Paulo which claimed two lives when a crane collapsed at

the stadium. Dan has got the latest on preparations with the BBC South

American football correspondent Tim Vickrey. Yes, hello, Gary. Tim, the

headlines went round the world. Yesterday, Sepp Blatter was asked

about it at length. He said some of the stadiums may not be ready until

April next year. Is there a confidence that Brazil can do this

on time? I think they are cutting it fine than they would like. I think

stadiums are one of the least of their problems. There are more

pressing concerns like airport capacity, like the price the fans

will have to pay and the potential backdrop of political protest. The

draw is being held in this resort. The weather is very nice behind us

but heat, humidity and travel is what the managers have been talking

about. Everyone is going to be travelling, some much more than

others and into very variable conditions. From an England point of

view, there are four groups which would be acceptable, group B, group

E, group F and the apple of everyone's I, group H. They'll said

they wanted to be in group H. In the rehearsal yesterday, guess who got

it? The Germans. It is no good getting it in the

rehearsal, they will not get it in the real thing. Let's talk about

Brazil. They are the favourites, the home nation, we have talked about

the expectation already. Have they got the players this time? I have

not got the plethora of players we have seen in the past like Neymar. I

think they have got a fantastic balance. They have got a lot of

creativity. I think the big tactical point has been playing with two

centre midfielders and defensive midfielders, that is something which

Brazilians generally do not like. What is important is Brazilians

expect to be probably the underdogs against Spain and in a World Cup, as

a host, that is a real help. I think there is a real expectation but

playing against Spain, playing in a certain way will suit them. What

will help them is having competitive football in the summer. With them

being the hosts and the lack of it leading up to the tournament could

be a negative point for them but having it only a few months ago. And

they were successful as well. They were very successful. When you take

Neymar, no real superstars in that team but what they do is they gelled

brilliantly as a team. They worked incredibly hard. It was the first

dismantling we have seen of Spain. It was but that first half an hour

was sensational. That line of three is fantastic. Fred, the number nine,

is a question, he has been injured since the Confederations Cup. They

had a lot of options in that number nine position. Probably that is the

only doubt that they have. As we know, the World Cup in South America

has always been won by a South American side, you have got to fancy

quite strongly Argentina, haven't you? Not only have they got lots of

the refit players, they have also got Lionel Messi. And when you have

got two players of that calibre in your team then you have to have a

chance. They will be used to the conditions, wherever they are

drawn. Obviously, they will be a big threat. Who else would you perhaps

pluck out at present? Uruguay. You cannot underestimate them. You have

to have a feel-good factor about it. In 1950 World Cup in Brazil went

Uruguay won the final. That was a big shock. And the strikers they

have now, they are still a strong forced to be reckoned with. Colombia

were second to Argentina in their qualifying group. We will make

certain we are prepared for the venue. Relaxed and excited going

into the draw, but are you concerned about the changes FIFA have made?

Not particularly. Who knows? You do not know whether being moved, if it

was you that got moved, could turn out to be an advantage or a

disadvantage. People can speculate as much as you like. I think the

best way to approach it is bit this is once again something which is

going to happen. FIFA have decided it is the best for the competition.

One of the European teams will be moved to a different pot and if it

happens to be you and you have got an eight to one chance, I suppose,

you get on with it. We spoke earlier this week and you said you are more

concerned about where England played rather than who they played. Are you

still have that opinion? Yes, but on the other hand, I have a liberal

attitude towards both things. It would be nice if the draw favoured

us and put us in an area which was kinder, if you like or favourable to

European teams, but if it doesn't, that is not a problem either, we

will deal with that and I am pretty certain with all the expertise

around me, we will prepare our players as best we can.

You said that the draw was like a box of chocolates, do you like the

coffee creams? I like them. That will do me, with a cup of coffee

that is fine. And there is Roy Hodgson sitting

with Greg Dyke. We are running a few minutes behind.

That is not surprising. We will join it when it matters. So, Roy Hodgson,

knocked back with the performance in the friendlies? Yes but without

being convincing, they were undefeated. Having said that, it was

Montenegro. There is always pressure for England to go out and perform. I

think for the first time in a long time, the expectation to win it will

not be there. Prior it has been we will do this, we will do this. That

will not be there this tournament. That could help us. Obviously the

two friendlies have set the mood and maybe the confidence back a little

bit, but there is time to get that back with the games and the training

before the tournament. How would you evaluate England's

chances, Roberto? Really good. Year after year, the development of the

English footballer is better. With the developing players, that they

are. They are tactically aware. They are thinkers. I believe that England

on the day can beat anyone. It is more managing the expectations.

There will be games against the South Americans, their stale is very

different, but the European style. If you are playing against Costa

Rica and understanding to play in a certain way. I think that England

are ready now to earn that belief in a big tournament. The players are

there. We are ready now to hand over. The

pre-amble is complete. They are introducing the ambassadors on to

the stage. We understand that Sir Geoff Hurst is on there. So what

better time than to join Jonathan Piers.

Thank you very much, Gary. Yes, it is time for business. Our presenter,

Fernanda is helping with the draw. We have had dancing here, we have

had music. We have had Pele on the stage. We have had help with the

draw, he played in three finals. And here is the winning captain

Cafu. He won more games in the final than

anyone else, Cafu. Any moment now, and we will have the

Secretary General of Jerome Valcke explaining the draw but this is a

lovely moment about the come-up. 86 years old. The wonderful

right-winger for Uruguay in Rio, scoring the deciding match for

Brazil. He is a player I would lead about as a lad, reading about

football. Now, he should be explaining the

draw for you, how it will work. Watch for the little twist this

year, Group X. So, let me explain. On the left you

see the blue pots, the 32 teams placed and assigned to one of the

four pots on the basis of sporting and geographic criteria. Under the

supervision of the firm Ernst Young. The pot 1. In front of Cafu,

it contains the host, Brazil. Plus the seven highest ranking Team teams

of the FIFA ranking. In order, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia,

Belgium, Uruguay and Switzerland. So, that is clear. How about the

others? The teams in pots two, three and four are assigned on a

geographic basis. In pot two in front of Zinedine Zidane we have the

teams from of a car, Nigeria, Cameroon and plus the remaining

South American teams, Chile and Ecuador. In front of Fabio Cannavaro

is the teams were Asia, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the teams

from north central Mehdi America, Costa Rica, Honduras and the USA. In

pot 4 in front of justify justify, the remaining nine teams from

Europe. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, England, France, Greece, #25e8,

Netherlands, and Portugal. But you said four pots. I see five

on the left? I understand that there is mystery about the pot X. There is

a clear purpose that I will explain in a few moments, but let me remind

you of the principles that guide us. The first is the principle of the

geographic separation. We cannot have teams from the simple

qualification zone drawn into the same group. There are 13 teams from

Europe and eight groups. We have to make the exception in this case, so

no more than two European teams drawn into one group. Secondly, we

have to follow the specific orders. We will draw the teams, the pots one

by one until they are empty. We will begin with pot one, and finish with

pot four. So, once the team is drawn, what do

we do with them? As the teams are drawn from the pot. They fill the

groups from A to H. The exception which may be made is that groups may

be skipped in order to maintain our principle of geographic separation.

Sorry but that sounds tricky? Tricky, I don't know but we have to

be careful. That is true. We also have to determine the position of

the team. You see, the seeded teams in pot one will be assigned in the

first position of the groups. Brazil as the host is in Group A 1. The

non-seeded teams from pots two, three and four will have the

positions drawn. If it is Group A and B Fifty Two,

Fernanda for C and D and Mario for G and H.

I am with you, but one last question. In order for a smooth flow

to the draw should we start with the same number of teams in each pot. I

see you are following well. We have an uneven number of balls in the

pot, one in -- so in order to balance the pots we begin by drawing

a ball from pot four to pot two and start with eight balls in each pot.

Ladies and pot.Ladies and gentlemen. , draw is about to begin

now. So, justify justify justify, may I ask you to stir the balls, to

draw one of the nine balls, to add this ball into the pot two.

So now we have equal numbers of balls in each pot. We start the

draw. Here we go.

Brazil for Group A. Cafu, you open it.

This is the only certain country in the draw. They know where they will

be placed. Brazil, position A 1. They kick the

World Cup off in Sao Paulo. Next. We go, we have Spain, Germany,

Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Switzerland. For the Group B.

Spain. The world champions in B 1. They cannot play Brazil until the

final. Now Group C.

Thank you. . If they win their group, that is,

of course. Colombia! Number four in the FIFA

World Cup ranking, Group C 1. Uruguay. Who went through the

play-off, Group D 1. So, we have Germany, Argentina,

Belgium and Switzerland. They are left in this pot.

We start with Switzerland. Switzerland in Group E 1.

Roy Hodgson took them to the World Cup in 1994.

Group F starts in Rio for Group. 1. Argentina.

Argentina have not reached the semi-finals in the last five

attempts. Two teams left, Germany and Belgium.

Two European teams. Germany.

Germany go into Group G 1. And the last one, Belgium.

Germany will play 100 games when they play their first game in

Brazil. Belgium. So. We are done with pot one. Thank

you, Cafu. Now, we turn our attention on the

pot two which contains a mix of teams from three qualification

zones, Africa, Europe and South America.

Hold on before going to pot two. What about pot X? Pot X, as you have

seen we have drawn four teams from Europe and South America into groups

A to H. This is where the principle of geographic separation comes into

play. We have to be careful not to draw two teams from the same zone or

group to end up with three European teams in the same group. We need pot

X to help us avoid a clash. As follows: Pot X is composed of the

four seeded South American teams, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and

Uruguay. I which will ask Zinedine Zidane to draw one of the four

teams. This taum indicates in which group the European team of pot two

will go. So, Zinedine Zidane, stir the bowl.

It is a nightmare scenario. This is an important part of the draw.

Uruguay. In Group D is Uruguay. The European

team which is... Here we go. It was France in the rehearsal. Holland

yesterday went in with Uruguay in the rehearsal.

Italy go in with Uruguay. Italy in Group D are Uruguay. A is

you to give me a ball. they will play in Manaus it in the

heat and humidity. That is a bad one for them. We have five Africans and

two South American teams. Again, a South American team cannot go into a

group with another South American team. Chile. They cannot go in with

Brazil. So they go into Group B with Spain. They were beaten by Brazil in

2006 and 2010. They beat England recently.

Chile will start in Cuiaba. It is infamous for the heat. It is

Cameroon. This could be the opening game.

Three years since they have played a team from outside Africa. They beat

Argentina in 1990. They will start in Natal.

Ecuador. They cannot go in with Colombia or Uruguay so they go in

Group E with Switzerland. They were beaten by David Beckham's free kick

in Germany, dropped two home points in qualifying and picked up just

three away points. That will be the opening game in Brasilia. Watch for

that one as we go through. We start with Group C. With Colombia it is

the Ivory Coast. They beat Senegal in the play-off, made hard work of

it in the end. Argentina had terrible draws on both world cups.

They will start in receive. -- receive. It can be very wet in terms

of rain in June and July there. Nigeria with Group F with Argentina.

It is the same as 2010, by the way, Argentina and Nigeria. Is it the

same as 2002 as well? They will start in Curitiba. Nigeria are the

African cup of Nations champions. They are a young team.

Ghana with Germany in Group D. D3 for Ghana. They lost to Germany

1-0. They will start in Natal. That is on the coast. Algeria go with

Belgium. Their opening game will be against

Belgium. We are half way, half-time. We have filled two teams per group,

but let's now move on. Far be, pot three, it is you, but first, I

repeat we have the Asian team, Australia, Iran, Japan, Korea

Republic, Costa Rica, Australia, Iran, Japan, Korea

is not very happy. Four defeats in the

is not very happy. Four defeats in Mexico will play Cameroon in Natal

as their Mexico will play Cameroon in Natal

knockout stage in 2010. They clinched their place in the final

seven minutes from time. It is hard to be old!

Australia will play Chile in their opening game with a new manager. He

comes from Athens originally. They have a good young keeper called Matt

Ryan. This is for Group C. Japan, in with the Ivory Coast and Colombia.

Their fifth final in a row will stop they picked up most points in Asian

qualifying. They will play the Ivory Coast in

their opening game. This is a strong group coming up, Group D. Uruguay

and Italy are already there. Costa Rica in Group D with Uruguay and

Italy. Uruguay Costa Rica, the first game

of this group. That is in Fortaleza. It is important to see who comes out

now. Honduras. England would love to be in Group E, Honduras are the 6000

to one rank outsiders for the competition.

We have three teams, Iran, Korea Republic and the USA.

Iran. Iran will go in with Argentina and Nigeria. Top qualifying group

winning their last three games. They have won the last six matches,

actually. They will play Nigeria in their

first game. USA. Klinsmann has lived in the States for the last 19 years.

And he's up against a team he played for and managed at the World Cup

finals. Will they owed them? They missed it. -- will they open? They

missed it. I bet he has a smile about that

afterwards, he is a great character. So South Korea, qualified on goal

difference from Uzbekistan. They were beaten by seven of their other

finalists here. Their manager was a great hero of the 2002 campaign.

That is not a bad group to go into. We have the remaining eight European

teams. If we come out of this next pot first, England will be in the

opening game of the World Cup 2014 against Brazil in Sao Paulo.

The 12th of June awaits. Sao Paulo, the venue. This is a tough group.

Croatia have the honour. Croatia are the opening game of the 2014 World

Cup. They beat Iceland in the play-off.

Jeff, look with Spain. If Geoff Hurst picks England here, it will be

Spain and Salvador. Who gets the world and European champions?

Holland. A repeat of the final four years ago. The bad tempered final.

The final but poor old Howard Webb had to try and control. Either Spain

or Holland are likely to meet Brazil.

It is Greece. We are still in, we have not come out yet. Ivory Coast

were hoping for a very good draw this time. They have had bad luck.

They have got a good draw. This is a nightmare. This is a nightmare next

draw for Group D. If we come out here we will play Italy in the

opening game in Manaus at 2am UK time. Be careful, Sir Geoff, said

Jeff, by the way, everybody. Thank you. It will be a European game

between Italy and... England! Manaus in the Amazon region. It is

sauna like. 99% humidity. It is uncomfortable. The travel to Manaus

alone for England from Rio de Janeiro will be a round trip of 3300

miles. Uruguay, Costa Rica and Italy, that

is a very tough group. Suarez awaits. Mario Balotelli awaits.

France comes out with Switzerland and Honduras. That is a dream draw

for France. England will play Italy in Manaus, Uruguay in Sao Paulo and

Costa Rico in there no horizontal. It was at dinner horizontally

suffered our all-time biggest embarrassment.

France have Switzerland, Ecuador and honour durous. How is your luck? --

honour dure use. -- Honduras. Bosnia-Herzegovina. The

first ever game, Argentina slipped up against Manaus in years gone by.

They have a good chance of qualifying.

They are in great form. They are a a very attacking side.

This is to play Germany in the opening game in Salvador. Germany,

Ghana and the USA in this group. Oh, we have had a nightmare in this

draw. Portugal! They go through with

Germany, Ghana and USA. That is a tasty one. Germany,

Portugal. A fantastic team. They are all fit.

So, for the final one in Group H. Sir Geoff Hurst it has to be Russia.

This will be Russia coming up, by the way.

And Capello who had a nightmare with England against Algeria, will face

Algeria, not in the opening game, they face South Korea but he will

have to face them again. Having said that, he has a very good chance in

that group of progressing. Thank you, Fernanda. I recap the

eight groups. Group : Group about: Group

Well, that is a really, really tough draw for England.

A round of applause for the eight legends.

Scolari is looking up. He will be pleased with the draw.

There go the guests. Faernda will conduct the rest of the show here.

We have more dancing. He is explaining what is going to

happen, but we know what is going to happen for England. Uruguay, Costa

Rica and Italy lie ahead. I'm afraid to say, Gary and the boys, this was

not a very good day for England. The sort of draw that Roy Hodgson would

have feared. So much travel. You will hear a lot

more consideration about the draw when we return to London. Lots of

good news she will say, but exuberant football.

He is saying to close the show now with a tribute to the music and the

magic of Brazil with Margareth Menezes. We have music, we have joy

but it is sadness for Roy! Confirmation then of what awaits

England next year. It will not be easy, or daunting. They start in

Manaus against three-time champions, Italy who most recently beat England

on penalties. No penalties in the group stage. Then the seeds,

Uruguay, who have never lost to England alt a World Cup. That is in

Sao Paulo. Not so tough conditions there. Then finally Costa Rica for

the first time, actually, they have never played them before in Belo

Horizonte. I start why you, Alan, your thoughts

on the draw? I said it would not be bad getting one good team in the

group, we did not want two. That is a tough group. It really is. Also,

we play Italy first and Uruguay second. Costa Rica, we play them

last. That could work for us. If we are still in it, but a tough,

tough group. Volunteers, where we did not want to play, in the hottest

places, the humidity of 99%. What do you think, Roberto? Well,

where the game is played will be the biggest problem. The humidity,

adapting to the travelling. But playing against a European side

is a real help. You are starting the competition, playing against Italy

is a game to control a little bit. It is a tough draw but I think

probably then playing the next group you are facing is Colombia, Ivory

Coast and Japan, if you are playing them... I like his confidence, he is

talking about the next group after! If anyone wants to know how tough it

will be, you have to look at the euros. It was a tough game against

Italy. We lost on penalties. But Pirlo is injured now! Uruguay,

an interesting side. Their strength is going forward. Saurez, we know

all about. Forlanz is getting on? But the problems with the South

Americans, they are not as disciplined as the European sides.

It is difficult. They can be difficult under those circumstances

but you believe that England should be able to get through the group.

And the bonus is that Saurez is not in great form at present. He has

been struggling off late. All of his goals are coming in the

Premier League. He will not save any for the summer, you are hoping? He

is a top, top player. Great ability. He can score a goal from any angle.

That technique there with the half volley, that is not bad, either. We

know what o to expect from him! It is a long way off.

There will be lots of hype. It could have been worse? They could have had

the opening game against Brazil? That would have been a great opening

game, Brazil v England? But when Group D came along, we thought we

don't want to be in this one put that ball back, Geoff.

But the truth is in a World Cup you are going to play against good sides

with players you know. We have Italy, we have Balotelli. He will be

around I'm sure, a great character. The poverty is, as I said, Pirlo is

there. It is going to abteam that will be ll-organised. The poverty of

the group is if you want to be well, to be successful, you have to win

games, but there will be a variety of different styles, you can really

test the squad in the group stage. Obviously Italy as we see, they have

adapted well in the Confederations Cup and Costa Rica, you mentioned

Saurez, of Liverpool but they are also in good goal-scoring form. It

will be exciting to watch how they do against England.

I think Italy themselves were impressive in qualifying. I think it

would have been one of the seeded teams had they not rested players

for the last two games. I think that they got two draws in the last two

qualifying games. That cost them being seeded. So that is something

else to look at, to see how tough this will be.

One of the great problems with England, they always seem to get

great players injured before major championships, have you found that,

Roberto, that we are slightly disadvantaged? Even though many of

the world stars do play here? Well, you do. The demands in the Premier

League are huge. As a footballer in an English club you get into the

summer, that is after a tough season. The good part of that draw

is that you will face players doing exactly the same with the Italian

club and with the Champions League. I still think that group is a

really, really good group in terms of pushing the squad to the maximum,

to be ready for further stages. Sometimes you feel an easy group

will allow you to progress but you are not tested.

I don't think that Italy are the same as they were in the euros. I

expect England to have a really strong start in the tournament.

If I can boost your confidence further, England qualified from the

group stages in the last four World Cups, although it has not always

gone well after that, has it? It's Beckham! It is in! This is Owen.

Taking it in his stride. Still, Michael Owen. He has scored a

wonderful goal. A red card for David Beckham. It is Batty. England again

are out of the World Cup on penalties.

On this huge stage, David Beckham with the penalty for England.

Beckham has scored! And it's a goal. It is Ronaldhino.

There is the volley! Oh, it is a terrific goal for England and Joe

Cole scored it. Look at Rooney, battling away.

He's sent Rooney off. This is for the semi-finals of Portugal. He's

done it. England are out of the World Cup.

The United States are level. It is a nightmare moment for Rob Green.

Jeremy Hunt scores. They -- Jermain Defoe scores. They are on their way!

Frank Lampard! Brilliant. It is in. And Germany are going through to the

last stage of the World Cup, once again.

It just finished with Steven Gerrard at the end there.

Alan, you have the lights of Frank Lampard as well. It is the

last-chance time for those guys? Absolutely.

The last of the golden generation. It was meant to be the golden

generation, the generation to be successful for us. To get us the

long-awaited trophy, but it has not worked out, but they will know they

are going into the tournament with it being their last. Determined to

go out with a bang. To try to be successful.

You have a lot of internationals at Everton, Roberto, it is interesting

to see how the players approach the World Cup as it comes around? Is it

different? It is. It is a unique opportunity. There are not many

times as a footballer to be facing the possibility of playing in the

World Cup. There are about ten players who could be involved. That

is exciting. Everything that they do on a daily basis is to prepare

themselves to be in good shape for the World Cup. So that in a way is

in your mind but always in a positive way.

People say that club football is what it is all about in this

country. We are obsessed with the Premier League. The international

football does not matter as much. Is it true of the players, do you

sense? Not in the World Cup, Gary. It can't. The World Cup is the

pinnacle for anyone to play in. I was fortunate to play in the World

Cup in 1998. For the players from today, the first thing that the

managers are saying them tomorrow or whenever is look, the guys to be

involved, forget what is happening today, there are four, five months

to go before the time for the preparation, they are determined to

get their minds on the Champions League but to play in a World Cup

finals, it would be sensational. We should consider one or two of the

other groups, who catches your eye? Germany and USA. And Ghana and

Portugal with the group. That is Group J. That is interesting? Yes.

And we never mentioned Belgium. Belgium in terms of having the best

individuals ever in terms of going to a World Cup. They have been

fortunate with their draws. Yes, they have the Group H that

everybody want? Yes, obviously they will face the winners of Germany.

The Group G will be important. I wanted to know who suggested Sir

Geoff Hurst to pull that one out of the pot! We will get someone on

that! OK, let's get, we can get a South American reaction now from Tim

Vickery. Tim, England's perspective, first of

all, in a group with Uruguay, how do you see it? Well, Roy has to go to

Manaus. He didn't want to but it is probably a price worth paying for

the location of the other two games. Of course, the crucial second game

against the Uruguay team. They are tough, experienced, perhaps too

experienced. Saurez and Cavani are at the peak of their power but the

rest of the team has gotten old together. There will be ageing limbs

on that side. They play the defence in the Milled field deep and then

spring Saurez and Cabani on the counter.

During the draw we heard from Ronaldo and Pele, Pele saying he

thinks, he hopes that they can do it on home soil, what is the

perspective from Brazil? Pele remembers his dad crying when they

lost in 1950. He doesn't want his kids to see them lose next year. So

no pressure. I think that the draw is fair enough for Brazil.

Interesting matches there. Mexico have beaten them a few times.

Cameroon, I remember them, when Cameroon were down to nine men. So

interesting mixes, but I think that Brazil will clearly back themselves,

but the draw has thrown up the prospect of Brazil meeting Spain

early in the competition. To summarise, we could probably say

Colombia good, Chile, bad. And Chile have the get over either Spain or

Holland to qualify. Colombia will be happy. Ecuador will be happy with

their draw and Argentina will be happy with their draw as well, both

in terms of opponents and in terms of location of their games. They end

their group programme against Nigeria. Always evocative. It was

Diego Maradona's last game for Argentina in the 1984 World Cup.

Thank you. Group A, Roberto, the hosts, favourites against Croatia on

June 12. We are all looking forward to that. Not a bad group for them?

No, it is not. You do not want to play too many games when you are the

host and expectations are high. I think Croatia could pull thereat

together and surprise you. You are looking at the group, Mexico, great

games against Brazil but you would not expect anyone to beat Brazil.

That is a decent game for Brazil to get underway. Tim mentioned the

interesting aspect is perhaps the -- who they will play in the last 16.

Exciting games to kick off. Group B kicks off with Spain versus Holland.

That is a fantastic game. A lot of players in there that we know and

exciting players. You would expect, looking at that, that was ill would

probably top their group and Spain maybe those. Let's get a Brazilian

view from David Luis. Brazil are back, a real statement of

intent in the FIFA World Cup. In Brazil, everyone loves football.

There is not too much pressure. If you win the World Cup, you can stay

there. Hit by Neymar, what a goal from Neymar! Everyone in the team

wanted to help him. He wants to give everything for the team as well. I

always speak to him and tell him, you do not need to change. You are a

star now. You are the best player of football with the bad moments and

bad things you can give, we will protect you and in good moments you

will show your football. There is pressure on Scolari to win the World

Cup on home soil. There is pressure for him but he knows how hard to

work and motivate the players. You think it is possible for a European

team to win in Brazil? It is possible for everyone but I think

was ill will be so difficult to beat. Not this time. Sometimes you

need to dream. Have a great generation, have a great team, you

need to think you can win. It would be difficult for everyone, not just

for England, but not this time against Brazil. What is the dream

for you personally? To be a champion of the world.

Let's get the thoughts now of someone with a famous hairstyle

himself, former England international Chris Waddle is

standing by. Your thoughts on the England draw? Very difficult.

Obviously, South America is hard itself to go and play out there but

when you are playing a team like Uruguay, we know they are very

difficult. Italy, I have always admired. They do not seem to have

any fear. They have a good game plan, always have. They were strong

side in the Euros. Where do you see the state of England at present? The

last two friendlies have tried to give some players a game. We are

capable of giving people at decent game but I think that game will --

that group will be very difficult to come out of. We're looking at people

like Morrison and Berkeley could force way into the team. But I think

it is all on the senior players, how they will perform, Steven Gerard,

Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole, these are the players who have to perform at

their best if we are going to get a chance of getting out of our group,

never mind how far we go. Expectations are pretty low this

time around, more realistic than before? Yes, and about time. In 1990

we had a great run and Euro 96 came very close again but since then we

have been built up as a team that could go and win it and we have not

really looked like we could win it. It will help the team to go and

relax a bit more. But you know what it is like, if we have a couple of

good friendly results, it will be, this is a team that can win it. What

do you think Roy Hodgson will do with the team tack to clean to get

the best out of them? -- tactically. I think he has done a terrific job

with the players he has got. He seems to organise them pretty well.

I think we have got to play attacking football but it is not the

English way. We find it hard to slow the game down, we find it hard to

keep the ball for a period of time. Whatever the weather will be there,

it is different. It will be a big test on the legs because you do play

every three or four days. There are a lot of things up against us. It

will be good to play one up front and counterattacking. We have had

the draw, we are still a few months away, who do you fancy? I have to

say, Brazil look very good. With Lionel Messi and Argentina going

forward, I do not think they are the best at the back but going forward

they are free exciting and could upset anyone. We know Germany. Is it

a tournament too far for Spain? They look very leggy. It could be a big

test on them. Germany will be there. And an outside bet, I would say

Uruguay look for a dangerous but also Belgium are team who could

upset a lot. Thanks, Chris, great to talk to you. He was a player. I used

to enjoy playing with him. Alan, you have selected your starting 11 for

England. A bit premature. I was asked to. It is a good job it is not

tomorrow because Joe Hart is not playing and Leighton Baines is

injured. Sturridge is injured. I think with the back two, they have

performed very well in qualifying. With the form that Rooney is in and

if he can continue that right up until the summer, and there is no

reason why he cannot, he is a top player. Baines ahead of coal? He has

had injuries. He is not in the Chelsea side. Leighton has had a

knock. But he is making a right good fist of being a regular.

You have got a number of players in the squad and Berkeley is looking

rather than sing -- promising. Probably one of those players can

make a difference in a team like England but he's only young, he has

only turned 20. You expect him to be very good in the future for English

football. I suppose things will vary quite a lot. You need a bit of luck

going into a tournament. You need incredible luck. There are so many

things that have to go for you. It is all very well naming that squad

but there is another four or five months of football to be played. It

is almost certain that there will be injuries in the squad. One or two

players Roy may not be able to pick. You need form and fitness. You need

where to play. You need decisions to go for you. We felt we were hard

done by in 98 with the golden goal against Argentina when Sol Campbell

squad. That decision did not go for us. -- when Sol Campbell scored. We

are still paying the price for 66. There are one or two other countries

by adjusting the details of the draw. Here is Andy Swiss on the

reaction from around the world. As you can imagine, social media has

gone into overdrive over the last few hours. The most mentioned groups

in Twitter have been the most -- E and G. Some of the reaction to the

draw, we have heard from the USA goalkeeper and he says all games are

tough, chance is there to progress, now we know, let the headlines

start. The Dutch player Nigel De Jong says exciting group, looking

forward to our first game. Plenty more reaction to come in and

you can share your views on the World Cup. The best of your comments

will be used on the BBC sport website.

There we go, it is all social media these days. You get instant feedback

which is a bonus for people right around the world who are following

the draw. That will help England in the way that there is more knowledge

and understanding about the teams going into the World Cup. It is

important that we are realistic. There are many possibilities. There

is always the realism that this is a difficult tournament and it will be

difficult to progress. We can hear from Roy Hodgson now out in Brazil.

He is with Dan. Mr Hodgson, the draw is over, the

talk is over, Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica, your assessment, please.

Well, it is a tough group, no doubt about that. There is no doubt that

with Uruguay and Italy we have almost got two number one seeds in

our group. Italy were very unlucky not to be seeded in the first eight.

We know how good they are because we lost them on penalties in

quarterfinals in the Rose. The good thing is that we do know each other

which not such a bad thing. The other thing, I suppose, which has

worked in our favour is the game we have got in the north where the

conditions will be tough climatically is against another

European team so we will both be in the same boat. You had great

excitement pre-draw, do you think it is worst-case scenario, the group we

have now got? You are always hoping, to be frank, there were not many

scenarios where you would have been jumping to joy. There were a lot

more scenarios where you would be thinking this will be very tough for

us. To get one that is a bit tougher does not surprise me at all. There

is a lot of travelling to be done in most of the groups. Our great

advantage will be we only have the one long trip and the other trips to

Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte are relatively short trips and only same

neck of the woods. That is a good benefit. You were worried about

having to change the Rio base. We could have had three games up in the

north and it would have been difficult. There is no doubt the

climate in the North for European teams will be tougher. I suppose in

some ways we have to regard that as an advantage. It will be difficult

to put a positive spin on the quality of our opponents because

even Costa Rica who are the least known, they are a very strong team.

Juergen Klinsmann was just warning me how good they are because they

were in their group in the qualifiers. There are a lot of

England fans who wanted a strong grip. In the last World Cup it was

Algeria, Slovenia and the USA and people were happy with that but it

turned out to be a struggle. Yes, that is why I was positive about the

whole affair yesterday and I am still positive. You never know. You

do not win football matches on paper, you do not look at games and

think this one we will win, this one we will drop and this one we will

lose. You go out on each occasion, 11 against 11. The field that

mentions are the same and if you are well prepared you have a chance to

win. I am not disappointed in that respect. In some ways, having at

least two three games, in an area where maybe the climate will be

kinder to us, that is one of the things I was hoping for. Overall,

you look towards World Cup in Brazil and this is it. There are a few

friendlies to play and then it will be here next summer. Absolutely. It

is hosted by a team who they think can win it. We are here, we have got

an interesting group, no doubt about that. Three top quality opponents of

the games we will play in the group will be very exciting games. I am

certain they will attract big audiences all around the world. It

will be a chance to see the North of Brazil. I have never been to the

Amazon. It will be an interesting experience not only for me, but the

rest of the team. We have to play one team up there but it is against

another European team. What climactic difference up there will

be the same for both teams. One of the first shots we saw in the World

Cup draw, was you shaking hands with Nelson Mandela. I know he was

somebody who appreciated the power of sport and you enjoyed spending

time with him. I did not spend much time with him but I was honoured and

delighted to meet him. It was a great privilege to shake his hand

and have my photograph taken with him. I cannot claim to have had long

conversations with him but we are talking about one of the iconic

world leaders. Even if you take the last two sentries, he will be right

up there with the people who have really made a massive difference. I

think when you talk about Nelson Mandela, you do put football in

despair. We are talking about a person who did not just unified one

nation, he did a lot for other African nations. I was very sad to

hear of his passing but really pleased he had a wonderful life and

did so much with it. Thank you, Roy, see you next summer.

If you have just come in, here is confirmation of what awaits England

next year. Pretty daunting. The reason England ended up with

Italy is because Italy were pulled out of pot four into pop two in the

pre-draw. We have got a map for you now. One

of the big things that people were talking about before the draw was

the distances teams have to travel. If England are to continue with

their base in Rio de Janeiro, that is the Italian game, the first one

on June 14, and that is 3000 mile round trip. -- that is a 3500 mile

round trip. It is a big thing in the planning. Sometimes it can be a

benefit when the games are spread out. Sometimes you can stay too long

in the same place. It depends, the preparation between one game and

another. The heat and humidity will be the biggest problem. It is only

one of the games, the other two are not too bad. Unless you have been

there and travelled, people can underestimate the tiredness that

travel does for you. You are sitting on a plane to ours, you have to get

there, play the game, and it can affect you at times. It is a great

leveller so it might help England. We need all the help we can get!

Strict planning is required for something like this, isn't it? You

have got to get it right. There is a lot of thought that four years ago

England got their preparation wrong and the players did not look fit or

fresh. It has been fascinating. I have been able to see how the

different nations prepare. I think it is a cultural thing. As a

European nation you expect to go into the World Cup with certain

preparations in mind. I was about the South Americans are the best in

preparing a World Cup. People sharing bedrooms, something that is

a joy to spend time is around one of the biggest events in world

football. I have not seen European nations preparing it with that joy

and enjoying vacation, more than feeling it is a chore. You cannot do

anything about form and fitness, being in the best physical

condition. But what you can travel as -- but what you can plan is the

travel and hotels. Pitches at the training ground, from that side of

things, England and the FA will have that spot on. Downtime is a big

problem, how the players switch off away from football. Some nations did

well to excite the players and prepare them mentally. You can go

from a game to boredom and that is a massive part. OK, we can pop back to

Brazil and hear from two of the managers, the managers of Russia and

Portugal. We have been joined by Fabiola Capello and also Carlos

Queiroz who is in charge of Iran in the forthcoming World Cup. We have

got a document if you need to check some ring. Fabiola, you are in Group

H, what is your assessment first of all? It is a good group, a good

choice. The other important thing is the location. We played the centre

of Brazil. I'm happy.

Carl Yorks you are in Group F. With some of the big boys, Nigeria as

well. Do you have to look at the document -- Carlos.

No, it is OK. For us, it is to enjoy.

We are going to play against the best teams in the world. It is a

great opportunity for us to progress and to be a better team. Of course

we can be having the illusion to hope to qualify for the second

round. And Fabio, you remember Algeria,

Slovenia and the USA, and the group of England, they did not have a

great World Cup. What do you think of England in with your country,

Italy? I remember it could not be so bad. It is an important draw, but,

they are with an interesting group, England. They have Italy, Uruguay,

Costa Rica. Have a look at the documents! I am.

We have lost them mid-sentence but that was the Portuguese manager of

Iran, Carlos, not the Portugal manager, to make that absolutely

clear. They seemed fairly happy? Good draws. I think that the biggest

or the best draw has been for France. We forget that France got

through... Wriggled! They got through the play-offs, now they are

facing Ecuador, Honduras and that is a very good draw.

So, time to look at your nation, Spain, the holders, of course. There

it is. They have The Netherlands, Chile and Australia it is a really

tough group when you look at it, but Spain have won the last three major

tournaments, including of course the World Cup, four years ago.

It's been quite an era for Spain. Unique. To win three major

tournaments, it is not just the quality but the mentality. I think

that only Brazil and Germany can stop Spain from going all the way to

the final. I heard al-East Anglian saying that

one or two players were looking jaded at brz? Absolutely, but look

at the under 21s, they are producing the exact type of player. It is the

mentality. There are winners that get on well. They have a great team

I don't think that the older players will affect them.

You have to admire the mentality of the guys from Spain. The will to

win. The desire. To win the biggest tournament of all. The euros, the

World Cup, to keep on churning performances out. The questions that

are asked of them at every game, every tournament, do they have what

it takes? We should not be asking them, because of what they have

already achieved. OK, gentlemen, we are almost out of

time. Thank you very much indeed. Let's give you an update of the vote

of how you think England will get on this in particular World Cup. There

you have it: It has improved a little bit. I love the 6% of you

that think that England will win the World Cup! Why not.

Let's hope so. We have something else to look

forward to a week on Sunday, it's a special night. How can a programme

that's been around for so long remain so rel sent? The second

anybody does anything great, they will definitely win Sports

personality of the Year. Perhaps the memories... A special

night. Maybe the moment.

Could you get in this lift. It could be down to the lift.

It is the my iconic trophy in sport. And of course the people that choose

them. . I would like to thank all that

voted. Sports Personality of the Year.

Wednesday at 9.00pm on BBC One. You can vet for the BBC Sports

Personality of the Year either by phone or online. In order to vote

online you can register at any time. Find out at: Lots more reaction to

the draw on Football Focus. Dan Walker is presenting from Brazil at

12.00pm. The Final Score is on: Well we are months from a tournament

to change people's lives. As Nelson Mandela once said, sport has the

power to change the world, it has the power to inspire, it has the

power to unite people in a way that little else does, sport can awaken

hope, where there was previously despair. Goodbye.