CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Five-time winner Brazil was stung by a tough draw for the 2010 World Cup on Friday while co-favorite Spain was given an easy ride through to the second round.
Brazil has to face two of the teams from the top 16 in FIFA’s rankings- Portugal and Ivory Coast. Also in the group is North Korea, an unknown quantity.
“Having a difficult group like this is good because we’ll be focused,” Brazil coach Dunga said. “They won’t be easy games. The group is undoubtedly balanced, but we’re confident in our play.
“We’ll have to maintain the good play we’ve had of late - and work even harder. Every time Brazil takes the field, we’re expected to win. The pressure will be tough.”
European champion Spain, which has never won the World Cup, should easily make it through to the knockout phase, facing lower ranked Switzerland, Honduras and Chile and avoiding the tough opponents in the 32-team draw.
Coach Vicente Del Bosque is taking nothing for granted.
“Let’s not underestimate the three opponents we’re facing,” he said. “Every one has their difficulty. We already knew that we were going to be mentioned as the group favorites, but that’s something you have to prove on the pitch.”
Del Bosque wasn’t interesting in talking about a possible second-round meeting with Brazil or Portugal.
“That’s way ahead,” he said. “First we have to get through the first round.”
After qualifying via the playoffs thanks in part to Thierry Henry’s handball against Ireland, France faces host South Africa with Mexico and Uruguay in Group A and has an easy task to get to the second round.
“I’m not relieved. We have been drawn in the host country’s group and it’s never easy,” said France coach Raymond Domenech, who has come under fire for the team’s poor form for two years. “We know how important it is to host in World Cup matches. It will be an away game (against South Africa).”
South Africa will face Mexico in the opening game on June 11 at Soccer City, one of six new or rebuilt stadiums at the tournament. Soccer City will also host the final on July 11.
England was drawn to face the United States, Algeria and Slovenia, which won a playoff to reach the competition, in Group C. England midfielder David Beckham, who took part in Friday’s draw, is set to face many of the Americans he regularly plays alongside and against in Major League Soccer in Rustenburg on June 12. (AP)