WORLD CUP.. (CONTINUE, groupe H)

Spain are faced with a difficult task after the FIFA World Cup™ Final Draw in Leipzig grouped them with Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. The seeded nation have potential difficulties against all three opponents with Ukraine, appearing at the finals for the first time, among the most impressive European qualifiers. Tunisia are the reigning African champions while Saudi Arabia beat Korea Republic (semi-finalists at the 2002 FIFA World Cup) home and away to win their Asian qualifying group.
Matches

Date in your diary: Leipzig, 14 June, Spain v Ukraine
The first game in the group will give a better guide as to the impact Ukraine are likely to make on their debut. Spain, who so often underachieve, will be hoping to hit the ground running and show that it could be a case of 12th time lucky for them.

David v Goliath: Kaiserslautern, 23 June, Spain v Saudi Arabia
When the Saudi Arabians last faced one of Europe’s big battalions in 2002, Gemany thrashed them 8-0.

History repeats itself: Munich, 14 June, Tunisia v Saudi Arabia
There have been precious few previous meetings between the four nations. In 1985 Tunisia hosted the Saudis in a friendly and won 1-0, a scoreline that was reversed when the teams met in Riyadh three years later.

Analysis

Logic suggests that Spain and Ukraine will dominate but it is an intriguing group in which all four teams can be expected to compete strongly. Tunisia are returning to Germany where they gave a good account of themselves at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, running Argentina close in a 2-1 defeat before defeating Australia 2-0.

If he recovers from injury in time, Ukraine will keep a close eye on Spain striker Raul. When the teams met in qualifying for the 2004 UEFA European Championship, the Real Madrid man scored three goals over the sides’ two matches. Ukraine have improved since then, becoming the first side from Europe to qualify for Germany and winning a group that included Turkey, Greece and Denmark.

Coach Roger Lemerre became the first coach to win continental titles in both Europe and Africa when he led Tunisia to their CAF African Cup of Nations success in 2004. They defeated Morocco in the final and edged out the same opponents to win a place in the FIFA World Cup finals for the third successive time. Saudi Arabia can go one better than that and in their fourth finals will be hoping to at least match their record in 1994 when they advanced to the second round before losing to Sweden.

Did you know?
Of the four African teams who competed in Korea/Japan in 2002, only Tunisia have made it back to the FIFA World Cup finals four years later.

WORLD CUP.. (CONTINUE, groupe G)

Four years ago, everyone would have had Les Bleus down as favourites to take Group G. However, their traumatic experiences at Korea/Japan 2002 have left their mark and France's encounter with Togo - who, like Senegal in 2002, are making their first appearance at a FIFA World Cup™ finals - is far from a foregone conclusion. For their part, Switzerland proved to be more than a handful for France during the qualifiers, while Korea Republic's performance in Asia has earned them everyone's respect. Everything therefore points to this group being more open than it would first appear.

France
Togo
Korea Republic
Switzerland

Matches

A date for the diary: Stuttgart, 13 June, France v Switzerland
This derby between the 'Alpine neighbours' is one of the classic confrontations. The sides played out two hard-fought draws (0-0 and 1-1) in Group 4 of their qualifying campaign, although France got the upper hand with a 2-0 victory at UEFA EURO 2004.

David versus Goliath: Cologne, 23 June, Togo v France
On paper, this would appear to be an extremely one-sided contest between the world champions and a Togo side making their first appearance on world football's greatest stage. However, one need only think back to Senegal...

History repeats itself: Leipzig, 18 June, France v Korea Republic
The two sides met in a friendly on 26 May 2002, a few days before the finals in Korea/Japan kicked off, with France managing to snatch a hard-earned 3-2 victory.

Analysis
France, winners of the competition in 1998, and Korea Republic, semi-finalists on home soil in 2002, will start as slight favourites in this group. However, there is very little to choose between them and Switzerland, who were unbeaten in finishing second in their qualifying group. Still smarting from their ignominious first-round exit four years ago, France will be adopting a highly cautious approach this time round. Raymond Domenech's men topped Group 4 ahead of Switzerland, inspired largely by the return from retirement of the 'old guard', Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele.

Alexander Frei and Johann Vogel, both of whom play in Ligue 1 in France, know their French opponents inside and out. Frei, who finished as the leading marksman in France last season, will be out to prove his worth following a disappointing end to Switzerland's qualifying campaign where he was below his best, particularly against the Republic of Ireland.

Before coming up against the French again in what could prove to be one of the key clashes in the group, Korea Republic should get a good work-out against Togo in their first match. The Hawks will be looking to cause an upset in their first appearance at a FIFA World Cup finals and they are capable of doing so with players of the calibre of Emmanuel Adebayor, the top scorer in the qualifiers with 11, among their ranks.

Did you know?
Zinedine Zidane suffered a damaged thigh muscle in a friendly against Korea Republic three days before the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ kicked off, an injury which kept him out of France's first two matches of the competition.

WORLD CUP.. (CONTINUE, groupe F)

FIFA World Cup™ holders and five-times winners, Brazil will be favourites to advance as winners from Group F but predictions of an easy passage could well prove ill-founded. Croatia have their own past exploits to live up to and qualified impressively, while Australia will relish their return to Germany and football's greatest stage after a 32-year hiatus. As for Zico's Japan, they will be aiming to prove that it was not just home advantage that took them into the second round last time out.

Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

Matches

Date in your diary: Dortmund, 22 June, Japan v Brazil
Brazil long provided the model for Japanese football to follow – a 'special relationship' underlined by Zico's appointment as Japan coach in 2002. Now the Brazilian football legend must take on the country he represented with such style at three FIFA World Cups.

David v Goliath: Munich, 18 June, Brazil v Australia
The two teams may share a love of gold and green but the similarities end there. While Brazilians have football in their blood, the sport has struggled for prominence Down Under. However, the cheers from the Socceroos' contingent when they were drawn with Brazil underlines this will be an occasion to savour on the Australians' second appearance at the finals.

History repeats itself: Nantes, 20 June 1998, Japan v Croatia Golden Shoe winner Davor Suker's 77th-minute strike settled the sides' meeting at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. It was both countries' first finals appearance – and the victory sent eventual semi-finalists Croatia into the second round, while eliminating Japan.

Analysis

Brazil will be the team to beat in Germany. Ronaldinho alone has the potential to light up the whole tournament and there is no doubt that at their best, Carlos Alberto Parreira's men have the attacking qualities to outclass any opponent. Yet each of their first-round rivals have matched the Seleção at one time or another.

Croatia should be stronger than the ageing team who disappointed at Korea/Japan 2002 and coach Niko Kranjcar will take heart from their 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil last summer. Likewise Zico, whose Japan side gave the Brazilians a real scare in the FIFA Confederations Cup in June, drawing 2-2 but very nearly securing a first ever victory over the South Americans.

Japan will be out to build on their success on home soil in 2002, where they reached the round of sixteen, and their matches with both Croatia and Australia look sure to be closely contested. With that in mind, the winners of their opening fixture against the Socceroos will gain a real shot of confidence. It will be fascinating to see what Guus Hiddink can achieve with the Australians, always combative and now sure to benefit from the experience of the man who led the Netherlands to the 1998 semi-finals and Korea Republic to the last four in 2002.

WORLD CUP.. (CONTINUE, groupe E)

Ghana go into their first-ever FIFA World Cup™ finals in a group containing three of the top 12 teams in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Despite being one of the seeded teams, the draw has hardly been kind to Italy, who find their path to glory obstructed by the high-flying Czech Republic and a USA side intent on proving that their quarter-final finish in 2002 was no fluke. The tussle for the top two spots promises to be thoroughly absorbing.

Italy
Ghana
Czech Republic
United States

Matches
Date in your diary: Hamburg, 22 June, Czech Republic v Italy
In such an evenly balanced group, there should still be plenty to play for come this last match between two of Europe's giants. When Pavel Nedved and his fellow UEFA EURO 2004 semi-finalists take on a new-look Squadra Azzurra bursting with ambition, a mouth-watering encounter should be on the cards.

David v Goliath: Hanover, 12 June, Italy v Ghana
For their FIFA World Cup debut, the Ghanaians kick off against Italy, old stagers at football's supreme event, with no less than 16 FIFA World Cup tournaments under their belt.

History repeats itself: Italy v USA In Rome in 1934, the Italians inflicted a real drubbing upon the Americans, running out 7-1 winners in the first round of the second FIFA World Cup. The Italians went on to lift the trophy.

Analysis
Italy's group, along with those of Argentina and England, is one of the toughest, as everyone had been keen to avoid the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Despite their seeded status, the Azzurri have drawn the short straw and simply cannot afford to slip up in their opening game against Ghana. The Africans may be newcomers, but pushovers they are not, as Radomir Dujkovic's charges conceded just four goals in all 12 of their qualifying games. But in hungry young wolves Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino, Italy will feel they have sufficient firepower up front, not to mention a typically unyielding defence.

In what is actually their fifth consecutive final phase, the United States will certainly have experience on their side. Moreover, they have never been as strong, having finished ahead of Mexico in qualifying. With their harmonious blend of old hands and solid young talent, Bruce Arena's charges are not to be taken lightly.

Despite having had to come through the play-offs, Czech Republic have (finally) booked their place at the global football festival and for this very experienced and close-knit group of players, it most likely represents a last chance of major silverware: the likes of Pavel Nedved and Jan Koller may not be as young as they were, but they are still just as talented.

WORLD CUP.. (CONTINUE, groupe D)

Mexico have a reputation to live up to these days. Ricardo Lavolpe's side were among the eight seeded teams in the Final Draw, they qualified comfortably and they boast the world's top scorer in FIFA World Cup™ qualifying in Jared Borgetti.
El Tricolor are unlikely to have things their own way, however, not least against a Portugal team who boast their own goal machine in Pauleta, Europe's top marksman, and plenty of attacking flair. With the experience of several Bundesliga-based internationals, meanwhile, Iran could push for a first place in the knock-out rounds, while it will be fascinating to see how Angola fare on their debut finals appearance.


Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal

Matches

Date in your diary: Gelsenkirchen, 21 June, Portugal v Mexico
These teams will be most observers' favourites to fill the top two places in the group and this match could decide who comes out on top. It will also offer a chance to compare to respective merits of Pauleta and Borgetti.

David v Goliath: Cologne, 8 June, Angola v Portugal
A Hollywood scriptwriter could not have dreamt up a better scenario for Angola's first ever finals match. The African team will face Portugal, their former colonial rulers and a country where many of their footballers are based, among them the Benfica striker Mantorras.

History repeats itself: Angola v Portugal
Angola will be hoping history does not repeat itself. Their two previous meetings on Portuguese soil brought 5-1 and 6-0 defeats.

Analysis

With 12 previous appearances, Mexico are far and away this section's most experienced FIFA World Cup campaigners and will travel to Germany hoping to better their record in the last three tournaments which they exited in the second round. Their performance at the FIFA Confederations Cup last June augurs well, certainly: a Borgetti goal beat Brazil and only a penalty shoot-out defeat by Argentina denied them a place in the final.

A place in the last 16 is also the minimum target for Portugal, who have actually not been beyond the group stage of a FIFA World Cup since reaching the last four in 1966. One of the strongest European sides in qualifying and UEFA EURO 2004 runners-up two summers ago, the Portuguese are aiming to make up for previous disappointments on the world stage and in the Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari they have a coach well acquainted with winning FIFA World Cup matches.

The tournament is expected to mark Luis Figo's international football swansong but will also provide a platform for their latest wing wizard, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Portugal will be formidable first opponents for Angola on what will be an emotional occasion in Cologne. Given the countries' close association, the Angolans are unlikely to surprise Portugal but, by the same token, the familiarity could work in their favour as with Senegal and France in 2002. Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves has the trust of his players and their team spirit is strong.

Like Angola, Iran will start out as underdogs but on their third finals appearance, they should benefit from the presence in German club football of several of their key players, including Hamburg playmaker Mehdi Mahdavikia. They beat the United States at France 98 and will probably have to record another famous win if they are to go into their final match against Angola with hope of progressing.