Ivorians in ‘Group of Death’

IVORY Coast have to beat either Brazil or Portugal to qualify past the group stages. The Ivorians were unluckily paired with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea in Group G during Friday’s World Cup draw held in Cape Town. South Africa will meet 1998 World Champions France in Group A but with Mexico and Uruguay making up the quartet, it could have been much worse as they attempt to progress to the knockout stage. The first game of the tournament will see the hosts face Mexico in Johannesburg on Friday June 11. Diego Maradona will be breathing a sigh of relief after Argentina avoided any of the tournament’s big guns in Group B. Nigeria, South Korea and 2004 European Champions Greece make up the foursome. England will be content with their draw in Group C after the USA, Algeria and Slovenia and were pulled out of the hat alongside them. Fabio Capello’s men will face the USA in the group’s first game on Saturday June 12. Germany face a stiff test of their credentials in Group D after Australia, Ghana and Serbia were drawn with them. They will face Australia in their first game. The Netherlands will be reasonably pleased with their evening’s work after they were drawn with Japan, Cameroon, and Denmark in Group E. Reigning World Champions Italy sidestepped any ominous ties after they were matched in Group F with New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia in Group F. The final Group H saw European Champions Spain handed what should be a straightforward path into the last 16 with games against Honduras, Chile and Switzerland. Group ASouth AfricaMexicoFranceUruguay Group BArgentinaNigeriaSouth KoreaGreece Group CEnglandUSAAlgeriaSlovenia Group DGermanyAustraliaSerbiaGhana Group ENetherlandsDenmarkJapanCameroon Group FItalyParaguayNew ZealandSlovakia Group GBrazilPortugalIvory CoastNorth Korea Group HSpainSwitzerlandHondurasChile AGENCIES

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Ivorians in ‘Group of Death’