With less than 188 days left until the 2010 FIFA World Cup gets kicked off, all 32 teams and their devoted fans found out today who their teams are grouped with and when/where they play. Soem teasm such as Mexico and Netherlands have to like their chances of moving past the First Round while other teams like top seeds Brazil and Germany may have been dealt very difficlut groups.
Group A Group B Group C Group D
South Africa Argentina England Germany
Mexico Nigeria USA Australia
Uruguay South Korea Algeria Serbia
France Greece Slovenia Ghana
Group E Group F Group G Group H
Netherlands Italy Brazil Spain
Denmark Paraguay North Korea Switzerland
Japan New Zealand Ivory Coast Honduras
Cameroon Slovakia Portugal Chile
A few observations that should jump out and get attention:
Group A offers South Africa who is as host country is slated as a top seed. No host country has ever failed making it out of the first round. Uruguay will offer stiff competition as well as favorite Mexico and 2006 runner up France who neaded a handball against Ireland to make this World Cup.
Group B features Argentina who had a tough time qualifying behind their player turned coach Maradona as well as the 2004 Euro Cup Champions Greece, South Korea, and a speedy and possible dark horse in Nigeria.
Group C had everyone talking today as top qualifiers England were put in the group against the United States. That alone has intrigue going back as far as the 1950 World Cup when the US stunned all of the soccer world by beating England 1-0 which still has all of the England faithful upset to this day. Although paired with talented teams of Algeria and Slovenia, both the USA and England are relieved to not be in the “Group of Death” as the Us were in 2006.
Group D offers 4 very well supported countries in the likes of speedy Ghana, improving Australia, young Serbia, and 2008 Euro Cup runner up and one of the favorites - Germany. This may be one of the toughest groups to get out of.
Group E is rather interesting as they have the Netherlands who compete well every tournament but have a tough time in the final rounds with 3 teams who have been on a steady course of improving in soccer over the past 8 years in Cameroon, Denmark, and Japan.
Group F puts the reigning 2006 World Cup Champions Italy in a group with evenly matched Paraguay and Slovakia as well as New Zeland who makes their first World Cup in 28 years.
Group G is widely considered the toughest group as it features the consistent powerhouse Brazil along with Cristiando Renaldo’s Portugal. North Korea and Ivory Coastrounds out the group. The Ivory Coast is a very talented team who many believe will make it deep in this tournament and may be the kryptonite to Brazil based on their speed and defense.
The final Group H has FIFA ranked #1 and 2008 Euro Cup Champions Spain against the likes of an improving Switzerland and very well supported Honduras who is makingg their first trip to the World Cup in 28 years. Chile rounds out this group as this is their first World Cup since 1998.
Well the groups are set and now the only thing left to do is reserve your package through Great Atlantic Travel if you havent done so already. There is nothing like being at the worlds biggest sporting event where all politics and differences are put aside for a month in the name of the beautiful game. Great Atlantic Travel is the most expierenced and customer driven sports tour operators in the world and we are looking forward to providing packages to our 5th World Cup, the only operator to be credited as official by FIFA on 4 different occasions. Whether you are looking for Follow Team Packages, Team USA Specials, Semi-finals and Final Packages, Custom Packages,or Exclusive Emirates World Cup Packages we have your ticket to the biggest event in the world - the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
