| The draw for the 2006 football World Cup | | | | forget Germany too, for on their own |
| was held in Leipzig Germany on December | | | | soil they will be very hard to beat, |
| 9th 2005. This is the greatest sporting | | | | even if on paper they do not have a |
| event on earth after the Olympic games | | | | great side this time. Trophies are never |
| and has been eagerly looked forward to. | | | | won on paper, and they will be there or |
| The 32 teams were allocated into 8 | | | | thereabouts, they always are. |
| groups of four in a televised ceremony | | | | Groups C & E look the toughest to |
| that was watched live in over one | | | | qualify through. The African challenge |
| hundred and sixty countries. The top two | | | | is greater and possibly stronger than |
| teams in each group will progress to the | | | | ever before despite their two most |
| straight knockout stages. | | | | successful nations, Nigeria and |
| The first team drawn from the balls was | | | | Cameroon, failing to make it this time. |
| England, could that be an omen, could | | | | Can the Asian countries, particularly |
| they possibly end the tournament | | | | Japan and South Korea, maintain the huge |
| finishing first? Fifa had | | | | progress they made in 2002, although of |
| controversially seeded them second, due | | | | course that was on home soil, and it |
| in part to their recent thrilling injury | | | | will be interesting to see how Australia |
| time win over the old foe, Argentina. | | | | perform. They have qualified for the |
| Group A consists of Germany, Costa Rica, | | | | first time since 1974 and they did |
| Poland & Ecuador | | | | recently beat England, albeit in a |
| Group B consists of England, Paraguay, | | | | friendly game where England played two |
| Trinidad & Tobago, & Sweden | | | | different teams through the match. Most |
| Group C consists of Argentina, Ivory | | | | of the Australian players ply their |
| Coast, Serbia & Montenegro, & Holland | | | | trade in the English premiership, so |
| Group D consists of Mexico, Iran, | | | | they will know many of the other players |
| Angola, & Portugal | | | | well enough, and vice versa. |
| Group E consists of Italy, Ghana, the | | | | I must mention first time qualifiers |
| USA, & the Czech Republic | | | | Trinidad and Tobago, the smallest nation |
| Group F consists of Brazil, Croatia, | | | | to make it to Germany, and how delighted |
| Australia & Japan | | | | they must have been to draw England. |
| Group G consists of France, Switzerland, | | | | Their talisman and former European Cup |
| South Korea, & Togo | | | | winner Dwight York will lead his nation |
| Group H consists of Spain, Ukraine, | | | | with great pride. Most of the T & T |
| Tunisia, & Saudi Arabia | | | | players play their football in the |
| The matches kick off in Munich on June | | | | English lower leagues, but that will |
| 9th and will last a month, the final | | | | make them only a more dangerous |
| being played on July 9th in Berlin. | | | | opponent, and England will certainly not |
| While it is easy to look at the groups | | | | take them lightly. |
| and pick the likely two qualifiers, we | | | | It promises to be the greatest football |
| all know that is not how it will turn | | | | tournament yet seen, and certainly more |
| out. Memories are fresh of the failure | | | | overseas supporters will travel to |
| of the holders France to progress from | | | | Germany than ever before. Provisional |
| the group stage in 2002, dumped out | | | | figures suggest that England will take |
| after barely scoring a goal by the likes | | | | over 100,000 supporters alone, and when |
| of Senegal. | | | | you consider that at some grounds only |
| The odds makers were quick to cut | | | | 30,000 tickets will go on open sale, it |
| England's odds slightly to 6/1 to win | | | | promises to produce a mighty scramble |
| the tournament on the back of what looks | | | | for them. Holland, France and Italy will |
| like an easier group. There will be | | | | also take huge followings, as will the |
| hundreds of millions of pounds traded on | | | | Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden and |
| this event worldwide before the winners | | | | Poland. German hotelkeepers are in for a |
| are known. You can still obtain a free | | | | very busy summer. |
| £20 bet on by entering the promotional | | | | England hope to do well, though deep |
| code 6CHE3VPWJ when prompted. | | | | down everyone suspects yet another |
| The favourites remain multi winners and | | | | Brazilian victory led by their |
| current holders Brazil, but the usual | | | | flamboyant star Ronaldhino, but an |
| suspects Italy, Holland, Spain, France, | | | | England versus Brazil final would be an |
| England, Argentina, & Portugal all have | | | | attraction worth seeing. That's the hope |
| their enthusiastic followers. Don't | | | | in England for sure. |