Search A Light In The Darkness

Monday 26 November 2007

2010 World Cup qualifying draw

England have been drawn against their Euro 2008 nemeses Croatia for the 2010 World Cup South Africa qualifiers.

It gives England a chance to avenge last week's defeat by Croatia which eliminated them from next summer's Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra are the other Group Six teams.

Scotland have been paired in a group with Holland, Wales will face Russia and Germany, while Northern Ireland face Czech Republic and Poland.

Republic of Ireland were drawn in Group Eight along with world champions Italy and Bulgaria.

France, runners-up from the 2006 finals, have been placed in a group with Romania and Serbia.

The winners of each European group will qualify for the finals automatically and the best eight runners-up play off for four more qualifying berths.

England's failure to gain the point they needed in their final Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia at Wembley cost Steve McClaren his job as manager. It was almost inevitable that Sunday's World Cup draw would throw the two nations together again, giving McClaren's successor an immediate opportunity for revenge. However, England also face tough matches against Ukraine and Belarus - and there were gasps in the audience at Durban's International Convention Centre as the group was completed. (BBC Sport)