Soccer: Australia drawn with Brazil for World Cup

LEIPZIG, Germany - Australia's Socceroos face a tough road to the final after being drawn in the same group as champions Brazil when the draw was made in Germany today. Hosts Germany were drawn to play Costa Rica in the opening match of the World Cup soccer finals in Munich on June 9.

Germany will also face Poland and Ecuador in their first round matches in Group A. 

Brazil will begin the defence of their trophy against Croatia in Berlin on June 12 with Japan, coached by former Brazilian great Zico and Australia making up their quartet in Group F.

The toughest section of the draw has Argentina, Netherlands, Serbia & Montenegro and Ivory Coast matched in Group C.

England's coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will face his own countrymen from Sweden in Group B for the second successive World Cup with Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago making up the group.

France and Switzerland, who met each other in the qualifying competition were grouped together again in Group G, opening their campaigns against each other in Stuttgart on June 13.


Australia's first match will be against Japan at Kaiserslautern on June 13.

- REUTERS