Soccer: Draw brings World Cup to life

LEIPZIG, Germany - Next year's World Cup has finally taken shape for millions of fans around the globe who can begin contemplating their team's prospects after the draw for the opening round of the 32-team tournament.

Hosts Germany will get the ball rolling in the 64-game tournament when they play Costa Rica in Munich on Friday June 9 - exactly six months to the day after the draw at the Neue Messe exhibition centre in Leipzig.

World champions Brazil will not be in action until the fifth day of the competition on June 13 when they face Croatia at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, the venue for the final on July 9.

By the time that match is played the hopes and dreams for most will be over but almost every coach appeared optimistic about their chances on Friday.

As well as facing Costa Rica, who they have never previously met, Germany will also play Ecuador for the first time in their history and Poland, who have never beaten the Germans in 14 previous meetings.

German coach Juergen Klinsmann seemed relaxed. "It could have been worse. We're happy. We think this group is absolutely do-able. Every opponent will be difficult, every game will be a huge challenge," he said.

World champions Brazil, seeking their sixth world title, begin the defence of their trophy against Croatia in Berlin on June 13 with Japan, coached by former Brazilian great Zico, and Australia making up their quartet in Group F.

Cautious Brazil Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said afterwards: "We're going to have to concentrate and be alert if we want to avoid getting caught out.

"Football is not just about the team with the best technical qualities. It's about speed, strength, marking, tactics, determination."

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

The Netherlands, who reached the final the last time the World Cup was held on German soil in 1974, were the most dangerous non-seeded floater in the 32-team draw.

They are likely to advance with Argentina from their group but neither will under-estimate World Cup debutants Ivory Coast, or Serbia & Montenegro.

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

"It is not an easy group but it could have been worse," said Eriksson. "They are difficult games, of course, but I am happy."

The majority of players in Trinidad's squad play their football in England and Dwight Yorke, their most famous player, won the Champions League with Manchester United six years ago.

England soccer captain David Beckham believes his team have a genuine chance to win the World Cup.

"If we work hard and play to our potential we have a genuine chance of winning the World Cup," Beckham told the FA website after today's draw for the 2006 finals.

"Watching the World Cup draw today has already excited me as I think about the tournament ahead. We meet a familiar opponent in Sweden - one that both the players and manager know well.

"I am looking forward to playing my old (Manchester United) teammate Dwight Yorke with Trinidad & Tobago. He is someone who I share many great memories with.

"To use an old football cliche there are no easy games. We have to go out and prove we are one of the favourites."

Familiar foes and neighbours France and Switzerland, who met in Euro 2004 and then came through the same World Cup qualifying group unbeaten, were drawn together again in Group G, opening their campaigns against each other in Stuttgart on June 13.

France, who went out in the first round as defending champions four years ago, will then meet South Korea in Leipzig before playing African debutants Togo in Cologne on June 23.

The France-Togo match will be something of a family affair too as many players in Togo either play in France or have close links with the country and the tie brings back uncomfortable memories for the French.

They met Senegal, almost all of whose players were with French clubs, in the opening match as defending champions in 2002, lost 1-0 and went home at the end of the first round.

Ukraine begin their first World Cup finals against Spain in Leipzig on June 14 in a Group H game with Tunisia and Saudi Arabia completing their section.

Italy, the United States and the Czech Republic, who all met in the same opening round group in 1990, were brought together again with newcomers Ghana completing their Group E.

The close links between Portugal and its former colony Angola will add spice to their opening Group D meeting in Cologne on June 11 when Angola make their World Cup debut. Seeded Mexico and Iran complete the section.

- REUTERS