A total of national soccer teams discovered the hurdles they must overcome to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ today when the FIFA Preliminary Draw took place in Durban. It proved to be a thrilling ceremony, decorated by the presence of iconic figures from within the sport and performances that attested to the magical tournament that South Africa promises to deliver.
FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke conducted proceedings as former players, association presidents, celebrities from across the globe and the press looked on in earnest to see which teams Draw Assistants George Weah, Ali Daei, Marcel Desailly, Kasey Keller, Kaizer Motaung, Abedi Pele, Doreen Nabwire, Jomo Sono, Lucas Radebe and Christian Karembeu guided into respective qualifying pools.
Excitement permeated the International Convention Centre and while all present enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere, some know their nation must negotiate testing groups in order to progress to the 19th edition of the FIFA World Cup. Among them are Croatia, England and Ukraine, who must compete against one another in the European Zone's Group 6, and Group 1 rivals Portugal, Sweden and Denmark. Interestingly, the Swedes and the Danes have locked horns 99 times in senior internationals but never in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Bulgaria and Republic of Ireland will be expected to provide reigning world champions Italy with a challenge, while Germany 2006 runners-up France will take on the likes of Romania and Serbia in their section.
There were gasps from the audience when the AFC Zone pitted Australia, who narrowly missed out on a quarter-final place at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, against reigning Asian champions Iraq and China PR, who participated in the 2002 finals. Qatar, who have played Iraq five times in FIFA World Cup qualifiers (with two wins apiece and one draw), completed the pool, from which two teams will advance to the concluding stage of Asian qualifying.
The event's most prominent exclamations were saved for when the host continent's groups were drawn. South Africa, whose place at the tournament is already assured, will nonetheless compete in the preliminaries, which will also serve as qualifiers to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2010. There they will meet no less a power than Nigeria, while Senegal and Algeria will also engage in an intriguing Group 6.
Of the heavyweights in the CONCACAF region, Canada were handed the stiffest Stage 2 challenge in the form of St Vincent and the Grenadines, whom they have never played but who impressed during qualifying for the 2002 finals. Perhaps the most intriguing development was how the Stage 4 groups will appear if the favourites avoid upsets. Indeed, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica and Honduras could do battle for two places in the deciding phase, while USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Guatemala may have to do the same.
Perfect prelude
The meetings between the aforementioned sides are just some of the many fascinating duels thrown up by the Preliminary Draw. In the Asian Zone, Korea Republic and Korea DPR will clash, with the latter looking to reverse two unanswered losses to their neighbours in FIFA World Cup preliminaries. Kuwait will also be out to upset a trend: in six qualifiers for the competition against Iran they have failed to win.
Over in Europe, Czech Republic and Slovakia, the two sides that formerly made up two-time FIFA World Cup finalists Czechoslovakia, will face off, and memories are bound to resurface when Scotland take on Netherlands, whom they beat 3-2 in a memorable match at Argentina 1978.
The Preliminary Draw proved a beautiful prelude to the festival of football ahead. In their inimitable style, South Africa vindicated its election as the FIFA World Cup host nation for 2010. - Source: FIFA News Release
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