Carlsberg don't do World Cup groups...

[Tooting Gull]

...but I'd fancy North Korea, Honduras and Slovakia.

Any predictions for who we'll end up with?

 

[MORTY]

Argentina, Brazil, Germany

 

[Napper]

Time we had a group of death I think

 

[Pavilionaire]

I can see us drawing Ireland.

Also, I hope someone's enterprising enough to start selling reasonably-priced pith helmets - surely the fan's headgear of choice on the 'veldt', a la Rorke's Drift?

I can almost hear Michael Caine calling out "Rooney! Don't shoot 'til your see the whites of his eyes!"

 

[Tooting Gull]

Indeed. Let's hope Birmingham's Zulu Warriors firm don't make a busman's holiday of the trip.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

We will get Honduras. I just KNOW IT

 

[sten_super]

...but I'd fancy North Korea, Honduras and Slovakia.

Any predictions for who we'll end up with?

Unfortunately the groups are seeded, so that's not likely to happen. However I seem to remember reading that we'd be amongst the 1st seeds, so we shouldn't get TOO hard a group. *famous last words*

 

[Durlston]

Time we had a group of death I think

We had a tough group in 2002 with Argentina,Sweden and Nigeria.

At the time i didn't think we'd make it through but that 1-0 win over the Argies ranks very highly in best ever pub experiences of watching England.

 

[Mellotron]

Unfortunately the groups are seeded, so that's not likely to happen. However I seem to remember reading that we'd be amongst the 1st seeds, so we shouldn't get TOO hard a group. *famous last words*

I heard on the Guardian football podcast that if Argies qualified (which they did) it may well push us down to 2nd seeds. Hope not though.

 

[Tooting Gull]

If we're not a first seed, we obviously want South Africa who will be.

 

[sten_super]

I heard on the Guardian football podcast that if Argies qualified (which they did) it may well push us down to 2nd seeds. Hope not though.

According to
2010 World Cup: Seeding formula based on current standings (12 October 2009) ~ Football rankings
which, to be fair, I just plucked at random from google, we are comfortably in the top group. It leaves France and Netherlands as the teams to avoid in the 2nd seeds. I like the possible draw that he has made!

Group G: England, Switzerland, Bahrain, Tunisia

 

[Mellotron]

I actually want us to have one reasonably (but not too) tough team in our group. Say, Ivory Coast or Russia. Someone to really test our players before the knockouts.

Coasting the group beating relative minnows could be dangerous.

 

[alan partridge]

We had a tough group in 2002 with Argentina,Sweden and Nigeria.

At the time i didn't think we'd make it through but that 1-0 win over the Argies ranks very highly in best ever pub experiences of watching England.

same here

I saw it in Madrid in some massive Irish pub, 2/3rds England fans 1/3rd Argentines. At the time they were tipped as one of the favourites and I wasn't sure I could face losing to them again surrounded by their fans....

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

I actually want us to have one reasonably (but not too) tough team in our group. Say, Ivory Coast or Russia. Someone to really test our players before the knockouts.

Coasting the group beating relative minnows could be dangerous.

This is a very good point actually! Otherwise there will be lots of hype etc etc if we do have an easy group*.

*cliche alert: there are no easy games at international level.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

If we're not a first seed, we obviously want South Africa who will be.

Its a joke the Hosts are seeded.

 

[saafend_seagull]

According to
2010 World Cup: Seeding formula based on current standings (12 October 2009) ~ Football rankings
which, to be fair, I just plucked at random from google, we are comfortably in the top group. It leaves France and Netherlands as the teams to avoid in the 2nd seeds. I like the possible draw that he has made!

Group G: England, Switzerland, Bahrain, Tunisia

Is that true? can't believe it if so, France have to be first seeds, getting to the previous world cup final, two confed cup wins in last 8 years..

 

[LlcoolJ]

France have to qualify first before worrying about getting seeded.

 

[saafend_seagull]

Not going to be hard against Ireland, slovenia, bosnia, who is the other team thats seeded in the weaker 4?

 

[The Ringleader]

Possible draw (using random.org):

Group A: South Africa, Denmark, Costa Rica, Paraguay
Group B: Brazil, Netherlands, Mexico, Ghana
Group C: Spain, Greece, Korea DPR, Côte d'Ivoire
Group D: Germany, Slovakia, Korea Republic, Chile
Group E: Argentina, Serbia, Japan, Algeria
Group F: Italy, Russia, USA, Cameroon
Group G: England, Switzerland, Bahrain, Tunisia
Group H: Portugal, France, Australia, Uruguay

 

[LlcoolJ]

Not going to be hard against Ireland, slovenia, bosnia, who is the other team thats seeded in the weaker 4?

Ukraine based on current ranking (but a new one is done tomorrow). I hadn't realised the playoffs were seeded. How annoying.

FIFA.com - Determining Europe's runners-up