England top seeds for draw

France and Portugal miss out on top billing for Friday's draw

Last updated: 2nd December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

England top seeds for draw
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England have been confirmed among the top eight seeds for Friday's draw for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Reports had suggested that Fabio Capello's side were in danger of missing out on being a top seed, but those fears have proved to be unfounded.

However, 1998 winners and 2006 finalists France, who secured their place at the tournament with a controversial play-off win over Republic of Ireland, are not one of the top seeds.

Fifa's World Cup organising committee used the world rankings from October to determine who would be in Pot 1, with England having been seventh in the standings at that time.

Joining England as top seeds for Friday's draw are hosts South Africa, current holders Italy and five-time winners Brazil.

European champions Spain, Holland, Germany and Argentina will also come out of Pot 1 for the first-round stage.

Also joining France in missing out on top billing are fellow play-off winners Portugal, with the European duo in Pot 4 alongside Denmark, Greece, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Switzerland.

Decision

Pot 2 comprises teams from the Asian, Oceania and Concacaf federations, with Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Honduras, Mexico, USA and New Zealand those teams involved.

The remaining African nations - Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria - and Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay from South America will come out of Pot 3.

The decision to use world rankings alone breaks with Fifa's previous formulas when they used a combination of rankings with performances in previous final tournaments.

Had they used the old formula France would have been one of the top seeds and Holland would have missed out.

Rankings alone have not been used in the past, but Fifa relaunched the system with much fanfare a couple of years ago, boasting the new-look rankings were much more indicative of a country's current position in world football.

Geographical criteria will also be used for the draw, meaning that, with the exception of European teams, no two countries from the same federation can be drawn together.

So, hosts South Africa will not face one of the African teams from Pot 3, while Argentina or Brazil will not meet a fellow South American side.

Seedings:

Pot 1 - South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain.

Pot 2 - Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Honduras, Mexico, USA, New Zealand

Pot 3 - Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay

Pot 4 - Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, SwitzerlandBet nowBet now

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Comments (67)

Andrew Baldwin (Ipswich Town fan) says...

have a feeling we will draw, mexico, algeria and denmark for some reason. in group d. bring on the draw. england vs spain in the final.

Posted 16:02 4th December 2009

Jon Rose (Plymouth Argyle fan) says...

I think we have a realistic chance, but then again, we did in 2006 and in France 98. A great deal of luck will come into play. Referee's decisions, sendings off, penalties. I think we'll take some beating in a one-off game. Only Brazil, Italy or Spain could beat us over 90mins, but the dreaded penalty shoot out could come back to haunt us as it has so many times before.

Posted 12:49 4th December 2009

David Matthews (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...

I think we (England) have our best chance since 1970 when we had an awesome team and got unluckily knocked out due to a number of injuries and Gerd Muller. The big difference this time is the manager and the climate. We can play our Premiership power game. I think Englands squad is full of top players and I hope Joe Cole gets back in playing in the hole - he gives us some trickery. There is no need to fear anyone so we shouldnt be worried about the Group. Think of it the other way; not too many teams will want to be drawn against England other than Scotland - oh no they didnt make it.

Posted 09:37 4th December 2009

Chris Priest (Hartlepool United fan) says...

What difference does it make if you "get behind" the England team or not? The players wont know, or give a damn if you do or don't when sat at home in blighty.Everyones entitled to their opinion and mine is, once again, a quarter final failure. So stop dreaming England is the best team in the world, you are confusing "Best" with "Wealthiest" Wake up and smell the coffee, Jesus.

Posted 13:26 3rd December 2009

Wlbjork Blackmane (Nottingham Forest fan) says...

Why are we negative? We aren't - we're realistic. We don't have a world class goalie for starters. Rooney's a good striker, but who have we got to back him up? I'm not saying we can't do it - anything is possible with some luck - but it will take a lot of luck for this team to win the Cup.

Posted 08:29 3rd December 2009

Mark White (Liverpool fan) says...

Maybe we will, maybe we wont, Win the World Cup! but one thing should happen and that is that we should all get behind our team and cheer them on, cos when they are good, they are really good, lets just hope they are not too bad, yes we can win but it will be tough, past winners have not won beating just easy teams, we are mentally stronger and have a good mix of old and new players, I have every faith in Capello and our Players, it will be a great competition, and I really think we will be at the semi or final stages of the World Cup, now we have something to win, something to fight for, we know we always do things the hard way, it might just make the difference this time, when our backs are to the wall, we will come out fighting, Come on the Lions, bring that World Cup home and give our country a lift we really need at this time. gerrard, cole, defoe, beckham & rooney will all be crucial to our success !!!!

Posted 05:02 3rd December 2009

David Knight (liverpool fc fan) says...

Only team we should fear is spain, no other team should come close to beating us. Just look at the brazil game for example, no Terry, Ferdinand,Gerrard or Lampard, plus joe cole to come back. We WILL go all the way!

Posted 01:13 3rd December 2009

Stu Bond (Liverpool fan) says...

Personally think Slovenia are being underrated in these comments, England would have an easier time against switzerland surely

Posted 20:53 2nd December 2009

Shaun Mcguire (Manchester United fan) says...

well if we are believe many of the comments that have been posted in here regarding englands chances of winning the world cup in south africa next year, for many it seems their view is its a waste of time the team going as they feel that england dont have hope of winning. I have to say england are showing promise and deserve to go, they won their group and booked their place.........I would like to see the country get behind our team...every team there will need a little luck as well as skill and patience to get to the final, all I say is "good luck england" heres to south africa 2010.

Posted 20:44 2nd December 2009

Jack Skelton says...

I think it's about time this country started showing a little patriotism. Do you honestly think other countries, even the smaller ones, will be already saying their country are going to fail already!? Ignore the papers and ignore the possibiity of failure and just get behind your country!

Posted 20:15 2nd December 2009

Lee Wilshaw (Port Vale fan) says...

England will get out of the group whoever we play, france arnt what they used to be, portugal are pretty much a one man band, even Brazil arnt the force they once were. This very well could be Englands year, those who doubt us then carry on doubting, you just spend your summer picking a team to support cos Scotland have yet again failed to qualify.

Posted 19:15 2nd December 2009

Simon Quill (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Why do certain English people always have negative attitudes about our football team. On the day we have the beating of anyone, and I will be fully behind the boys and believe we can win it. Look at so many of our previous tournament knockouts. They have been down to the luck of the penalty shootout. I think an older Lampard, Gerrard and co will have the confidence to win if we come to penalties.

Posted 18:58 2nd December 2009

Richard Nyemasem says...

I think the English team deserves to be seeded at the worldcup draw after showing a world class performance through the qualifiers.I hope the players will not be complicent and take every match serious.

Posted 18:29 2nd December 2009

Roddie Patrizio (Chelsea fan) says...

Come on you lot-get real! If you really think that England could win the World Cup then why all the bleating about being drawn in the first pot? France and Portugal in the fourth pot have as much of a chance, not to mention the Ivory Coast, so just wait for the draw and pray that you get no-hope teams so that when you get knocked out you'll have nobody to blame but your over-rated players who play in a league dominated by international players. If Torres, Drogba, Fabregas and Arshavin were English then maybe your confidence would be warranted, but, they're all playing for other teams!(not to mention the fact that despite everything Italy won the last one!)

Posted 18:26 2nd December 2009

Matthew Dixon (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

We have earned the right to be in the top eight. We won all of our first eight games and battered Croatia to qualify with two games left. The Croatia game typified how England have improved from two years ago. We've got the right mix of youth and experience in the squad and we now have a manager who knows his tactics and has the respect of the players. Get behind the lads this summer. Come on England!

Posted 18:26 2nd December 2009

Steve Presley (Lazio fan) says...

Listen sports fans, "When the sun shines the ice is slippery".. enough said.

Posted 17:23 2nd December 2009

David Taylor (Newcastle United fan) says...

Its great to bethere come on England. And get behind the team

Posted 16:09 2nd December 2009

Lewis Beaton (Liverpool fan) says...

Honduras v Algeria final anyone?

Posted 15:55 2nd December 2009

Dale Parker (Liverpool fan) says...

With all due respects to the england squad, i don't think they'll even get to the QF this time round, sure they did well in qualifying but i believe they'll get a lousy group stage and will struggle, hopefully they;ll get france,ivory and north korea and will get destroyed, i;m an england fan but they're not as near as good enough as the other teams,no matter who thinks otherwise. And this draw will hopefully prove it.

Posted 15:29 2nd December 2009

Ste F (Everton fan) says...

We need at least 2 good teams to get them out of the world cup so we dont have to fear them. Come On ENGLAND!!!!!

Posted 14:51 2nd December 2009

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