So, some incredible matches lie in wait after a dramatic Final Draw here in Cape Town. It’s clear that Egyptian Fans will Cheer for England or USA in group C
Here is the Groups Draw:
The 32 teams participating at next year’s FIFA World Cup™ finals discovered their fate this evening when the Final Draw for South Africa 2010 took place in Cape Town.
An estimated global television audience of 200 million joined the 2,000 invited guests in the Draw Hall in watching the colourful and entertaining ceremony unfold. With African sporting stars such as athlete Haile Gebreselassie, rugby player John Smit, cricketer Makhaya Ntini, and footballers Matthew Booth and Simphiwe Dludlu assisting with the draw, along with England icon David Beckham, it was always going to be an exhilarating evening, but the undoubted centrepiece came when the eight groups were revealed.
While South Africans smiled upon learning that the host nation’s Opening Match on 11 June would be played against Mexico at Soccer City, it was the outcome of Group D which caused the biggest stir. Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana will battle it out for the two qualifying places for the Round of 16, meaning that two nations with a proud footballing heritage will have to depart the tournament early.
The early stages of the draw brought a very interesting match-up as England were paired together with USA in a match which will take place in Rustenburg on Saturday 12 June, which brought back memories of the clash at Brazil 1950, which USA won 1-0. However, Fabio Capello and Bob Bradley avoided a nightmare group, with Algeria and Slovenia also coming out of the hat.
Group G looks a tricky section with Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal all drawn together too.
Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana,
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
Although the dates and locations of each of the 48 matches are known for the group-stage games, the kick-off times will be announced shortly, upon conclusion of a meeting between FIFA, the Local Organising Committee and broadcasters.
A night to remember
With such an array of stars, the event dazzled from start to finish. After a welcome from Lions Head, the mountain which provides Cape Town with such a dramatic backdrop, award-winning musician Johnny Clegg then performed ‘Scatterlings of Africa’, a song made famous by the Academy Award-winning film Rain Main.
Fittingly, the first speech of the evening came from the man without whom a FIFA World Cup in South Africa would never have been possible, namely the country’s former president Nelson Mandela. The 91-year-old, speaking in a special video message, urged his country to make the most of the opportunity of being the host country. “We must strive for excellence in our hosting of the World Cup, while at the same time ensuring that the event leaves a lasting benefit to all our people,” he said.
It was then time for two special presidents to take to the stage. FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and South African President Jacob Zuma showed their excitement at the Final Draw and the 2010 FIFA World Cup itself in an entertaining dialogue which lasted for several minutes. Giancarlo Abete, the President of the Italian Football Federation, then handed over the FIFA World Cup Trophy to Mr Blatter, confirmation that the sport’s holy grail is in South Africa and ready to be contested next year.
Portuguese legend Eusebio, born in neighbouring Mozambique, was introduced to the crowd before examples of the ‘Win In Africa With Africa’ campaign were highlighted to the expectant audience. Beninese singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo then took to the stage to perform her Grammy-nominated song ‘Agolo’.
The first duty of the show’s guest presenter, Academy Award-winning actress, Hollywood producer and proud South African Charlize Theron, was to show off the official 2010 Match Ball, adidas’s Jabulani, a name which means ‘to celebrate’ in Zulu. Soweto’s Gospel Choir, continued the theme of happiness with a lively rendition of Pata Pata before the arrival of Draw Master and FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, signalled that it was time for the moment of truth.
Some of the assembled coaches will have headed away feeling confident, others concerned by the task presented them here, yet at least all now know what lies in store as they begin their planning and preparation for next year’s event.
