adminWorld champions Spain will open their title defence at the 2014 World Cup play with a rematch vs Netherlands while host country Brazil will kick off vs Croatia, it was determined after the draw ceremony which opened with a tribute to Nelson Mandela.Brazil are in Group A along with Mexico, and Cameroon; Spain were drawn in Group B with Chile – who they also faced en route to lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010 – and Australia as well as the Dutch.
Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Japan and Greece are together in Group C. South American champions Uruguay, Euro-2012 finalists Italy, Costa Rica and England are in a highly competitive Group D. Switzerland, Honduras, Ecuador and France are in Group E. Argentina, Nigeria, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina are in Group F. Bosnia-Herzegovina – the only debutant nation at next year’s finals – will play their first ever World Cup match against Argentina.
Group G looks set to be this tournament’s “Group of Death” as it contains Germany, Ghana, United States and Portugal. Belgium, South Korea, Algeria and Russia complete the draw by forming Group H.
Mexico will play their first match against Cameroon while the United States will take on their 2010 second-round conquerors, Ghana, in their opener.-Soccernet.
World cup draw
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Cote d’Ivoire, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic
Online Reporter