The draw for the 2010 World Cup finals has taken place at a star-studded ceremony at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Holders Italy were given a relatively easy draw and will face Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia, as they seek to retain the crown they won four years ago in Germany.
Favourites Brazil find themselves in a tough group featuring Portugal, Ivory Coast and outsiders North Korea, while European champions Spain should have little difficulty qualifying from a group containing Chile, Honduras and Switzerland.
Arguably the toughest section is Group D which pitches three-time winenrs Germany against Australia, Ghana and Serbia.
The opening match of the 2010 World Cup will see Mexico take on hosts South Africa in Johannesburg.
Draw
Group A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France
Group B
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece
Group C
England
United States
Algeria
Slovenia
Group D
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana
Group E
Netherlands
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon
Group F
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia
Group G
Brazil
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Portugal
Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
Chile
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