World Cup hosts South Africa face France

France, the 1998 champions and 2006 runners-up, were drawn in the same group as hosts South Africa in the draw for the 2010 World Cup finals on Friday.

The French controversially booked their place in the World Cup with an extra-time play-off goal against the Republic of Ireland that was created after a Thierry Henry handball.

South Africa will meet Mexico in the opening match at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg on 11 June in the 32-nation tournament which finishes with the final on 11 July in the same stadium.

Former World Cup winners Uruguay are the fourth member of Group A.

Brazil and Portugal were set on a World Cup collision course when the final draw was made, while Lady Luck smiled on England.

The Brazilians and Portuguese will clash in Group G and will be joined by top African side Ivory Coast, and unknown quantities North Korea, in what will inevitably be dubbed the 'group of death'.

England coach Fabio Capello had reason to be happy as his men drew the United States, Algeria and Slovenia.

Fittingly, it was David Beckham, who plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy, who pulled out the ball which paired up the Americans with England in the World Cup for the first time since 1950, when the United States pulled off a shock 1-0 win.

Group B has Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria and Greece, with Germany, Australia, Ghana and Serbia making up Group D.

The Netherlands have Japan, Cameroon and Denmark in Group E.

Italy are pitted against New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia in Group F while in the final Group H, European champions Spain go up against Honduras, Chile and Switzerland.

The draw, which saw the 32 qualified teams split into eight groups of four for the first round stage of the tournament, laid down the battle lines for what will be the first World Cup to be played on African soil.

Group A - South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

Group B - Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria, Greece

Group C - England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D - Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia

Group E - Netherlands, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark

Group F - Italy (holders), New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia

Group G - Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Group H - Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland

World Cup 2010 Betting
Latest outright World Cup betting. Sign up and get a FREE €10 Bet with Paddy Power.