Australia have been drawn alongside defending champions Spain, as well as the Netherlands and Chile in Group B for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
While we may not officially know what the makeup of the three teams will be by the time the tournament actually begins next year, one thing is for certain: this is an incredibly tough draw for the Socceroos in terms of their chances to qualify for the knockout rounds, but one that will benefit them in the long run.
After all, what better chance to play against and learn from the best in the world!
Host nation Brazil were drawn into Group A, along with Australia’s 2006 World Cup opponents in Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon.
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group B (Socceroos): Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, United States
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic
On the surface, both Groups D and G are also shaping as very tough groups.
Costa Rica were very strong throughout the qualifying process and will be boosted by the advantage they have being in South America — as will Luis Suarez and Uruguay.
That will mean both England and Italy (who would have fancied their chances to qualify heading into the start of the draw) will need very sound performances in the group stage if they are to progress at all.
The same goes in Group G. Ghana are a deceptively strong team, capable of hurting their opponents on the counterattack, and they could cause an upset or two throughout their group stage matches.
Both Germany and Portugal are world-class teams who are particularly good on the counterattack as well, so it will be interesting to see if they have any trouble against the Black Stars.
As far as the easiest groups so, Group E and H are probably the pick of the two, though neither are exactly easy for any team in the group.
France will be the favourites to qualify from Group E, but don’t sleep on Switzerland at all. The Swiss absolutely blitzed the qualifying process and have been incredibly tight at the back; if they can simply work on their finishing at the top of their attack then they have the potential to be a very strong team indeed.
The ‘Golden Generation’ of Belgium (which is filled with Premier League stars such as Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Jan Vertonghen to name a few) will fancy their draw against the likes of Algeria, Russia and Kore Republic.
Look for the Asian powerhouse in Korea to be a real handful in that group and potentially wrap up a spot in the knockout stages of the competition next year.
What do you think of the groups Roarers? Have the Socceroos gotten a shocking draw, or is there a tougher group at there?
Who are your picks to go through to the knockout rounds of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and who do you think will bomb out?
Brad the cyclist
Guest
Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Spain will be the last 4.
toni
Guest
Group D have the highest pedigree here. Italy, Uruguay and England – between the three of them – have 44 appearances at the World Cup and have won 7 World Cups.but i believe we have to watch out for Belgium. they are the dark horse here
toni
Guest
You must be spanish.lol
AZ_RBB
Guest
bored tonight so went through the knock out stages Second Round Brazil vs Netherlands Columbia vs Uruguay Spain vs Mexico Italy vs Japan France vs Bosnia Germany vs Korea Argentina vs Ecuador Belgium vs Portugal Quarters France vs Germany Brazil vs Uruguay Argentina vs Portugal Spain vs Italy Semis Brazil vs Germany Argentina v Spain Won't even try to predict those games
vocans
Guest
Yes, the defence needs to hold well enough so the others can play some football. Reasonable shots on goal whether they go in or not. If that happens I can take 0-3 results and feel proud.
TJ
Guest
I agree, we come into this world cup as the lowest ranked nation so not a lot is expected from us, which might just work in our favor. Some of the better teams are sometimes a bit slow out of the blocks in world cups so our first match might see us spring an upset or perhaps a draw.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
It sure is a tough draw but I don't think Uruguay or Italy are much ahead. Italy are notoriously slow starters in WC so it might be your chance to knock them out. Then Colombia is no easy task but I don't think there will be that many easy beats in the last 16 anyway.
Eddy Bramley
Roar Pro
As an England fan I am gutted. Even if we manage to get through the group we'll probably get Colombia in the round of 16 and then if we somehow manage to get through that too were likely to face Brazil, Netherlands or Spain. Not looking good at all!
dasilva
Guest
I find Foster's "fantastic learning experience" to be face-palming moment. I mean we had a "fantastic learning experience" against Brazil and a "fantastic learning experience" against France. Do we really need another "fantastic learning experience" in the biggest stage of them all. I think he underestimate the damage it will do our game if we get flogged every game of the group which is a distinct possibility. From my point of view, if we avoid a 3+ goal margin defeat in the three games it will be a success.
SlickAs
Guest
People are pessimistic. I'm with Ange on it. If you are an ambitious young boxer you want that bout with the heavy-weight champ. The title fight, but they won't give you the respect to even consider allowing you to compete. You want that title fight, and you want to prove you have been under-estimated. For a coach like Ange with a load to prove, it is a dream. For players like Rogic and Kruse who are being held back by people who don't believe in them at their clubs ... awesome. We could have got an easy group, and might get out of it and get one additional game, but what's the point when we can play the world champs and skip the game against Algeria or whatever? The eyes of the world will be following that group every game. Unlike 2010 where we "only beat Serbia" and none of our players really got picked up by big teams, here we get to play Spain, Holland and Chile. When did Australians ever whimp out? "Move over, give us a shot!" Time to step up.
Stevo
Guest
The only good things to come from the WC will be: a) Publicity for the game during NRL/AFL mid season. Can't wait to see the papers full of WC stuff. b) A farewell for our Socceroos of 2006/2010. An end to talk about Lucas, Timmy, Carney, Bresc, Luke. b) Tremendous "learning experience" for our fringe Socceroos who will be the bed rock of our next WC campign. b) Rehearsal for the Asian Cup - which quite frankly will be our main focus and a tourny that we would want to win. Enjoy the ride.
SlickAs
Guest
I disagree with this. Ange will be instituting a new style, and we need to give them some meaningful but not ridiculous games to allow them to gel together. Last thing we need is another Brazil or France style spanking when they are trying to work the kinks out of their game and build confidence and self belief. They need to be working up to Chile as the first game with progressively harder games to get there. That means before the Chile game, a friendly against Paraguay in Paraguay might be good. Then see the Chile game as a warm up for Holland, and the Holland game as a warm up for Spain. There is no point playing Italy or Germany or Belgium at all. Chile and Spain play in the "Latin" style with the ball on the deck, and might be able to be physically muscled off the ball ... we need practice at that with well thought out friendlies. Costa Rica was a good choice now we know our opposition, hey?
Mike
Roar Guru
I'm pumped about this draw! None of us were expecting a miracle anyway, so I'm just happy with the experience that the Socceroos will be getting. Should be a good warm up for the Asian Cup.
j binnie
Guest
Adrian. Like you , I am more than just a little perplexed by this constant reference to us being on a "learning curve". It poses the question "How long is a piece of string?" & is about as stupid in it's content Forty years ago Rale Rasic took his team of part-timers to the last 16 in the world cup where history tells us we lost 0-3 to the eventual winners West Gwemany & actually drew 0-0 with our 2014 opponents Chile.Surely that was the time we should have entered our "learning curve" & for a while (from 1977) it appeared we may be on the right track but it is no secret that administrative mis-management killed that idea stone dead but not in the playing sense for in that "disaster area" we had players like Viduka,Emerton,Kewell,Grella, Okon,Bresciano,Chipperfield,Moore,Popovic,Zelic,Bosnich,Schwartzer & Farina,to name a few,,all did their basic training. So where & when did this latest "learning curve" begin for if we are to believe the projections put forward by our present D of C it could be another 10 years before we see the result of his highly paid endeavours.That means if one ignores those players I have mentioned our learning curve could have stretched to a 50 year time frame.The important thing being ignored in all this debate is that the rest of the world is not going to stand still & wait for us to catch up so what we need is a way of fast tracking our improvement cycle & it is in this area of problem solving our pundits usually deafen us with their silence. Cheers jb
Seb Vettel
Guest
Won't happen, Columbia, Argentina, and Brazil are all in prime position and will beat European opposition. I won't be surprised if Uruguay come out on top in the group of death.
whiskeymac
Guest
Nothing to lose is a good way for a young team to face this tournament... If they Gove it a go and play they way they can ( ie not Holger-esque) then it will be glorious either way. Cannons to the right of them, cannons to theleft....
bribieboy
Guest
Tell Ange Postecoglou that
c
Guest
my guarantees out of 1st round Group A: Brazil, Group B , Netherlands Group C: Greece Group D: Italy Group E: France Group F: Argentina, Group G: Germany, Group H: Belgium,
Sports Candy
Roar Pro
Trying very hard to be positive: 3 games against top class competition to warm up for the Asian Cup. We will learn more form getting beaten than a lucky win. Lots of publicity for football and the Socceroos for a week in June. The other 3 teams in the group are very even, so might be lots of draws in our group. We get $10M just for turning up. The boys won't be away from home for long and can have nice summer holidays with their families. Quick exit, more time to prepare for the Asian CUp and less chance of injuries. We're not expected to win anything. Our FIFA Rankings won't get worse from being beaten by higher ranked teams. Ummm . . . .
sheek
Roar Guru
Australia is an odd beast. Make us favourite & we'll find a way to stuff things up. Write us off & we'll set out to prove everyone wrong. I'm not suggesting Australia will now waltz through the pools, far from it. But I'm excited by the challenge presented, & the Socceroos themselves should embrace the massive challenge ahead of them. The Socceroos are in the same pool as the champion & runner-up from 2010. What a massive honour, that's how we should look at it. Irrespective of where we finish in the pools, it should be the mission of the Socceroos to play the best football they can, outstanding football, & demonstrate to the world our potential. Be respectful, but not afraid. It's the Australian way to push the opposition to their limit. The Socceroos of 2006 did precisely that to Italy (eventual champions) in the second round. On paper, Spain & Netherlands are awesome. But both these countries are susceptible to massive in-fighting. You just don't know what might be distracting these uber-champions inside their head come world cup time. Anyone remember France in 2002? World cup champions in 1998, Euro champions in 2000, hot favourites in 2002, awesome team on paper. They imploded & exited at the pool stage. Spain come into this world cup as defending champions from 2010 & Euro champions in 2012. Precisely the same scenario as France. Maybe they'll be so full of themselves? Anyway, it doesn't matter. Socceroos, just give it your very best shot!