Greece will face Argentina, Nigeria and South Korea in the World Cup in South Africa next year, following Friday’s draw. O
We can qualify from the group if all the players are fit and we play well but all that is six months away and to say anything else now would be pure speculation – Otto Rehhagel
tto Rehhagel ear-marked Argentina as the clear favourite, but said second spot was open for each of the other three challengers.
Meanwhile, Australia could be heading for an early exit after being drawn in a deceptively tough group.
The Aussies will face three-time champions Germany in their opening game.
In a coincidence, two of the three teams, Argentina and Nigeria, in Group B were also in Greece’s group the only other time it has qualified for a World Cup, in the USA in 1994.
Then, in a disastrous campaign, Greece had lost 4-0 to Argentina, 2-0 to Nigeria and 4-0 to semi-finalists Bulgaria.
Greece will encounter at least one familiar face, Argentinean superstar Maradona, who scored against the national side in the USA but who is now coaching his country’s national team.
“Argentina are the favourites,” said Greece coach Otto Rehhagel. “But we must not forget that Nigeria will also be playing on African soil and are a good side as well.”
The German sought to play down expectations of Greece being one of the two sides that would qualify from the group for the knockout round of the last 16.
“We can qualify from the group if all the players are fit and we play well but all that is six months away and to say anything else now would be pure speculation,” he said before reminding Greeks that reaching South Africa after a play-off against Ukraine was an achievement in itself.
“We should not forget that we should be happy to have qualified for the World Cup at the last minute,” he said.
Rehhagel continued, “Argentina will be the clear favourites in our group, they are number one. They are a very good and dangerous side, I think all the teams in the group will struggle against them.
“I think it is only fair to say that the three other teams will be aiming for second. So it is up to all of us to fight for the second spot and I think we all have an equal chance of getting to the second round,” the 2004 European Cup winning coach said.
“We have to start well and work hard to stay in South Africa for the knockout stages – that will be our main aim. Once you are in the knockout stages, then anything is possible,” Rehhagel said.
“I don’t want to make any predictions, I’m not good at that. From here, we need to study our opponents and plan ahead,” he concluded.
Rehhagel’s men will begin their campaign against South Korea in Port Elizabeth on June 12.
Greece will play Nigeria in Bloemfontein on June 17, and their last group game will be against Argentina in Polokwane on June 22.
Australians awoke to the news of the draw, which pits 21st-ranked Australia against Germany, Ghana and Serbia in South Africa 2010.
Only African powerhouses Ghana are ranked below Australia on the FIFA world rankings at 37 and the most Australian football fans believe it is one of the hardest groups in the tournament.
But Schwarzer, whose parents are German and played his early European football with Dynamo Dresden and Kaiserslautern, is relishing the challenge against Germany in Durban on June 13.
“Obviously, it’s a massive game first up and the great thing for us is that Germany will be under all the pressure,” Schwarzer told television here from London. “Everyone will expect Germany to win, they will be under enormous pressure back home to win the game and the footballing world will be thinking the same thing.
“So from our point of view we will go into the game and hopefully we’ll perform at our best and if we do I think there is every possibility that something might happen.”
Schwarzer, who plays for Fulham in the English Premier League and was the standout player in Australia’s successful qualifying campaign, said it will suit Australia’s chances to be considered as an underdog.
“I’m happy that people might possibly underestimate us and that’s where we thrive at as well. That will change pretty dramatically if we do beat Germany,” he said.
Coach Pim Verbeek, who was in Cape Town for Friday’s draw, said Group D represented a major challenge for his Socceroos. “We know how good we can be, it’s a tough group, but the more difficult it is for the players the bigger the challenge,” he said in a statement.
“We have a good record against Ghana, we’ve won four times against them. (But) Germany is one of the best teams in the world, while Serbia beat France (in qualifying), so every game is full of challenges.”
Former Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said a result will be important for Australia in their opener against the Germans. “If we do happen to get a good result that can set you up for a great World Cup. If you get a bad result confidence can be low,” said Bosnich.
“But teams will beat other teams in this group, that will take points off each other. This is one of the hardest groups and that could be a good thing as well.”
The big story from the evening’s 2010 World Cup draw in Cape Town came from Group G where Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Portugal were positioned together along with North Korea in the ‘Group of Death’.
Hosts South Africa had a tough draw in Group A along with Mexico, Uruguay and France.
Holders Italy will have to make their way past Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia as they attempt to retain the trophy they won in Germany in 2006.
The opening game of the tournament will see South Africa play Mexico in Johannesburg on 11 June.
South African actress Charlize Theron, England international David Beckham, Ethiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie, South African cricket pioneer Makhaya Ntini, Springbok rugby player John Smit, and Bafana defender Matthew Booth helped conduct the draw at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in front of a crowd of luminaries including Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio, and Desmond Tutu.
Geographical criteria meant that no two teams from the same confederation could be drawn in the same group, with the exception of European teams where a maximum of two were permitted.
The full draw
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
The World Cup takes place between June 11 and July 11.