FIFA 2010 WC: Asian teams dealt tough draw

Host nation South Africa will face Mexico in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup.

Australia will play three-time champions Germany while North Korea face favourites Brazil at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,as Asian nations were dealt a tough draw on Friday.

Four Asian teams were in the hat at the glittering ceremony with Japan grouped alongside the Netherlands,Cameroon and Denmark and South Korea pitted against Argentina,Nigeria and Greece.

Australia were Asia’s standout performer at the last World Cup in Germany,reaching the round of 16 when coached by Guus Hiddink before being knocked out in stoppage time by eventual champions Italy.

Story continues below this ad

As well as Germany,Pim Verbeek’s team will face Ghana and Serbia.

North Korea,playing at their first World Cup since 1966,have a formidable task ahead of them with not just Brazil in their group but Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast and Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates.

Despite this,they could surprise,with coach Kim Jong-Hun moulding a hard-working and disciplined outfit.

Regardless of how they fare,the team is certain to generate attention because of where they come from — one of the most reclusive countries in the world.

Story continues below this ad

Oceania qualifiers New Zealand,who risk becoming the tournament’s whipping boys,have a mountain to climb against defending champions Italy,dangerous South American opponents Paraguay and Slovakia.

They have played one World Cup before in 1982 when they drew Brazil,the old Soviet Union and Scotland and lost all their games comprehensively.

Australia,the region’s highest ranked team at 21 in the world,kick off their campaign in Durban against Germany on June 13,while North Korea’s opener is a blockbuster against five-time champions Brazil in Johannesburg on June 15.

Japan,who have never progressed beyond the round of 16,open their campaign in Bloemfontein against Cameroon on June 14.

Story continues below this ad

South Korea are Asia’s most experienced campaigners,playing in their seventh consecutive World Cup,and kick off in Port Elizabeth against Greece on June 12.

The New Zealand All Whites play their first match in Rustenburg against Slovakia on June 15.

The long-awaited draw at the Cape Town Convention Centre was kicked off by FIFA president Sepp Blatter and South African president Jacob Zuma in a ceremony attended by some of the world’s soccer legends.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke presided over the draw,with the help of South African Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron in a ceremony beamed around the world to an estimated 250 million people.

Story continues below this ad

The tournament,the first World Cup in Africa,starts on June 11 and finishes a month later.