Soccer - World Cup Draw:France, who defeated Ireland in the play-off, were drawn alongside hosts South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay in Group A at today's World Cup draw in Cape Town where seeds England got a favourable draw with the United States, Algeria and Slovenia in Group C,

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

After the draw France coach Raymond Domenech said playing the hosts will not be easy.

"It's a tough group like the others," he said. "We would have to win at least two games to qualify. It's never easy to play against the host team but it's our third game so by then we could be qualified.

"There are no so-called groups of death this time. The groups are fairly even. There could be some surprises. It's the first World Cup in Africa and that could make a difference. The crowd will be special and that could have an impact."

England manager Fabio Capello said: "I think it is one of the most balanced groups. Algeria have beaten Egypt so they are a dangerous side. I remember there have been groups that looked easy but then became really complicated."

World Cup holders Italy will play Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia, an apparently easy group.

"The more you concentrate on easy teams the more they become difficult. We've got to prepare and study these teams and their characteristics," said Italy coach Marcello Lippi.

Vicente Del Bosque, coach of European champions Spain, who play Switzerland, Honduras and Chile, said: "We can't complain. We can't hide the fact we are one of the favourites to win (the World Cup)."

England will play their first game against the States in Rustenburg, on Saturday June 12th. Their second and third matches will be in Cape Town against Algeria and in Port Elizabeth against Slovenia.

Former England manager Terry Venables believes England’s toughest assignment will against the States but expects Capello’s men to come through the group stages with few problems.

“It’s a tough game because they will be fit, organised and while they won’t outplay us, they could out-sprint us,” said Venables in reference to the United States. “It could be a difficult game for us.”

“Although Algeria did extremely well to get through they are not really on a par with any of those teams,” he added. “We’ll be expected to do it and we should do it, so let’s be very happy.”

Former England captain David Beckham, who could be part of Capello’s squad for South Africa, said: “It is a very interesting group.

“They are all hard games and it’s very exciting to be a part of it.”

If there is a group of death it’s surely Group G where seeds and five-times winners Brazil were pitted against Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea.

World Cup Draw - Groups and Fixtures

Draw for the 2010 Fifa World Cup finals in South Africa (The finals run from June 11th to July 11th)

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