Soccer:The Republic of Ireland won't embark on the road to Brazil until September of next year but Giovanni Trapattoni, assuming of course he is still in charge, and his management team now know who stands between his team and a place at the World Cup finals.

Plenty of obstacles will need to be negotiated if Ireland are to make their first finals since 2002 as qualifying from a group containing Germany, Sweden and Austria will be no mean feat.

The Faroe Islands, managed by former Ireland manager Brian Kerr who would relish getting one over his old employers, and Kazakhstan make up Group C.

Ireland did avoid the toughest draw, Group I where Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia and Finland will battle it out.

England will face Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and San Marino in Group H. Montenegro are currently England’s biggest rivals in qualifying for next year’s European Championship finals.

Scotland and Wales were drawn together in Group A along with Croatia, Serbia, Belgium and Macedonia. Northern Ireland take on Portugal, Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg in Group F.

The winners of the nine groups qualify automatically and the eight best runners-up play off for the four places remaining.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter had launched the draw insisting the world governing body had confidence that Brazil would overcome delays in preparations.

Blatter said: “We need the support of the government of Brazil, the state governments, the organising committee and the 190 million fans of football that is the population of Brazil.

“It is a matter of trust and confidence and FIFA have trust in Brazil and are confident of its abilities. Football is the beating heart of Brazil. It is a multi-cultural country of joy and celebration blessed with natural beauty and a booming economy ranking number seven in the world.”

Today’s draw was in danger of being postponed as workers struggled to keep the roof on the giant marquee hosting the event as high winds threatened to tear it off. The winds blew across the Marina da Gloria on Rio's shoreline causing serious problems to the top of the temporary auditorium specially erected for the draw.

Security barriers more than two metres high all around the complex were also taken down because of the risk posed to more than 2,000 people at the event, including officials, guests and journalists.

Group A:Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland, Macedonia, Wales

Group B:Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia, Malta

Group C:Germany, Sweden, Republic of Ireland,Austria, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan

Group D:Netherlands, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Andorra

Group E:Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus, Iceland

Group F:Portugal, Russia, Israel, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg

Group G:Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, Liechtenstein

Group H:England, Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, San Marino

Group I:Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia, Finland