8 seeded teams named ahead of World Cup draw

I can't understand how Argentina is seeded, considering how it struggled during the qualification rounds.

I can't understand how Argentina is seeded, considering how it struggled during the qualification rounds.

True, but they are ranked #8 and will grow an extra leg in the finals. Bad form recently though. Portugal miss out on a seeding - though they are ranked #5. England are lucky - currently ranked #9, and South Africa incredibly lucky. They are genuine soccer minnows ; the lowest-ranked nation to ever host the cup - and are seeded. Rugby is their go, not soccer.

GO THE SOCCEROOS - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DRAW ENGLAND!

England aren't lucky to be seeded. The seedings were based on the rankings at the end of October, before the play-offs. France and Portugal's ranking increased because they won in the play-offs. Argentina are seeded because their ranking was so high before the start of this campaign. And hosts are always seeded.

Dirty Onri (Henry) is not gonna have a good time on the pitch during this world cup.

England are lucky

England won 9 games out of 10 qualifiers home and away, including a 4-1 thrashing of Croatia in Croatia, did not draw a single match and the only game they lost was away at a decent nation (Ukraine) after England had already won their group. 34 goals scored with only 9 conceded. Yep, sounds lucky to me.

Rugby is their go, not soccer.

A typical Australians view of South African soccer. Try reading up on the history of Jo'burg soccer and the townships leagues. South Africa are a team to avoid next year, unlike Australia.

GO THE SOCCEROOS - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DRAW ENGLAND!

Let me see now. John Terry versus Tim Cahill. Wayne Rooney versus Vince Grella. Steven Gerrard versus Luke Wilshire. Frank Lampard versus Marc Bresciano. You must be an England fan right ?

I agree with north london. England are a formidable team and are improving with their bnew manager. I believe the Brazil loss was a blip and they will be amongst the contenders for World Cup glory.

northlondon, Cahill would skin Terry alive on the big stage. Terry is a top player, but he can't handle the big game atmosphere.

matches of my dreams in 2010 WC:

Australia vs New Zealand Australia vs England England vs Argentina (this time Beckham making a goal with his hands, eheh) N. Korea vs S. Korea (4 beautiful goals to each side) S. Korea vs Japan Japan vs Brazil (Japan wins, I love seeing J-fans crying of happiness, it's pure) Brazil vs Australia France vs Argentina US vs England (I wonder what happens if US wins) US vs Italy US vs Australia (just for the sake of the debacle here in JT, before and after the match).

GO THE SOCCEROOS - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DRAW ENGLAND!

X 100

northlondon, Cahill would skin Terry alive on the big stage. Terry is a top player, but he can't handle the big game atmosphere.

I must have missed all of those big games that Cahill's played in. FA Cup Final 2008/09 and that's it.

A typical Australians view of South African soccer. Try reading up on the history of Jo'burg soccer and the townships leagues. South Africa are a team to avoid next year, unlike Australia.

Wow, I seem to have touched on a raw nerve there! lol! Fact: South Arica = Rugby World Champs. Fact: South Africa Soccer rank = 86. Rugby is their sport (increasingly for blacks too), Soccer is developing. I hope they do well, personally.

Look, England are a good solid team with a good manager, but the public expectation on them always seems to be their downfall. And they always choose dodgy keepers like David "Calamity" James... all sorts of soap-opera like catastrophes (red cards, missed penalties etc) always brings them undone in these big comps. Aussie public never expect the Socceroos to win the tournament (soccer is our 3rd/4th football code), so there is little pressure and everything's a bonus. BTW, I'd back Timmy Cahill playing for Aus. over Terry, We have a great keeper in Schwarzer and look out for Josh "Jesus" Kennedy - he is going great guns over in Nagoya.

As everyone back home seems to be saying...BRING ON THE DRAW AND THE ENGLAND BOYS... C'MON FOOTBALL GODS!

Actually England's downfall with the exception of 1990 is that we simply weren't good enough. This is a better England team with a better England manager than we've had for quite a while. Will we win it? Probably not. Have we got a chance? Probably more than we've had in recent years.

And given who we could get in that group I'd be happy with Australia. No where near as good as they think they are on the world stage and this could be a very rude awakening for them.

The funny thing, is that France is going to win the World cup against Italy. A rematch of the last final. Qualification rounds and games at the World cup are very different.

England wont pass the first round, and will disappoint everybody as usual

Because England always fail to pass the first round don't they?

Cahill would skin Terry alive on the big stage.

Well, you can't get much of a bigger stage than the Premier League so can someone please remind me the last time that Cahill skinned John Terry alive whilst playing for Everton ? I personally can't stand Terry as a man but the statement above is just ridiculous.

and look out for Josh "Jesus" Kennedy - he is going great guns over in Nagoya.

The Australian comments on here are laughable and show a complete lack of knowledge about soccer. You back up brave statements about 'bringing on England' with the likes of Josh Kennedy, currently plying his trade in the J-League. If the answer to Rooney/ Terry/ Lampard/ Gerrard/ Joe Cole/ Ashley Cole is Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy then yes, please let England draw Australia.

The Australian comments on here are laughable and show a complete lack of knowledge about soccer.

north london, lighten up. It's called banter - look it up in an Oxford dictionary.

So when you want to boast that Cahill would skin Terry alive and how you would back him doing so, it all sounds quite serious. But when someone answers those statements with a reasoned response then it was just banter ? If you really are foolish enough to believe that Tim Cahill is capable of skinning John Terry alive, then at least stand up and say so.

north london, lighten up. It's called banter - look it up in an Oxford dictionary.

Burakumin, just as you Aussies are very serious about your barbecues, us English are very serious about our footie.

Burakumin, just as you Aussies are very serious about your barbecues, us English are very serious about our footie.

Fair enough...and pretty true. I was living in England for the 2002 world cup - the Sven era - and I witnessed a few English mates of mine shedding a tear when England was knocked out. Until then, I never knew how big the Fottball World Cup really was! I do agree that the current English squad has more experience and ability than their squad of the past 2 cups. Rooney is the man, IMO. I reckon little Timmy and big Josh could nod in a few goals for us though!

If the answer to Rooney/ Terry/ Lampard/ Gerrard/ Joe Cole/ Ashley Cole is Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy then yes, please let England draw Australia.

and not even a mention of Beckham who is still a very good player. Yes, England will field the strongest team with a great coach for the first time since they were cheated in France.

I hope the men in white get the job done. (I am not even British)

The things that give England a great chance for this one: the (winter) climate and having a tactically astute manager. The heat has been a real problem in most world cups because England only play well at a high tempo. The players are no better than we had in the past though. Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard are no better than, for example, Lineker, Waddle and Hoddle.