World Cup 2010

Nations Cup draw expected in 2010

Fabio Capello's England under 32 team are eagerly Friday's star-studded draw for the finals the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The ceremony, which comes in the way at 1700 GMT in Cape Town, will be watched by millions of fans around the world.

By the end of the contest, the different nations to know the identity of their group-stage Rivals and the date of each game.

The tournament starts on 11 June with the Final on 11 July, but Capello has said he fears no one.

"It will be a big test, the hardest test for me as a manager," said the Italian.

"For me it is the first time, I breathed the atmosphere of the World Cup, have the sensation. I can taste it. The airport, the people, the Fifa World Cup, Bafana Bafana, it is exciting.

"If you want to win, you have to beat all the teams, but of course if you have against the best teams, it is not so easy to play the first round is over. "

The draw to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, suffered a security scare on Friday morning before they reopen.

But later it will be the big draw and the good from the worlds of politics, sports and Show business.

Revered former South African President and Nobel peace laureate Nelson Mandela, one of the architects of the first World Cup held in Africa, is the audience through the video-message address in the age of 91.

On Thursday, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his executive committee staged a symbolic meeting on Robben Iceland, the notorious apartheid-era prison in Table Bay off Cape Town where Mandela was imprisoned for many years.

Jacob Zuma, one of his successors As president, will kick off proceedings as well as leaves, with former President FW de Klerk and Archbishop Desmond Tutu also on hand.

South African Oscar-winner Actress Charlize Theron is a touch of Hollywood Glamour to bring the draw, alongside England midfielder David Beckham, Ethiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie and Springboks rugby union captain John Smit.

Theron Fifa.com said on Friday: "I am a proud South African today. This is a magical moment for all of us, for this young democracy and for all the people who have worked hard to make this country a better place. "

Makhaya Ntini, the first black cricketer to play for South Africa, and World Cup icons Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Eusebio and Roger Milla will also be present, with entertainment from the likes of Soweto Gospel Choir and singer Angelique Kidjo, Johnny Clegg.

But one star who is not allowed to participate in the draw, is Argentina coach Diego Maradona after an expletive-filled rant at a press conference gave him a two-month ban from all football activity.

For all the celebrities at the show many eyes will be on the trophy itself, which in Cape Town on Thursday came after a 83,274-mile global trip, which was banned in every African country.

"The trophy is home," said Danny Jordaan, head of the tournament organizing committee.

"This is the end of a long dream and the beginning of a new dream. We have dreamed would one day countries come here and compete for the trophy on the African continent – and that dream was dismissed.

"Now that we welcome this trophy say that we announce the death of the doubt. There can be no doubt be more."

England, a take measure of relief from the fact that they were named among the eight seeded teams for the tournament that is, it is avoided, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and host South Africa holders in the group stage.

However, England star David Beckham, to help promote South Africa in England 2018 World Cup bid, said: "It is not teams try to avoid.

"Once you're at this point, if you go all the way into the competition, You have to beat the best teams and best players, so I think you want It does not matter who you come across in the draw. "

The 32 qualifiers will be compiled into eight groups, but there are many dangerous teams such as Portugal, currently in fifth place in the standings, and France, the seventh, are that were not seeded.

Portugal, England in their last two major tournaments, both times by eliminating penalties, while France, the controversial in a qualifying play-off against the Republic of Ireland after a Thierry Henry in the palm-build-up to the decisive goal in a 2-1 aggregate victory, won the tournament in 1998 and were beaten finalists last time in Germany.

The eight seeds were all in a pot, taken with the other three pots across regional boundaries of time.

Every nation is a team seeded in pot two face – a side from Asia, North and Central America, Oceania, or – a pot of three, the five African and has three South African sides, and one by the European pot only four.

A worst-case scenario would be on Friday in England Capello page carry over of France, Ivory Coast and the United States, while a much easier proposition on paper would have England facing Slovenia, Algeria and New Zealand.

Although he is the host, South Africa actually seeded the lowest ranking team in the tournament, and they are for rubbing the green when the Balls are drawn to decide the groups hope.

"The draw can produce nothing," added Jordaan.

"We hope for the luck of the draw. It is important to us as the host country, that our team will have to press in the second round and we progress, the thumb. "

Friday's draw will be spectacular in a 90-minute television films shown in Britain on BBC Two and on the BBC Sport website.

It is also full comment begins on BBC Radio 5 Live and live text commentary online from 1200 GMT.

As with any championship teams since 1998 in the top two in their Finish group to qualify for the knockout phase.

Fifa announced on Thursday that the winner of the 2010 World Cup will receive £ 18.6 million ($ 31m) – An increase from 61% to 2006 finals – with teams in the group stage get knocked £ 5.4m ($ 9m).

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