Brazil to open 2014 World Cup against Croatia, 2010 finalists meet in group stage
COSTA DO SAUIPE - Reuters
he drawing pots are listed on the screen during the draw ceremony for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Costa do Sauipe near Salvador, Brazil, Dec. 6. AP photo
Host nation Brazil will kick off next year's soccer World Cup against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12, while holders Spain and 2010 runners-up Netherlands will meet again in the group stages following the draw on Dec. 6Brazil were grouped with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon while Spain and the Dutch have a tough Group B which also contains Chile and Australia.
The complicated draw procedure also put England, Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica together in Group D.
Bosnia, the only one of the 32 teams taking part in their first World Cup finals, face Argentina, Iran and Nigeria.
The final will be played in Rio de Janeiro on July 13. Here is the list of the eight World Cup groups:
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, United States
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea
