Now let's get the ball rolling

13 April 2012

Forgive me but I have to confess at not tuning in to watch the World Cup draw in its entirety on Saturday morning. It wasn't a lack of interest in who England would be drawn against. I was intrigued to know our fate.

It wasn't even that I was focussing on Middlesbrough's game with Blackburn on Saturday, which was only a couple of hours after the draw.

No, I'm afraid I'm bored of the hyped-up ceremonies that now precede the draws for all major cup competitions. Saturday looked more like the Eurovision Song Contest than the draw for a football tournament!

I might be stuck in a time warp, but I used to love tuning in to the radio at lunchtimes on a Monday as we used to "cross over to Lancaster Gate" to listen to the draw for the FA Cup. Now we have to endure various song and dance routines before watching a cast of thousands take balls from crystal bowls (any chance of a velvet bag?).

Then of course we have the complexity of the draw itself. Fair enough to have eight seeded teams, (although surely by finishing above Germany in the qualifying group we had a valid claim to being seeded above them?) but after that, surely it should be a free for all.

Well not quite, but I guess it wouldn't really feel like a World Cup if you were drawn with three other European teams.

Enough, let's move on to the outcome of the draw. When we were drawn against Argentina and Sweden our group looked like being a tough one. Add Nigeria to the equation and I think everyone would agree that this is the toughest group.

Argentina topped the South American qualifying table by some distance and are one of the favourites for the competition.

They are blessed with several world class players such as Veron, Batistuta and Crespo and have an excellent World Cup pedigree.

People will look back to France '98 and the epic game we had with Argentina in St Etienne. I've already heard people talking about revenge for that defeat, but I don't think the players will see it that way.

The disappointment of that night will never go away but what we face now is the chance to take on one of the best sides in the world in a game that would give us tremendous satisfaction, were we to win.

Sweden were our most recent opponents and the general consensus after the game at Old Trafford was that they would cause teams a lot of problems in the World Cup. They have their three most influential players to return in Freddie Ljungberg, Patrick Andersson and Henrik Larsson and are always a well organised and physically strong team.

Our record against the Swedes is particularly poor but nothing would give Sven-Goran Eriksson greater pleasure than to be the man that ended that run.

Which brings us to Nigeria. Anyone who watched the last finals will remember the excitement that the Nigerians brought to the tournament. They will be very quick and strong and are blessed with some precocious talent.

Many fans will remember the problems Cameroon caused England in Italia '90 and the game against Nigeria will be just as tough.

While it is a strong group, I believe we have to be positive. None of the teams in our group will be relishing playing us and the reality is that there is no easy ride in progressing to the latter stages.

I expect there will be some exciting football in our group. Part of the appeal of our group will surely be the colour and atmosphere that the supporters of the four countries will bring to the tournament.

My apathy at watching the draw is far outweighed by my excitement at looking forward to the tournament. It's just a shame we have to wait another six months!

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