World Cup 2010 - European draw

England paid the price for their failure to reach Euro 2008 on Sunday when they were drawn with Croatia again in one of the toughest qualifying groups for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Slaven Bilic's impressive Croatian side beat England home and away on their way to next year European Championships and will start as favourites to top group six and claim the automatic qualifying spot.

England, who were left vulnerable to a tough draw after losing their status as top seeds because of their slide down the world rankings, may have been relieved to have avoided the likes of France, Italy and Germany.  But as well as the clashes with Croatia, whoever succeeds Steve McClaren as manager will also have to prepare his side for difficult matches against 2006 World Cup quarter-finalists Ukraine and gruelling trips to the former Soviet states of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Minnows Andorra make up the group.

"It's a very, very hard group," said Bilic. "The only team I had wanted to avoid was England. We are not afraid of them but like Ukraine they are a couple of teams that were in quarter-finals in last World Cup and they will do all the can to come back. It's the most difficult group to be honest."

Defending champions Italy will begin their quest for a fifth World Cup in a group that contains fast-improving Bulgaria as well as Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro.

France, beaten finalists in Germany last year, will expect Romania and Serbia to provide them with their biggest challenges in group seven, which is made up by Lithuania, Austria and the Faroe Islands.

Greece, the team that leapfrogged England to secure the final place among the top seeds, were rewarded with a place at the head of what looks like the weakest of the groups in the European zone. The reigning European champions will face Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg.

Scotland, who pushed France and Italy all the way before narrowly missing out on Euro 2008, will be optimistic of their prospects of reaching their first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup after being drawn in the only five-team group in the region. Although Holland will expect to top the section, the Scots look favourites to claim second place ahead of Norway, Macedonia and Iceland, which would give them a chance of qualifying via a play-off.

"I'm always philosophical about draws," said Scots manager Alex McLeish. "It is something you can't control, so bring it on."

Germany's route to South Africa could be blocked by a Russian side that is on an upward curve, while their group also contains Finland, Wales, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein.

Portugal and Spain also face tough battles to top their groups. The Portuguese have both Sweden and Denmark in their group while Spain must get the better of Turkey and Belgium.

The winners of the nine European groups qualify automatically with the eight best runners-up entering two-leg play-offs to decide the remaining four spots for the region. There are eight groups of six teams and one with five countries. The best runners-up will be determined on the basis of the number of points won with results against the bottom team discounted in the six-team groups.

Group A -
Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania,

Group B -
Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova

Group C -
Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Northern Ireland ,San Marino

Group D -
Germany, Russia, Finland, Wales, Azerbaijhan, Liechtenstein

Group E -
Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia, Armenia, Estonia

Group F -
Croatia, England, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Andorra

Group G -
France, Romania, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria, Faroe Islands

Group H -
Italy, Bulgaria, Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia, Montenegro

Group I -
Holland, Scotland, Iceland, Norway, Macedonia