The draw.

So the big World Cup draw happened today and it was pretty interesting.

The first group features France, SA, Mexico and Uruguay. France and Mexico should come through this pretty easily. South Africa are hosts, but also suck so I don't expect much. Uruguay have good strikes in Forlan and Suarez but not much else. France have drawn and easy group again. Cheats.

Group B should be a cake walk for Argentina who are clearly the best team. Nigeria should go through with them if all this talk of African teams being inspired by playing at home is really true. I don't see it though. I actually think Greece will go through as runners up. They play really boring but effective soccer which should work well in the scorching heat. South Korea to bring up the rear.

Group C is England's and they should cruise. They really could not have hoped for a better draw but then again, neither could the USA who should join them in progressing. Algeria are an unknown quantity as are Slovenia. Both teams pulled impressive upsets in getting to the tournament, but the clock should strike midnight on these cinderellas.

Group D is really tough to call. The obvious favorites are Germany because it's Germany and they always do well. That said, the other three teams are all solid as well. Australia are growing in stature and may have been favoured to go through in an easier group. Serbia are a tough as nails defensive type team who are tough to beat because they don't concede many goals. While both those teams have a case, I think Ghana, my pick as the best African side, will go through as group winners ahead of Germany. They have tons of talent and should carry the load for Africa.

Group E features The Netherlands. The "clockwork oranje" should win this group pretty comfortable but we all know things are never simple for them. They'll be pushed by a surprisingly very strong Danish team and by Cameroon. I'll plump for the Africans to go through. Japan are woeful and I expect them to lose every match.

Group F is an example of why everyone hates Italy. They struggle through qualifying and everyone is thinking they are vulnerable and then they get the easiest group. I don't even want to mention the other teams, Italy go through.

The Group of Death is without a doubt Group G. Big time ancestral rivals Brazil and Portugal are drawn together and joined by The Ivory Coast who many people have picked as a dark horse to win the tournament. Brazil should have enough to come through joined by Drogba and the boys. Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo will have to join North Korea in going home early and hoping for a luckier draw in four years.

Anything less than winning every game would be disappointing for Spain in group H. Switzerland are a decent side but nothing special. Honduras are a good story, but resemble Trinidad and Tobago from four years ago. Chile are an emerging South American power and should go through as runners up here.