2014 World Cup Specials: Winners and Losers of the World Cup draw

The draw for the group stage of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year has been pleasantly lucky for some countries, but for others the draw was a nightmare experience. Let us take a look at the winners and losers of the World Cup Draw.

Winners:

1. France
France hasn’t been this lucky since 1998. After barely qualifying for the World Cup with a comeback win in their play-off win over Ukraine, France was rewarded with the easiest groups in the competition. Their opponents include the weakest team qualified from South America and North America, Ecuador and Honduras respectively. Their highest-ranked opponent in Group E,Switzerland, is fairly unproven on the world stage, and is considered to be the softest team out of all the seeded squads. In addition, provide they finish in first place in the group they are sure to get a weak opponent in the round of 16. So France must be thanking the stars for having been drawn into such a group.

2. Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast have not been granted an easy group but, after the difficulties of 2006 and 2010, the Elephants finally have been drawn in a forgiving one from which they are expected to qualify. In 2006, they were alongside Argentina, Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro and did not qualify. The 2010 iteration saw them placed with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea. Again, they fell at the first hurdle. Even a team as good as Colombia do not offer the difficulties of Argentina and Netherlands in 2006, nor Brazil and Portugal in 2010. Ivory Coast’s golden generation may not be shining so brightly, but they may finally have a chance to make good on their quality.

3. Belgium
Belgium are the dark horses for the World Cup but for the fact that everyone says they are dark horses, which thereby propels them into the status of one of the leading contenders and the Red Devils will be delighted with the result of their good fortune, with Group H providing them with one of the easiest routes to the last 16 that they could have possibly wished for. In their first World Cup in 12 years, Marc Wilmots’ side will be delighted with the cards with which they have been dealt.For the start, Russia is a good team but Belgium will be too strong for them. The same goes for Algeria and South Korea who are considered outsiders to appear in the knockout stage.

4. Argentina
An even easier task lies ahead for Argentina. Newcomer Bosnia-Herzegovina might be their toughest draw in Group F, but of course that’s only based on strong performances in the qualifying stage. They also face Nigeria, likely the weakest of the five African sides that made it to Brazil, and Iran, which has only won one single game in World Cup history — 15 years ago.

Losers:

1. England
In what everyone probably will declare the toughest "group of death" among the three groups of death of the World Cup, England stands out as a loser. The nation which gave football to the world is lined up against the second-most successful team in World Cup history, Italy, which is coming off a second-place finish at the 2012 European Championship. The British also face Uruguay, which is playing close to home and was among the top four in South Africa in 2010. Having Costa Rica in Group D should give the English at least one win, but they’ll need more than that to advance to the knockout-stage.

2. Chile
Chile have been playing arguably the most eye-catching football among the international teams and much have been expected from Jorge Sampaoli’s men in Brazil before the draw. However, the finals now look set to provide La Roja with a tough challenge as they look ahead to facing both of the finalists from Johannesburg four years previously.
With Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez leading the hopes of a nation, many were hoping that the side might be able to once again cause a few upsets. And while an opening clash with Australia in Cuiaba may not represent the toughest task imaginable, what then lies ahead is a daunting ask by anyone’s standards. Spain will be their second opponents in Rio, before a final group fixture against Netherlands in Sao Paulo which is likely to represent a do-or-die encounter. Given the Dutch’s marvelous run in qualification, it will be one of the most difficult fixtures in Chile’s World Cup history.

3. USA
After landing in a group with Germany, Portugal and Ghana USA’s chances of qualifying to the knockout stages are looking very, very slim. Germany have a fantastic world cup record and the depth of talent at their disposal is unbelievable, trying to stop a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal is no easy task. Even their weakest opposition Ghana still have players such as Kevin-Prince Boateng, Michael Essien and Asamoah Gyan. All in all it would be a minor miracle if the USA were to get out of this group

4. Whoever from Group B faces 2nd round against Brazil
If it is a difficult task just to qualify from the group which contains World champions Spain, Netherlands and Chile, it will be even more daunting task for the one who qualifies in the 2nd position from the group as the team is most likely to face hosts Brazil in the 2nd round. The road to quarter final has never been so difficult for a team.