South America's challenge

South American hands will again be reaching out

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BBC Sport Online's Tim Vickery casts his eye over the challenge from the South American nations.

The World Cup draw ensured one thing - that favourites Argentina and holders France will not meet in the final.

In fact, depending on results, the two most fancied teams could meet as early as the second round.

First, though, Argentina will have to fight their way out of Group F, instantly labelled 'the group of death.'

Having already drawn Sweden, a gasp went round the gripped auditorium when England also went into their group.

The addition of Nigeria's Super Eagles confirmed that Marcelo Bielsa's men will have to win the World Cup the hard way.

Love-hate relationship

But Argentina will relish that challenge.

The game against Nigeria is wonderfully evocative. Diego Maradona's last appearance for his country, and one of his most mature, came against the Africans in the 1994 World Cup.

Argentina have learned to live without him, their qualifying campaign suggests the 1998 team has grown up.

France 98 perhaps came too soon for their current generation. Now they are ready - especially to face England in their second match.

Regardless of Beckham's dismissal in 1998, Maradona's 'Hand of God' in 1986, or even the storm surrounding Antonio Rattin's sending-off in 1966, football in Argentina has long carried a love-hate relationship with England.

But if some of the clashes have been fiery, there is a bond of respect.

Brazil's Dunga was the last South American to lift the trophy

The all-time World Cup score between the two nations is tied at 2-2.

Victory in Sapporo on 7 June could decide which team goes through to the second round.

Soon afterwards there could be a clash with Brazil, who have been drawn in the same half of the group.

The four times world champions did not get their wish to play their group games in Japan.

Their compensation was to be handed opponents which many Brazilians regard as a bye into the second round, or even to the quarter-finals as Group H, which will provide the second round opposition, has a far from powerful look about it.

Intriguing clash

But as Brazil's dismal performance in qualifying showed, the current team fall well below past standards.

A mixture of complacency and the team's own weakness could make their group phase more interesting than it might appear at first glance.

Uruguay kick off their Group A programme against Denmark, a match bringing back unpleasant memories of the 6-1 mauling the South Americans suffered at the hands of the Michael Laudrup inspired side of 1986.

They then face France, who they beat on their only previous World Cup meeting, before the winners of the first World Cup in 1930 face debutants of Senegal - an intriguing clash of the old versus the new.

With their final two matches kicking off at 3.30am local time, Uruguayans will have to get up early - or stay up late - to watch their team.

In the other half of the draw Paraguay are going through a spell of turbulence after sacking coach Sergio Markarian.

Carlos Delgado will spearhead Ecuador's World Cup debut

But their aim of reaching at least the quarter-finals will be helped by a group comprising South Africa, Spain and Slovenia.

Spain will be looking for revenge after the goalless draw which meant their exit from France 98.

They will get few clues form the Paraguayans, though, who will speak Guarani, a language they have worked to preserve, to confuse the Spanish.

Ecaudor play in the first World Cup finals, with Colombian coach Hernan Dario Gomez insisting: "We're going there to learn."

They face a tough baptism in a gourp containing three-times world champions Italy, Croatia - who finished third in the last World Cup - and Mexico.

Ecuador frequently meet Mexico in friendlies so at least that match will offer a small piece of familiarity in an environment where everything else will be new and strange.