World Cup draw gives hint of passion and efficiency ahead

By David Owen in Cape Town

December 4 – South Africa and Mexico will contest the first-ever World Cup finals match on African soil in Johannesburg on June 11, after the draw for the 2010 tournament was completed tonight in Cape Town.

England will play their first match in Rustenburg against the United States, who sensationally beat them 59 years ago in the 1950 competition – still one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.

Even so, manager Fabio Capello and his men should be pleased with the outcome, which also pitches them against little-heralded Algeria and Russia’s conquerors Slovenia.

The suddenly ubiquitous David Beckham, who was one of a number of sports stars assisting with the ceremony, carefully pronounced the group “very interesting”.

“They are all hard games at this point,” he mumbled, falling back on one of his extensive repertoire of diplomatic football clichés.

Other noteworthy early matches in the month-long tournament include Germany v Australia, Brazil v North Korea and Argentina v Nigeria.

Holders Italy and Spain, two of the big favourites to win the competition, join England in being drawn in comparatively easy-looking groups.

The indispensable Group of Death, by a whisker, is Group D, which pits Germany against Australia, Serbia and Ghana, one of whom should also provide England’s second round opponents.

But no more than two of Brazil, Portugal and Côte d’Ivoire can qualify, after they were pitched in with poor North Korea in Group G.

And Academy Award winner Charlize Theron and her band of celebrity helpers, also including cricketer Makhaya Ntini and long-distance runner Haile Gebrselassie certainly did South Africa no favours.

As well as Mexico, the hosts will face 1998 world champions France and Uruguay, winners in 1930 and 1950, as they battle for a place in the knock-out stages.

The ceremony provided the usual uncomfortable mix of solemnity and cheese, the chatter from the audience at one point getting embarrassingly loud, as “”drawmaster” and FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke struggled manfully to convey the extraordinarily overcomplicated draw rules.

There were though a couple of highpoints: a terrific video sequence featuring a football and assorted African wildlife - I thought the wildebeest showed particular promise; and a storming appearance by the Soweto Gospel Choir.

Everyone who is anyone in South Africa was in the Cape Town International Convention Centre for the draw.

Except, that is, for the most important figure of all: former President Nelson Mandela.

The frail-looking statesman was instead introduced by video link.

“We feel privileged and humble that South Africa has been given the singular honour of being the African host country.

“We must strive for excellence in our hosting of the World Cup,” Mandela said, in a contribution that raised one of the night’s biggest cheers.

Current President Jacob Zuma, once a defender of some distinction, was in characteristically fighting form, not only proclaiming that “We are on time” and that “Everything has gone according to plan,” but, more surprisingly, predicting an African winner.