England fear France in World Cup qualifying draw

As expected, England are among the top seeds, placed in Pot One, but France are in Pot Two, along with the likes of Russia and Sweden.

The pot allocations are based on the FIFA world rankings, and the latest standings were announced yesterday, with Fabio Capello’s England down two places to sixth. France currently stand 15th.

The Republic of Ireland are in Pot Three, while Scotland and Northern Ireland are both in Pot Four.

Wales’ recent struggles are reflected in their placing in Pot Six, alongside the likes of San Marino, Malta and Andorra. The Faroe Islands are in Pot Five, and are level in 112th place with Wales in the FIFA rankings.

Meanwhile, FIFA yesterday announced that the 2014 World Cup finals will start on June 12 and finish on July 13.

At a news conference in Rio, FIFA president Sepp Blatter also announced that a decision whether to introduce goalline technology would be taken at next March’s meeting in London of the International FA Board, the game’s lawmakers. If approved, he said, it could be implemented at the World Cup finals two years later.

FIFA also announced that the World Cup play-off system, heavily criticised after Thierry Henry’s infamous handball for France against Ireland, would be maintained.

With 53 European countries entered in the World Cup qualifying draw, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, teams will be drawn in eight groups of six teams and one group of five.

Each group winner will automatically qualify for the finals in Brazil, and four places will also be available via play-offs, making up a 13-team European contingent.

England were beaten 2-1 by France in a friendly in November.