Rosenborg91

Nov 25 2007, 11:29 AM

Easiest group:
1.Greece
2.Turkey
Norway

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Group 7 France, Romania, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria, Faroe Islands

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Group 6: Liberia, Algeria, Senegal, Gambia.

BBC Sport

 

The next England manager will be able to clock up the air miles after the World Cup draw for South Africa 2010 provided several lengthy treks abroad.
Croatia and Andorra are mere short hops compared to trips to fellow Group Six rivals Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The winners of each of the nine European groups will qualify for the finals automatically and the best eight runners-up play off for four more qualifying berths.

But, apart from the logistical difficulties, what problems will the countries pose?


CROATIA
World ranking 10

Oh no, not again. The biggest gasps at the draw went out when this rematch was drawn.

Croatia beat England twice in the recent Euro 2008 qualifying group to help end their hopes of reaching next summer's finals and they have plenty of dangermen.

The England players, fans and media will be able to tell the new manager plenty about the likes of Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar and Eduardo Silva.

An up-and-coming team, Croatia are expected to be England's main rivals to qualify from the group.


UKRAINE
World ranking 29

Striker Andriy Shevchenko is their main threat but, judging by his form at Chelsea, he looks like a player on the wane.

But his reputation earns him the right to be seen as a threat, while fellow forward Andriy Voronin is showing the potential to be a thorn in England's side as he tries to make his mark at Liverpool.

Holding midfielder Anatoliy Tymoschuk starts Ukraine's attacks and has reportedly been eyed by both Arsenal and Manchester United.

Ukraine will host Euro 2012 and will be making attempts to improve and bring on their national side so England will have to be wary.

They finished fourth behind Italy, France and Scotland as they failed to qualify for Euro 2008 but lost only one game at their Kiev home - to Italy - in the process.


BELARUS
World ranking 60

They ended their failed Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a home win over a Holland side that had already secured their slot in Austria and Switzerland for the finals.

Arsenal playmaker Alexander Hleb poses their biggest threat and Belarus have the potential to be troublesome if England take them too lightly.

They finished fourth in their Euro 2008 qualifying group and German Bernd Stange is at the helm and in charge of making them into a force.

He will be hoping they can match some of their promising play with more bite.

Maksim Romaschenko is an experienced and key player and another man of whom England will have to be careful.

"There are more military in the stands when you play in Belarus," said Dutch journalist Rob Fleur.

"A lot of players don't want to go there because it is always cold and the pitch is frozen. They play with two strikers and the rest defending."


KAZAKHSTAN
World ranking 110

The Borat jokes are already doing the rounds but Serbia were not laughing after their defeat in Kazakhstan during their Euro 2008 campaign.

Serbia went on to miss out on qualification and Kazakhstan also held Belgium at home and narrowly lost to Portugal.

Those results showed Kazakhstan could be difficult opponents who are improving and can raise themselves for high-profile opposition.

But despite the length of the trip and potentially tough nature of the conditions, England will be castigated if they do not beat Kazakhstan.


ANDORRA
World ranking 174

Any opposition whose country is known as a principality should be viewed as a gimme and Andorra are no different.

England made hard work of beating them 3-0 in the away leg in Spain but, while they are a tough team to break down, they are an exception to the phrase 'there are no easy games in international football'.