England went into World Cup 2002 in Japan still feeling the hangover of their second round defeat to Argentina, however the tournament seemed to reinvigorate World football as the enthusiastic hosts put on a great spectacle with many memorable matches including the exploits of South Korea, Rivaldos 'head injury' against Turkey and Oliver Kahn's rollercoaster tournament. England were not seeded in this tournament either yet topped it with a modest five points while Southampton's new signing Anders Svensson put Argentina out with a wonder free-kick after England had also taken revenge. England played good football and despite playing some less high profile players such as Trevor Sinclair - a last minute call up - and a young Wayne Bridge went out to tournament winners Brazil following Ronaldinho's free kick that deceived David Seaman. So here is how the 2014 could go: Let's make some assumptions - dangerous I know. Let's assume Uruguay will beat Jordan and Mexico beat New Zealand in the intercontinental play offs. Let's assume in Africa the five team to progress are: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria and Burkina Faso Then pick the four European extra qualifiers (a bit of a guess): let's go for France, Portugal, Sweden and Greece, why not! That gives us Pot one: Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, Uruguay and Switzerland. Leaving nine European teams in Pot two: Italy, Netherlands, England, Bosnia, Russia, France, Portugal, Sweden and Greece It will be a stipulation that the ninth European team goes in either Brazil, Argentina, Colombia or Uruguay's group (it would be a lot easier for FIFA is Jordan won!) So pot three has seven teams in it, maybe: Chile, Ecuador (probably not with Brazil, Argentina, Colombia or Uruguay) and the five African teams e.g. Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria and Burkina Faso Pot four would then be Asia and North plus Central America: Costa Rica, USA, Honduras, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Iran. This could lead to an example England group such as Argentina, Cameroon and Australia which you would feel England could escape. Worst case scenario could be: Germany, Chile and USA - all ranked in the top 13. Best case scenario, perhaps: Uruguay, Burkina Faso and Honduras. Probably somewhere inbetween. Anyway I will stop there, getting too carried away...
We would probably end up losing again like the time Eriksson thought it was a good idea to play Zat Knight and Gavin McCann against them :s.
That is pretty much it except Algeria went through on away goals against Burkina Faso. The thirty two qualifiers are: Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, Uruguay and Switzerland (Pot 1) Italy, Netherlands, England, Bosnia, Russia, France, Portugal, Croatia and Greece (Pot 2) It will be a stipulation that the ninth European team goes in either Brazil, Argentina, Colombia or Uruguay's group. Chile, Ecuador (probably not with Brazil, Argentina, Colombia or Uruguay) and the five African teams Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria and Algeria Costa Rica, USA, Honduras, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Iran (Pot 4)
We need to avoid any combination of: Germany/Spain Chile/Ecuador/Ivory-Coast/Ghana USA/Mexico or Argentina/Brazil/Uruguay France/Ivory-Coast/Ghana USA/Mexico if possible, or we will probably be coming home before the KO stage.