RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) – Fortune shone on England at the 2014 World Cup draw as defending champions Spain and 1998 winners France were locked on a collision course in the race for the Brazil finals.
England, one of the top seeds, on Saturday were drawn with Euro 2012 rivals Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland and makeweights Moldova and San Marino in Group H.
If England slip up then they will have to go through the playoffs for one of four remaining berths, assuming they at least finish as one of the best eight runners-up in the nine groups across the continent.
“I am confident,” said England manager Fabio Capello, who will be stepping down after Euro 2012.
“But it’s not going to be easy. Ukraine and Montenegro are going to be tough.”
While the 1966 champions had little cause to feel hard done by it was a different story for France, drawn in the same group as world and European champions Spain.
Belarus, Georgia and Finland make up their Group I.
“Three years is a long time and 2014 isn’t now. Spain are currently the best team there is. But we don’t know if that will be the case in two or three years time,” said France coach
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