Germany face Costa Rica

Hosts Germany will meet Costa Rica in the opening match of the World Cup finals in Munich on June 9 but concerns about security may overshadow their next match against Poland in Dortmund five days later.

Security forces will be on high alert for the game following a recent brawl between 100 German and Polish hooligans in woods on their joint border.

After yesterday's draw, Germany will complete their Group A campaign against Ecuador in Berlin on June 20.

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said: "It could have been worse. We're happy. We think this group is absolutely do-able.

"Every opponent will be difficult, every game will be a huge challenge. Ecuador will be tough, they beat Brazil in qualifications.

"Costa Rica was third behind the US and Mexico and naturally Poland will also be hard."

World champions Brazil begin the defence of their trophy against Croatia in Berlin on June 13 with Japan, coached by former Brazilian great Zico, and Australia making up their quartet in Group F.

Australia, back in the finals for the first time since they were held in West Germany 32 years ago, open their campaign against Japan who they are likely to face on a more regular basis after moving from the Oceania to the Asian Confederation earlier this year.

The toughest section of the draw has Argentina, Netherlands, Serbia & Montenegro and Ivory Coast matched in Group C.

The Netherlands, who reached the final the last time the World Cup was held on German soil in 1974 and who met Argentina in the World Cup final four years later, were the most dangerous non-seeded floater in the 32-team draw.

They are likely to advance with Argentina from their group but neither will under-estimate World Cup debutants Ivory Coast, or Serbia.

England's coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will face his own countrymen from Sweden in Group B for the second successive World Cup with Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago making up the group.

The majority of players in Trinidad's squad play their football in England and Dwight Yorke, their most famous player, won the Champions League with Manchester United six years ago.

England, ranked second in the seedings behind Brazil, will meet Paraguay in their opening match in Frankfurt on June 10 before meeting Trinidad in Nuremburg on June 15 and Sweden, who they have not beaten since 1968, in Cologne five days later.

"I talked to the Swedish coach before the draw and we agreed we did not want to meet at this World Cup.

"But overall we are happy with the draw, it's not easy but it could have been worse," Eriksson said.

Familiar foes and neighbours France and Switzerland, who met in Euro 2004 and then both came through the same World Cup qualifying group unbeaten, were drawn together again in Group G, opening their campaigns against each other on June 13.

France, who went out in the first round as defending champions four years ago, will then meet South Korea in Leipzig before playing African debutants Togo on June 23.

Ukraine begin their first World Cup finals against Spain in Leipzig on June 14 in a Group H game with Tunisia and Saudi Arabia completing their section.

Italy, the United States and the Czech Republic, who all met in the same opening round group in 1990, were brought together again with newcomers Ghana completing their Group E.

Italy, bidding to win the World Cup for the first time since 1982, open against Ghana in Hanover on June 12.

The close links between Portugal and its former colony Angola will add spice to their opening Group D meeting in Cologne on June 11 when Angola make their World Cup debut. Seeded Mexico and Iran complete the section.

Group A

Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

Group B

England
Paraguay
Trinidad
Sweden

Group C

Argentina
Ivory Coast
Serbia
Holland

Group D

Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal

Group E

Italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Rep.

Group F

Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

Group G

France
Switzerland
S. Korea
Togo

Group H

Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
S. Arabia

World Cup schedule
Group A

Friday, June 9
Germany vs Costa Rica (1800)
Poland vs Ecuador (2100)

Wednesday, June 14
Germany vs Poland (2100)

Thursday, June 15
Ecuador vs Costa Rica (1500)

Tuesday, June 20
Ecuador vs Germany (1600)
Costa Rica vs Poland (1600)

Group B

Saturday, June 10
England vs Paraguay (1500)
Trinidad & Tobago vs Sweden (1800)

Thursday, June 15
England vs Trinidad (1800)
Sweden vs Paraguay (2100)

Tuesday, June 20
Sweden vs England (2100)
Paraguay vs Trinidad (2100)

Group C

Saturday, June 10
Argentina vs Ivory Coast (2100)

Sunday, June 11
Serbia vs Netherlands (1500)

Friday, June 16
Argentina vs Serbia (1500)
Netherlands vs Ivory Coast (1800)

Wednesday, June 21
Netherlands vs Argentina (1600)
Ivory Coast vs Serbia (1600)

Group D

Sunday, June 11
Mexico vs Iran (1800)
Angola vs Portugal (2100)

Friday, June 16
Mexico vs Angola (2100)

Saturday, June 17
Portugal vs Iran (1500)

Wednesday, June 21
Portugal vs Mexico (2100)
Iran vs Angola (2100)

Group E

Monday, June 12
Italy vs Ghana (1500)
USA vs Czech Republic (1800)

Saturday, June 17
Italy vs USA (1800)
Czech Republic vs Ghana (2100)

Thursday, June 22
Czech Republic vs Italy (1600)
Ghana vs USA (1600)

Group F

Monday, June 12
Australia vs Japan (1500)

Tuesday, June 13
Brazil vs Croatia (2100)

Sunday, June 18
Brazil vs Australia (1500)
Japan vs Croatia (1800)

Thursday, June 22
Croatia vs Australia (2100)
Japan vs Brazil (2100)

Group G

Tuesday, June 13
France vs Switzerland (1800)
South Korea vs Togo (2100)
Sunday, June 18
France vs South Korea (2100)

Monday, June 19
Togo vs Switzerland (1500)
Friday, June 23
Switzerland vs South Korea (1600)
Togo vs France (1600)

Group H

Wednesday, June 14
Spain vs Ukraine (1500)
Tunisia vs Saudi Arabia (1800)

Monday, June 19
Spain vs Tunisia (1800)
Saudi Arabia vs Ukraine (2100)

Friday, June 23
Saudi Arabia vs Spain (2100)
Ukraine vs Tunisia (2100)

1/8 Finals

Saturday, June 24
1. A-1 vs B-2 (1700)
2. C-1 vs D-2 (2100)

Sunday, June 25
3. B-1 vs A-2 (1700)
4. D-1 vs C-2 (2100)

Monday, June 26
5. E-1 vs F-2 (1700)
6. G-1 vs H-2 (2100)

Tuesday, June 27
7. F-1 vs E-2 (1700)
8. H-1 vs G-2 (2100)

Quarter-finals

Friday, June 30
1. 1/8F1 vs 1/8F2 (1700)
2. 1/8F5 vs 1/8F6 (2100)

Saturday, July 1
3. 1/8F3 vs 1/8F4 (1700)
4. 1/8F7 vs 1/8F8 (2100)

Semi-FinalS

Tuesday, July 4
QF1 vs QF2 (2100)

Wednesday, July 5
QF3 vs QF4 (2100)

3rd Place Play-off

Saturday, July 8 (2100)

Final

Sunday, July 9 (2000)

Note: Kick-off times provisional.

Germany and Malta are on the same time zone.