Holders Spain drawn against 1998 champions France in FIFA World Cup 2014

World Cup 2010 winners Spain have been drawn against 1998 champions France in Group I following the draw in Rio de Janeiro for the 2014 Fifa World Cup. Netherlands, who lost last summer to Spain, have been drawn in Group D against Turkey, while England were handed a group containing familiar foes Poland on the 55th anniversary of their 1966 World Cup triumph. Germany will face Sweden and 2006 winners Italy meet Denmark and the Czech Republic among others.
 
The winners of each group will qualify directly for the 2014 Fifa World Cup. The eight best runners-up will be drawn against each other in a two-legged play-off to determine the other four qualifiers.

Intriguing Groups

Europe's standout group will be Group I, featuring 1998 champions France and 2010 winners Spain.

Group A will be equally intriguing, Croatia and Serbia will fancy their chances to finish top, but a promising Belgium side will be there to challenge.

In Group C, Germany-Austria will be a fascinating contest, and the 1990 world champions will also have to contend with Sweden and Republic of Ireland.

In Group D, 2010 runners-up Netherlands have to face Turkey, Hungary and Romania among others.

Group E looks to be the easiest section of the lot, featuring Norway, Slovenia and Switzerland.

World champions in 2006 Italy will face an intriguing group as they will have to negotiate the likes of Denmark, Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

Portugal and Russia will be favourites to top Group F, while Group G pits Euro 2004 winners Greece against the likes of Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

England will have to tussle with Montenegro as both nations are also fighting in the same group in the Euro 2012 qualifiers. Speaking of which, Euro co-hosts Poland and Ukraine are also in Group H to accompany the Three Lions.

This is what the completed groups look like in Europe:

GROUP A
Croatia
Serbia
Belgium
Scotland
FYR Macedonia
Wales

GROUP B
Italy
Denmark
Czech Republic
Bulgaria
Armenia
Malta

GROUP C
Germany
Sweden
Republic of Ireland
Austria
Faroe Islands
Kazakhstan

GROUP D
Netherlands
Turkey
Hungary
Romania
Estonia
Andorra

GROUP E
Norway
Slovenia
Switzerland
Albania
Cyprus
Iceland



GROUP F
Portugal
Russia
Israel
Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan
Luxembourg

GROUP G
Greece
Slovakia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Lithuania
Latvia
Lichtenstein

GROUP H
England
Montenegro
Ukraine
Poland
Moldova
San Marino

GROUP I
Spain
France
Belarus
Georgia
Finland