England get dream draw and should hit second base

World Cup 2006: I'm still not quite sure how that World Cup draw worked, and I don't think I'll ever figure it out, but we got there in the end and, at last, we have something concrete to talk about, and something real to look forward to.

And, of course, the frustration and disappointment of our own team missing out really hit home last night, what we wouldn't have given to have been involved in that draw - how ironic that France and Switzerland should be drawn together.

For England, well, I think it was a dream draw, it couldn't really have come out much better for them.

That's not to say that Sweden and Paraguay (who they beat 4-0 last time they played), whatever about Trinidad and Tobago, won't be difficult - and of course England have a very poor record against Sweden - but considering they could have got Holland, the Czech Republic, Portugal, teams of that calibre, I don't think they can have any complaints.

They'll know plenty about Sweden, of course, especially their attack which, with players of the quality of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Larsson and Freddie Ljungberg, should be a threat to any one, but if England are really serious about being genuine World Cup contenders - and, once again, they believe that they are - then they have to be able to cope with a group of this composition.

Better still for England is the way their games have fallen - and they won't be hanging around for a few days, they play on the second day.

They start against Paraguay and then play Trinidad and Tobago so, really, they should have six points in the bag by the time they play Sweden. It couldn't be better for them and Sven-Goran.

If they can win the group they play the runners-up in Group A and that could be Poland - again, how much better could it be?

Expanding the World Cup from 24 to 32 teams has, I think, had the effect of making the opening group stage look much like the opening group phase of the Champions League - really, the World Cup proper won't start until we get in to the last 16.

Apart from Group E - where the USA could challenge the Czech Republic to join Argentina in the next round - and possibly Group F - where Australia might just be sufficiently street-wise to beat Croatia to second place behind Brazil - I think the rest are relatively straightforward for the favourites.

I really don't think there is a 'Group of Death', as we've often had before; there just seems to be quite a gap in quality between the top two teams in each group and the 'bottom' two.

I'm sure we'll get the odd surprise, but I don't think we'll get too many.

I think the fact that the bookies barely altered the odds on the leading teams last night is an indication of how comfortable they feel the draw has been for them.

Naturally Brazil remain favourites, I would put England and Argentina just behind them, with Holland the best value bet after that.

For England it's all about keeping Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen fit, because after that they would be struggling to find a top class, in-form striker to fill the gap.

I do believe they have a chance this time, but you just never know with them. One thing is for certain, the draw has been kind to them and they should make it to the second phase reasonably comfortably. Shouldn't they?