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Brazil will face Croatia in opener

LEIPZIG, Germany (CNN) -- Defending champions Brazil will face 1998 semifinalists Croatia in their opening match of the 2006 finals in Germany.

Friday's draw in Leipzig also placed Argentina with the Netherlands in a tough first-round group and hosts Germany will launch the tournament against Costa Rica in Munich.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will come up against his home country, Sweden, in the third match, after openers against Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago.

Five-time champions Brazil will face Australia and 2002 hosts Japan after their tough first game.

Argentina must clash with the Netherlands, their opponents in the 1978 final, after games with the Ivory Coast and Serbia/Montenegro.

France, the 1998 champions, and Switzerland, who met each other in the qualifying competition were placed together again in Group G, opening their campaigns against each other in Stuttgart on June 13.

South Korea and Togo complete the group.

Three-time winners Germany have fixtures against Poland and Ecuador after what should be a comfortable start against the Costa Ricans.

There are likely to be concerns about security at the match against Poland in Dortmund five days after the opening fixture..

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.

The United States were placed in a tough group, which includes Italy, Ghana and the Czech Republic.

Perennial World Cup under-achievers Spain face a potentially tricky task against Ukraine, current African champions Tunisia and Saudi Arabia in Group H.

Mexico will hope to qualify along with Portugal from Group D which also includes Iran and first-timers Angola.

World Cup Finals line-up:

Group A: Germany, Costa Rica, Poland, Ecuador

Group B: England, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Sweden

Group C: Argentina, Ivory Coast, Serbia/Montenegro, Netherlands

Group D: Mexico, Iran, Angola, Portugal

Group E: Italy, Ghana, USA, Czech Republic

Group F: Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan

Group G: France, Switzerland, South Korea, Togo

GRoup H: Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia

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