LEIPZIG (Germany), Dec 10: An exciting clash between Argentina and the Netherlands looks set to be the high spot of the first round of the 2006 World Cup while holders Brazil will do battle with Australia and Japan.

The draw for the first round in the eastern city of Leipzig on Friday placed the Dutch and two-time World Cup winners Argentina in what looks to be the tournament’s “Group of Death”.

Group C also includes Serbia and Montenegro, who have the power to unsettle the big two, and African debutants Cote d’Ivoire who can call on players who play a leading role at European clubs.

Dutch coach Marco van Basten said he was looking forward to the clash with the South Americans in Frankfurt on June 21.

“Argentina are one of the big footballing countries with a great history and many of their players are in the European leagues,” he said.

Five-time world champions Brazil will expect to qualify from Group F, but coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he was taking nothing for granted against Croatia, Japan and the Australia, who are now coached by the experienced Dutchman Guus Hiddink.

“Technically, you could say that it is an easy group for Brazil but it is nothing of the sort,” said Parreira. “We need to be very wary. These are experienced teams. Japan have improved a lot under Zico.

“Croatia were very impressive in qualifying, while Australia knocked out Uruguay with two good games.”

Hiddink said he was hoping to create shocks to rival those created by his South Korea team which reached the semi-finals in 2002.

“We are happy to have qualified but we are not here to make up the numbers and want to spring a surprise,” Hiddink said.

Japan coach Zico said he would put aside his emotions when he faced Brazil, the nation he starred for as a player.

“For us, it is easier to encounter Brazil in the first round. It is better than meeting them after winning through to the second round,” he said.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazilian who coached his home nation to victory in 2002 and is now in charge of Portugal, said he would guard against over-confidence in Group D which features Mexico, Iran and Angola.

“All of us in Portugal have to work to avoid the euphoria we experienced four years ago after the draw for the 2002 World Cup, which ended up in a nightmare. We don’t want Portugal to live through that again,” Scolari said.

Portugal crashed out in the first round in 2002 after failing to negotiate a group which included the United States, Poland and South Korea.

The tournament will kick off in Munich on June 9 when host nation Germany take on rank outsiders Costa Rica.

The Germans, beaten finalists in 2002, were handed a kind draw, with Poland and Ecuador completing their Group A.

England believe they have their strongest squad since they landed the trophy in 1966, and a Group B draw of Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden produced smiles from England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

“It is not an easy group but it could have been much worse,” he said.

Should England win their group and progress through their last 16 match, they face a possible clash with Argentina or the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.

Three-time winners Italy will be wary of the challenge posed by Ghana, the United States and dark horses the Czech Republic in Group E.

France, the winners on home soil in 1998 but eliminated in the first phase of a disastrous 2002 campaign, were grouped with South Korea, African debutants Togo and Switzerland in Group G.

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

The 64 matches take place in 12 German cities with the final in Berlin on July 9.

First round draw:

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, United States, Czech Republic

Group F: Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan

Group G: France, Switzerland, South Korea, Togo

Group H: Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia.—Agencies