Italy will start their World Cup defence in a 2010 qualifying group containing Montenegro, while 2006 runners-up France will take on Austria.In Sunday's draw in South Africa, Italy were also drawn alongside the Republic of Ireland, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Georgia in Group Eight.

The romance was provided by Montenegro who will get a crack at the world champions in their first official competition since seceding from Serbia & Montenegro after the last World Cup.

World Cup runners-up France face Austria, the Faroe Islands, Lithuania, Serbia and Romania in their pool.

England get an early chance for revenge for their Euro 2008 qualification elimination by Croatia.

The Croats were top seeds in Group Six with England seeded second and Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra also in that pool.

Full European 2010 World Cup draw:

Group 1: Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania, Malta

Group 2: Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia, Luxembourg

Group 3: Czech Republic, Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia, San Marino

Group 4: Germany, Russia, Finland, Wales, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein

Group 5: Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia, Estonia

Group 6: Croatia, England, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Andorra

Group 7: France, Romania, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria, Faroe Islands

Group 8: Italy, Bulgaria, Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia, Montenegro

Group 9: Holland, Scotland, Norway, FYR Macedonia, Iceland.

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