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There were gasps in the audience at Durban's International Convention Centre when Croatia, 3-2 winners at Wembley in the biggest shock of the Euro 2008 qualifiers, were drawn in the top spot in European Group 6.

The group will be completed by Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra. Winners of each of nine European groups qualify for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

The eight best runners-up compete in playoffs for four further European places in the finals.

Despite their second seeding Scotland were handed a tough draw, as they were placed with Holland, Norway, Macedonia, and Iceland.

Scotland have some painful memories of the Dutch, who beat them 6-0 in a Euro 2004 playoff, after the Scots had won the first leg 1-0 at Hampden Park.

Northern Ireland's recent climb up the world rankings saw them in the third seeded group, and their group of Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and San Marino, looks one of their more manageable groups in years.

The Republic of Ireland have a mouth-watering two matches to look forward to against World Champions Italy but will be less happy to see Cyprus, who took four points off them in the Euro qualifiers, once more in their group. Also in Group 8 are Montenegro, Georgia, and Bulgaria.

Wales' fourth seeding meant they were always going to be placed in a tough group and for the second consecutive campaign they will face Germany.John Tosack's men will also face Russia, Roy Hodgson's Finland, Azerbaijan, and Liechtenstein.

Thirty-one nations will join hosts South Africa in the 2010 finals.

European section 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

Seán Fay / Eurosport