As soon as the actual pots are announced for any FIFA World Cup™ Final Attract, fans the world over scrutinise the nations associated with each to predict the toughest group. Debate continues throughout and after the draw itself as to that has been placed into the most difficult section, as well as who has the most difficult draw.

Now, FIFA. com will try as well as settle some arguments – and maybe start some new types – by using the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking to look for the most difficult group, through average ranking, each and every World Cup because the ranking's inception in 1993.

USA 1994

Group E

South america (17th in ranking)

Republic of Eire (13)

Italy (1)

Norway (5)

Typical FIFA/Coca-Cola World Position: 9

Group W, which included eventual champions Brazil came close, with an average position of 13. 25, but it was the actual group that included finalists Italy which comes out on top since the toughest. Mexico, Republic of Ireland as well as Italy all superior, with the former set falling at the Circular of 16, while Gli Azzurri had been famously defeated upon penalties in the Last by A Seleção.

France 1998

Group Gary the gadget guy

Romania (5)

England (6)

Colombia (9)

Tunisia (23)

Typical FIFA/Coca-Cola World Position: 10. 75

The very first 32-team World Mug threw up some intriguing match-ups, but by World Position, it was Group Gary the gadget guy which was the most difficult. The group followed the ranking, with Romania topping the actual pool, England joining them in the knockout stage in second, with Colombia 3rd and Tunisia bottom part. Both teams who else progressed were conquered in the Round of 16, Romania through eventual third-placed part Croatia and the Three Lions by Argentina.

Korea/Japan 2002

Group F

Sweden (16)

England (10)

Argentina (2)

Nigeria (40)

Average FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 17

England lined up in the hardest group by position for the second consecutive finals, and advanced in second place again, behind Sweden, with Argentina surprise casualties in 3rd, and Nigeria completing fourth. The Swedes were then conquered by surprise outfit Senegal in the Circular of 16, with England falling in order to eventual champions South america in the quarter-finals.

Indonesia 2006

Group Electronic

Italy (12)

Ghana (50)

Czech Republic (2)

USA (8)

Average FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: 18

Having been drawn in the most difficult group by position once again, Italy might go on to win the tournament for the fourth time. Debutants Ghana caused a surprise by achieving the knockout stages in second place in the group ahead of the Czechs in 3rd and the Stars as well as Stripes in fourth. The Black Celebrities would be defeated through Brazil in the Circular of 16, while Italy would beat Australia, Ukraine, the actual hosts and France on their way to fifa ultimate Team 18 coins the actual Trophy.

South The african continent 2010

Group They would

Spain (2)

Chile (17)

Switzerland (13)

Honduras (35)

Typical FIFA/Coca-Cola World Position: 16. 75

For your second consecutive finals, the World Cup champion emerged from the hardest group by typical ranking. Spain, despite an opening beat to the Swiss, advanced as group champions and defeated Italy, Paraguay, Germany and the Netherlands to raise the Trophy. Chile joined them within the knockout stage, but were defeated through Brazil in the Circular of 16.

South america 2014

Group Gary the gadget guy

Germany (2)

Ghana (23)

Portugal (14)

USA (13)

Typical FIFA/Coca-Cola World Position: 13

For the 3rd finals in a line, the eventual champions again emerged from the toughest group through ranking. Germany capped the group prior to seeing off Algeria, France, the hosts and Argentina in order to lift the Trophy. USA joined them in the knockout stages - to be conquered in extra time through Belgium in the Circular of 16 -- with Portugal 3rd and Ghana fourth - meaning the last group standings followed the country’s pre-draw ranking.

Note: The newest rankings which were partly used to determine seedings in 1994-2006 had been from the edition of the FIFA Coca-Cola World Ranking that directly preceded the Final Attract (November of the yr before the finals), and these are the rankings we now have used to determine the actual toughest draws for all those finals.

For 2010 as well as 2014 - as in 2018 - the sole determining factor of seedings was the actual October ranking from before the Final Attract, so we used all those rankings to determine the most difficult groups for those finals.