I can't imagine Mick McCarthy will have any complaints about that draw. It gives the team a realistic, sporting chance of getting out of the group and going through to the second phase of the World Cup - and that's all he could ever have asked for.

True, there's a scenario that could see us lose all three games, but, equally, there's a possibility we could win all three. It's not an easy draw, as some have said, but it could have been a whole lot worse.

We don't really know a great deal about Cameroon, other than a lot of their players play in Europe and they'll be very good individually, but I don't think they'll have the same collective strength that we have. The thing is, with the African teams, you just never, ever know what to expect - sometimes they can turn up and be brilliant, other times they can look a rag-tag outfit.

Mick has seen the Saudis play twice against Iran, so that helps. Iran were the better team, so I would think he will be quietly confident about beating them.

Germany? I saw both their games against the Ukraine and they were much improved on their beating by England, much more like the old Germany - there's no way England would have beaten them 5-1 over those two legs. So they'll be difficult, but not insurmountable.

It's understandable if some of the Germans have said they are more concerned about Cameroon than us. Because Cameroon have a German coach, there's an element of "the Jack Charltons coming up against England" in that, but I've seen Rudi V÷ller quoted as saying he expects the Irish game to be tougher. My tips to come out of the group? Germany and Ireland.

I think France will definitely come through Group A, but one or two people I have spoken to reckon that the Senegalese are the best African team at the moment. We'll know more when we see them in the African Nations Cup at the start of next year, but I might go for a little upset there and tip them to go through with France. Uruguay only qualified through the play-offs, so they're obviously not the best South America can offer. Denmark are very functional and very organised, but I don't really see them causing major upsets. Tips? France and Senegal.

Group B? I've tipped Spain as my outsiders in the competition because I just think the Primera League is the best league in Europe now, and surely, surely we're going to see a Spanish team that actually hits form in a World Cup - and it would be about time too. They have some outstanding individuals, but I think they've also got much more of a team ethic now. They qualified in a heartbeat, no problems at all. They're technically very, very good, so I'm going to have a little outside bet on them.

Paraguay are the only ones who haven't got a coach at the moment - they sacked him as soon as they qualified, like you do - and Slovenia only got in through the play-offs, so I think it's an extremely open group. I don't fancy South Africa, to be honest with you, so I think the second place will be between Slovenia and Paraguay.

Group C? What a shoe-in for the Brazilians. Dear oh dear, if they ever needed a favour they've got one. I'd probably go for Turkey to go through with them. We know all about their club sides, but their national team seems to improve with every competition.

I don't really know much about China and Costa Rica. Would the fact that Costa Rica once had a famous World Cup victory over Scotland (in Italia '90) make me give them a chance? Well, the fact that all Costa Rica is remembered for is a "famous World Cup victory over Scotland" is enough: no.

Obviously I'd go for Portugal in Group D. We know all about them. If they found an out-and-out goalscorer they could go a long way. The United States will be very, very hard-working and might be a little bit of a dark horse in that group. I know people say Poland are an emerging side, but I might go for the States. They're great athletes and they'll be very well prepared. The Poles might struggle with the heat and humidity.

England's Group F? Well, I just don't think their draw is as bad as they're making out. I expect England, because they have enough match winners at the moment, and Argentina to go through. Yes, it's the toughest draw of the lot, but England's first reaction was to look at all the other groups and think, "Christ almighty, look how tough ours is". I just don't think it's that bad.

Nigeria are definitely not the force that they once were, and I would back England, poor and all as their record is against them, to beat Sweden if needs be.

Argentina are my tip for the World Cup, taking into account their squad of players, the fact that they always do well in major tournaments, that although they obviously have a Latin style they have a European temperament, largely because most of their players play in Europe, and because I think they'll cope with the conditions as well as anyone.

Italy are one of those nations who always come to major tournaments and get better and better, so they'll go through from Group G. Mexico scrambled in at the death, and I know nothing about Ecuador, absolutely nothing.

Croatia's star is not burning as brightly as it did when they burst on to the scene. It's tough, but I would have thought, because of the conditions, either Mexico or Ecuador would go through with Italy.

You really cannot overestimate the importance of the conditions. I reckon fair-skinned European players are going to have a real problem. I played in America for one season with Tampa, in Florida, where it was 100 per cent humidity and it was like somebody just whacked you in the guts after half an hour. Your legs go and there isn't a great deal that you can do. You can acclimatise all you like but, in a high-tempo game, it's very difficult to last. The way a lot of European teams play it's going to be a real problem.

Think back to how we struggled against Mexico, in the heat and humidity, at the 1994 World Cup. In Japan we could find that the conditions will be as tough as the opponents. You end up playing almost walking football and that's not us, our strength is being competitive and sometimes conditions like that can stop you being competitive, so it could take away a lot of our strength.

But, and it's a big but, if we can adapt to the conditions and cope reasonably, there's no reason why we can't make it in to the second round.

In an interview with Mary Hannigan