England had a group of death in 2002 as they were drawn alongside Argentina, Sweden and Nigeria, but they came through it and Fabio Capello and co all seem to think they can do so again. According to Kevin McCarra in the Guardian, though, the important thing is going to be avoiding Ivory Coast.

Fabio Capello wants to avoid meeting an African team at the World Cup. There is a dread that at least one of those countries will be inspired next summer. The arrival of the tournament on that continent is far more than a matter of scheduling. It is a moment of recognition and the effects of that were felt even in the less dramatic circumstances when South Korea were co-hosts in 2002.

It is Ivory Coast who could spread panic. They have power, score freely, are well-served by proven performers and should yearn to atone for elimination in the group phase in 2006. Rivals could be reduced to praying that the Premier League drains someone like Didier Drogba between now and the summer. It would be a relief to them if Chelsea had the debilitating experience of going far in the domestic and European campaigns.

Ivory Coast, even so, will not be counting purely on the striker. It is the know-how and expertise in several areas that could set them apart. Yaya Touré may have grown unsettled at Barcelona, but he still supplied a balance in defensive midfield that helped endow the side with the poise that brought them the Champions League trophy with that win over Manchester United.

Lovable midfielder Robbie Savage argues along the same lines in his column in the Daily Mirror, putting the emphasis firmly on Drogba's threat.

England will fear France, Portugal, Cameroon and Paraguay in today's World Cup but the team I'd hate to get drawn against is Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast.

I've played against Drogba numerous times and two memories stand out. One was when he'd just come to England and we came face-to-face as I came to close him down. I won the ball, flicked it over his head and ran on to it. I looked back and Didier just smiled. I like a player who is respectful of what opponents can do, especially when that player is far more talented than you.

I wasn't so pleased when, on another occasion, I slid in to a tackle and nailed him and Drogba let out the loudest scream I've ever heard before rolling around. But that is something he has worked hard to remove from his game and more often than not these days he simply gets up and gets on with it.

With his pace, power, ability to hold the ball up and deadly instinct in front of goal, Drogba is probably the best striker in the world right now – maybe even the best player in the world, full stop.