The weekend of football ahead finds itself relegated to the substitute's bench in many of today's papers, with an unsurprising focus on yesterday's World Cup draw. England's chances are being talked up left, right and centre after a seemingly favourable draw, whilst the traditional "Group of Death" tag has been assigned to the tantalising collection of Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast and Portugal.

One of those salivating at the prospect of England advancing is Oliver Kay in the Times, though his predictions are tinged with more than a hint of realism.

"As evening drew in over Cape Town, the sun still shone brightly on the England delegation. It might be different come June, when winter descends, but Fabio Capello and his players will return to South Africa next summer with a spring in their step after a draw last night that could hardly have been more favourable.

A semi-final against Brazil in Cape Town on July 6. How does that sound? Arrogant, for one thing, dangerous for another, but that will suddenly be the least that England expects. Such will be the optimism generated by the gift last night of a group that contains the United States, Algeria and Slovenia — and the promise of an onward journey, if that group is won, that might involve nothing more terrifying than Serbia or Ghana in the last 16 and an eminently beatable France in the quarter-finals.

Stop it, stop it. If there is one thing that England have struggled with in recent World Cups, it is the burden of expectation. Injuries are another reason why optimism should be tempered with caution — let us not forget how the curse of the metatarsal struck David Beckham on the eve of the tournament in 2002 and Wayne Rooney in 2006 — but the point is that England’s chances could have been unaffected, damaged or improved by last night’s draw and, as each ball was drawn, the feeling took hold that they had been the most fortunate of the eight seeded teams."

Former England boss Terry Venables in his column for the Sun is kindly on hand to offer current gaffer Fabio Capello some advice (as if he needed it).

"With our first game at the World Cup finals a little over six months away, I would not expect Fabio Capello to know his best England team. I would expect him to know his THREE best England teams.

As the dust begins to settle after yesterday's draw in Cape Town, all English eyes will be on the Three Lions coach. Having led us to qualification in record-quick time - an achievement that should not be underestimated - he must now turn his attention to assembling a squad the whole nation prays will be capable of doing us proud in South Africa next summer.

I can assure you this is no easy task. There is no right or wrong way of putting together a squad for a major tournament. When you become a manager of an international team, or any team for that matter, you do not get an instruction manual. There is no magic solution - although there is a tried and tested method.

I used it when I was England manager at Euro 96 and I would not be surprised if Capello is following a similar formula now. You decide on your first XI and pick two players for cover in every position. That gives you three teams of players."

Choosing to turn away from the England camp is Richard Williams at the Guardian, who chooses instead to concentrate on Brazil's chances of lifting a sixth title.

"Is this an omen of sorts? Brazil, the five-times winners of the World Cup, will start their 2010 finals campaign at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, where the historic climax of the Rugby World Cup took place in 1995. Back then, it was South Africa's most imposing stadium. Next summer it will probably be overshadowed by a new generation of spectacular purpose-built or reconditioned arenas, but it seems an appropriate location for the heirs of Pelé, Jairzinho, Romario, Ronaldo and the rest to begin their challenge.

Brazil may need all the omens they can get, since they occupy the closest thing in the 2010 draw to a group of death, but they may count themselves fortunate to be kicking off with a match against North Korea, whose only previous appearance in the finals came in 1966, when they achieved a stunning elimination of Italy in their final group game before making a quarter-final exit after losing 5-3 to Eusébio's Portugal."