Close
Over the weekend, the World Cup draw was completed, amidst some brouhaha over sexism from women's football groups, as reported here by the Telegraph.
The draw itself though had many breathing a sigh of relief while others calling out the organizers for the results. The following is the breakdown from the groupings as reported by the Bleacher Report:
Group A would consist of the host team (Brazil) with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon;
Group B has Spain, the Netherlands, Chile and Australia;
Group C assignments went to Colombia, Greece, Coto d'Ivoire and Japan;
Group D has Uruguay, Italy, England and Costa Rica;
Group E has Switzerland, France, Ecuador and Honduras;
Group F has Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nigeria and iran;
Group G has Germany, Portugal, USA and Ghana;
Group H is comprised of Belgium, Russia, Algeria and Korea Republic.
Among the noted draw result criticisms came from England's FA Chairman Greg Dyke himself, who according to the Daily Mail, showed his true emotions with throat cutting gesture, saying "we're dead".
One of the brightest stars in the world football scene may also have its chances snuffed out at the elimination round as it is grouped together with Germany, Portugal and Ghana. Group G has earned the "Group of Death" monicker for the tournament as reported in the Washington Post. In the said report, USA manager Juergen Klinsmann said, "Obviously it's one of the most difficult groups in the whole draw. It couldn't get any more difficult or bigger, but that's what a World Cup is about."
There is a sliver of hope though, as the U.S. has a habit of performing its very best under pressure in previous World Cups, as reported in CBS Sports. This, together with the historical tendency of Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's top striker, to melt under pressure; U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann is a former German star and is familiar with Germany's system; while Ghana is a hodge podge of players that play professionally in both Europe and the U.S. Thus, these factors can be maximized to the benefit of the US team's chances in advancing past the Group stage.
© 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
File photo of Casey Stoney from last year 
Over the weekend, FIFA President Sepp Blatter faced criticism from British women associated with soccer for his support of a Brazilian model chosen to conduct the televised draw for the  on Saturday.

, who has no previous connection to football or sport prior to her involvement as a FIFA 2014 World Cup presenter, appeared on stage wearing a gold dress with a plunging neckline and matching heels. She stood alongside secretary general of FIFA Jérôme Valcke, Blatter and soccer greats including Uruguayan  during the draw. FIFA claims they were not involved in the selection of Lima's attire.

'''' writer Frank Isola said his favorite moment of the draw was when Ghiggia dropped a ping-pong ball and Lima in her dress retrieved it.

, who was captain of  in the last Olympics told the '''': "Giving the job to a model has sent out completely the wrong message. Unfortunately I wasn't surprised. ... They could have had a woman high up in the game or else a player with proper international standing. This should have been about football." 

 broadcaster , the first woman to be a  Match of the Day commentator for the network, is quoted by the ''Sunday Telegraph'' as saying, "What a missed opportunity. Brazil have arguably the most talented female footballer in the world, the great Marta, five-time FIFA World Player of the Year. Why not use her to showcase the best of Brazil and show some of her spectacular goals?"

Live coverage of the draw in Iran cut away every time Lima was in shot because her clothes did not comport with Iranian customs.

Blatter has a history of making remarks that have been perceived as sexist, including a 2004 comment that suggested female players could get more fans by wearing tighter uniforms.

Christiano Jorge Santos, a  state prosecutor, announced prior to the draw he planned an investigation into FIFA and event organizer GEO Eventos following the related accusations of racism stemming from the selection of Lima as a presenter.  Suggestions were made that Lima was chosen because she was white.


== Sources == 
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*