A closer look at England's World Cup Group D opponents

England will face Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in Group D at next summer's World Cup following Friday's draw in Bahia.

But what do we know about the three opponents?

Italy, of course, knocked Roy Hodgson's men out of Euro 2012 on penalties, but the last time the pair came head to head in a World Cup match was the third-place play-off in 1990.

The Three Lions previously faced Uruguay seven years ago, winning 2-1 at Anfield. They've met twice before in World Cups, the most recent was in the group stage in 1966 which finished 0-0.

However, when England line-up against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on 24 June, it will be the first time the nations have met at senior level.

Costa Rica are, though, the only team in Group D yet to win a World Cup.

ITALY
v England, Sunday 15 June in Manaus

Italy striker Mario Balotelli

Qualified by finishing top of European Group B
Won the World Cup in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006
Some stars: Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli
Coach: Cesare Prandelli
England’s record against them: P24 W8 D7 L9
Last match: Italy 1-2 England in Berne in 2012

Opta facts

• Italy topped Group B of the UEFA 2014 World Cup qualifiers, winning 22 points from a possible 30 points.
• The Italians remained unbeaten throughout qualifying, winning six and drawing four.
• This was the fourth time in the last five World Cup qualifying campaigns that Italy have gone unbeaten (qualifiers for 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014). The only one of these campaigns that they lost a qualifier (2006), they won.

URUGUAY
v England, Thursday 19 June in Sao Paulo

Liverpool's Uruguayan forward Luis Saurez

Qualified by beating Jordan in an Intercontinental play-off (5-0 away; 0-0 at home)
Won the World Cup in 1930 (as hosts) and 1950
Some stars: Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Lugano
Coach: Oscar Tabarez
England’s record against them: P10 W3 D3 L4
Last match: England 2-1 Uruguay at Anfield in 2006

Opta facts

• Uruguay beat Jordan 5-0 on aggregate in a play-off to reach Brazil 2014 – they had to go this route after finishing 5th in CONMEBOL qualification.
• Luis Suárez was top-scorer in CONMEBOL qualification having scored 11 goals from 14 appearances (excluding play-offs).
• Uruguay lost just one of their last seven World Cup qualification matches (W5 D1, including play-offs).
• In CONMEBOL qualification, only Paraguay (72.7%) had a poorer pass accuracy rate than Uruguay (73.4%).

COSTA RICA
v England, Tuesday 24 June in Belo Horizonte

Fulham's Bryan Ruiz

Qualified by finishing second behind USA in the CONCACAF final round
Reached the Round of 16 at the 1990 World Cup, losing to Czechoslovakia
Some stars: Bryan Ruiz, Cristian Bolanos and Keilor Navas
Coach: Jorge Luis Pinto
England have never played them at senior level

Opta facts

• Costa Rica entered the CONCACAF qualification process in the third of four rounds. They progressed from the third round and in the final round of qualification finished in second; the top three automatically qualify.
• Costa Rica lost four games across the 16 matches they were involved in during the qualification process.
• Álvaro Saborío scored the most goals for Costa Rica during qualification (8).