WORLD CUP 2014 DRAW: England to face Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in Group D England will face Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica after being drawn in Group D Roy Hodgson's side will open their campaign in Manaus, where temperatures can reach over 30 degrees, on June 15 (that's 2am for the fans back home) Manaus is a five-and-a-half hour flight from England's base in Rio and is located in the Amazonian rain forest, with 99 per cent humidity The Three Lions will then travel to Sao Paulo to face Luis Suarez's Uruguay on June 19 before facing Costa Rica in their final group clash five days later Manager Hodgson admits England have been dealt a 'tough group' FA chairman Greg Dyke makes throat-slitting gesture after draw is made Hosts Brazil will face Croatia in the opening game of the World Cup Holders Spain have been drawn against Holland in a repeat of the 2010 final By Neil Ashton After upsetting the Mayor of Manaus earlier in the week, Roy Hodgson's World Cup fears have been realised. England have had a mare. Jungle fever has already set in as Hodgson prepares to head up to this tropical city buried deep in northern Brazil's rainforests for their opening group game. Hodgson as good as caused a diplomatic incident earlier in the week when he called Manaus "the place ideally to avoid." The city's Mayor Arthur Virgilio Neto subsequently released a statement accusing Hodgson of lacking "education and culture." Tough draw: FA chairman Greg Dyke gave his immediate reaction to the news that England would face Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica with a throat-slitting gesture Nightmare scenes: The FA chairman made the gesture while sitting next to boss Roy Hodgson in the auditorium Here she comes: Brazilian actress Fernanda Lima takes to the stage as Sepp Blatter addresses the audience Full house: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Blatter are flanked by Rodrigo Hilbertand and Fernanda Lima Manaus has a population of 1.7m and England will discover that most of them will now be supporting Italy when the teams emerge from the tunnel on June 15. The boos that will ring out when they step out of the Arena Amazonia will confirm it. Hodgson has made a big tactical mistake with the people of Manaus. He tried in vain to clear up this dog's dinner after the draw forced England north, but the damage has been done. From there they will head down to Sao Paulo, via their base in Rio de Janeiro for a few days, to play Uruguay on June 19. It sounds awful to say this but, by the time England arrive in Belo Horizonte for the final group game against the group outsiders, Costa Rica, five days later, it is possible they will be destined for an early flight out of Brazil. They have been pitched in with a group of bad boys: Italy's Mario Balotelli and Uruguay's Luis Suarez will be up against Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill before too long. It doesn't seem fair. Suarez, with 39 goals in 76 appearances for his country, scored four in the week for Liverpool against Norwich. The boy loves a goal. Getting shirty: Mario Balotelli will line up for Italy while Luis Suarez's Uruguay will lie in wait for England The Group of Death: England have been drawn with Uruguay, Costa Rica and Italy A whole load of travel: The three stadiums in Brazil that England will play their games Manaus Sao Paulo Belo Horizonte But this is it for Hodgson, time to start earning his corn as England's manager and getting past the mother of all World Cup groups. Hodgson spoke earlier in the week of his fears about the rainforests and the steaming heat will not suit England's game. The humidity of Manaus is not an excuse for England to wilt like wall flowers against European opposition when we get underway here in Brazil. Chances to play in a World Cup in the motherland come around every 50-odd years and they have ample time to prepare for the steam and sweat up in the north. The kick-off time has been scheduled for 9pm (2am in UK), when conditions will be cooler. It will not be easy, but nobody ever won a World Cup by fluking their way towards a final. "To be frank there weren't many scenarios where I would have been jumping for joy," added Hodgson. There is a lot of travelling to be done in most of the groups. But our great advantage is being based in Rio means we have only one long trip. The key moment: England were drawn in Group D. They will face Costa Rica in their final match (below) Gareth Bale: 'Tough looking group for England but some exciting games to look forward to... Portugal-Germany and Spain-Holland in particular. Vincent Kompany: 'Belgium, Algeria, Korea Republic, Russia. Interesting but tricky because there is no hiding for us, next round is a must. #Belgium Jack Wilshere: 'Tough group...but so what? If we want to win it we will have to play the best teams anyway!! Kevin-Prince Boateng: Brother it's time again...that's how beautiful life is!! Can't wait...love u bro!!! @JB17Official Brad Guzan: 'All games are tough at the World Cup, chance is there to progress! Now we know, let the headlines start! #USMNT Nigel de Jong: 'Exciting group, looking forward to our first game #Brazil2014 #Holland #GroupB' Asmir Begovic: Buzzing about our draw! Opening game at the Maracana! Looking forward to it big time. Let's do it! Olivier Giroud: 'Switzerland Ecuador and Honduras for us!!!' Joey Barton: 'Tough group for England. Cannot see them getting out of that. Italy, who knocked England out of Euro 2012 on penalties, will find the conditions in Manaus just as tough. Cesare Prandelli's team are old hands at tournament football, wily competitors with the know-how to get through tight spots. Plucking balls from the pots yesterday was their 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro. How they would love to call on him. Instead England have another meeting with Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo, Thiago Motta and that beast Balotelli. That's a massive game for England and the clash against Uruguay will be another showstopper. They will head to a city where the traffic never moves and it is here that England's World Cup campaign could come to a standstill. Somehow, Uruguay threatened to make a mess of qualification until they ran into Jordan in the play-offs and thumped them 5-0 on aggregate. Hodgson's side will have to contain two players that he elevated into the category of "world class" following the draw here. He knows all about Suarez, of course, and there is the added threat of Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani. Beyond that it's Costa Rica, where former Derby and Manchester City striker Paulo Wanchope is the assistant coach. Hodgson will know precious little about them at this moment in time, other than they lost 1-0 against Australia in Sydney last month. It's a tough group for England, but that's the law of the jungle. Bring on the World Cup! The new Brazuca balls with the names of the teams in Group D Suit and tie: Joachim Low arrives for the final draw as, right, England boss Roy Hodgson takes his seat French fancy: France legend Zinedine Zidane, who won the World Cup in 1998, was among the attendees Legend: Brazil superstar Pele was asked to take part in the draw, but turned the opportunity down Everton boss Roberto Martinez, speaking to BBC Two, said England have a great chance of winning the World Cup. He said: They have a really good chance. The development of the English footballer is better. they are tactically aware and have become thinkers. On their day they can beat anyone. England are ready now to earn that belief in a big tournament. Are you ready? Hodgson will have been hoping for a favourable draw in his first World Cup as England boss Arriving in style: FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrived in style for Friday's World Cup draw Heading to Rio: England booked their place at the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Poland at Wembley We've done it: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will lead England at next summer's finals in Brazil Gigi Riva former Italy forward and team manager for 25 years said: "It's a difficult group, it is important start good. England are strong team but it's not like the team they were before. Cesare Prandelli Italian coach: "Our group is the most difficult. It is the group of three world champions and we need to do the maximum to qualify but I don't worry. The most important thing is arrive ready in Brazil. 'I'm worried when the Italian press says "it's easy." The weather is the only problem, not the opponent teams. The hardest match? Against Costa Rica because we don't now this team. Uruguay, Costa Rica, England and Italy: The four teams that will battle it out in Group D The big screen: Wayne Rooney vents his anger after England were held to a 0-0 draw by Algeria at the 2010 World Cup Going home: England were sent crashing out by Germany in the second round after a 4-1 defeat England v Italy, June 15 (2am) - Manaus As the name of the stadium suggests, Manaus is located bang in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. Manaus is hardly a hotbed of football, but organisers felt it was important to take the World Cup to all four corners of the country despite fears the stadium will become a white elephant once the tournament ends. Humidity can reach 99 per cent during June and July. Uruguay v England, June 19 (8pm) - Sao Paulo Serious doubts have emerged about the stadium which is due to host the opening match of the tournament after a crane collapsed on the site last week, killing two workers. Sao Paulo is the spiritual birthplace of football in Brazil, but its unpredictable weather may turn off visitors. The south-eastern city is known as the Terra da Garoa (Land of the Drizzle) because of the almost incessant rain that falls there. A bit like Brazil's version of Manchester. Costa Rica v England, June 24 (5pm) - Belo Horizonte Venue for one of the semi-finals, Belo Horizonte's biggest stadium has undergone a complete overhaul since Brazil won the right to host the World Cup. Ronaldo used to grace the surface of the Mineirao when he started his career with Cruzeiro. Located just an hour's flight from Rio, Belo Horizonte is a more affordable option for travelling fans. Temperatures will be in the mid-20s, and there will be little humidity.