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Soccer News of Wednesday, 9 June 2004

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Athens '04 Draw : Ghana, Italy, Japan, Paraguay

Ghana, bronze medallists at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, meet Italy, Paraguay and Japan in Group B.

Italy coach Claudio Gentile said: "It's a difficult group. Ghana are physically strong and they are used to the heat so they won't have problems in Athens. Paraguay have eliminated Brazil in the South American pre-Olympic tournament and this says everything about their strength. Japan are quick, technically skilled and have several promising players. It means we will have to work hard and arrive in Athens in our best physical and moral condition."

Group A: Greece, S Korea, Mali, Mexico

Group B: Paraguay, Japan, Ghana, Italy

Group C: Argentina, Serbia & Montenegro (Former Yugoslavia), Tunisia, Australia

Group D: Costa Rica, Morocco, Iraq, Portugal,