Johnson relishing World Cup clash

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Both sides avoided Tri-Nations super-powers New Zealand, South Africa and Australia and Johnson knows England's second World Cup encounter with Scotland - the first was a 9-6 victory in the 1991 semi-final - will be a seismic occasion.

"Playing Scotland in the World Cup will be a hell of a game, with huge passion. We haven't played them in a World Cup since 1991. That was a tight game," he said.

They are joined in Pool B by fourth seeds Argentina with the final two berths to be filled by the leading European qualifier - possibly Georgia or Romania - and a play-off winner. In 2007, that was Portugal.

England's potential quarter-final opponents will come from Pool A and are almost certain to be either New Zealand or France.

It is hard enough for Johnson, as pragmatic a coach as they come, to consider what might happen three years hence, nevermind predict potential knock-out opponents.

Johnson refused to buy into the theory that England had escaped lightly in Monday's draw just because they avoided Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

"Scotland were quarter-finalists last year, we finished second and Argentina finished third," said Johnson, who played in England's World Cup win over the Pumas in 1995.

"Argentina have been successful. They went to the World Cup in 2007 and came through the toughest pool of all and they could have got to the final.

"If you want to get to the last week of the World Cup you need to be good enough to beat the best in the world. Whoever we got in the pool doesn't change anything in that regard."