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The upcoming World Cup is finally starting to feel very real. Although fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, the recent draw in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with YMCA, we were left analyzing a group stage that includes a showdown between football's top strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in keen to find out their team's initial fixtures. But, even though fans are used to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless montages and interviews, it finally seemed to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

Cue more interviews and performances, before the real selection process finally commenced around 90 minutes after the glitzy event first kicked off. The draw itself then required almost an hour to finish.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the group stage being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is scheduled to come up against him in the last match of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in international football. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face South Africa in the opening match—and not for the first time. The sides also kicked off the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the then-world champions back in 2002. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Four new nations have benefited from the expanded World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first time. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. The island nation, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the favorites progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to meet. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners Germany and France.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a possible clash. It would depend on both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. And, if Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.