ENGLAND have been handed a relatively favourable draw for the qualifying tournament of the 2014 World Cup.

This evening's draw in Rio de Janeiro pitted England with Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and San Marino in Group H of the European qualifying section.

The winners will qualify automatically for the 2014 finals in Brazil, while the runners-up will take part in a play-off.

Montenegro were one of the weaker second seeds in the draw, although they are currently neck and neck with England in the race to qualify for next summer's European Championships.

The two sides drew 0-0 at Wembley last October, with England due to travel to Podgorica for their final Euro 2012 qualifying game in October.

They also have recent knowledge of playing Ukraine, as the two sides met in the qualifying tournament for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

England enjoyed a comfortable win at Wembley, but lost 1-0 in Dnipro in a game that saw goalkeeper Robert Green receive a straight red card.

Fourth seeds Poland are not the force they once were, while minnows Moldova and San Marino should not pose too many problems.

FULL WORLD CUP QUALIFYING DRAW:

Group A: Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, SCOTLAND, Macedonia, WALES.

Group B: Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia, Malta.

Group C: Germamy, Sweden, REP OF IRELAND, Austria, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan.

Group D: Holland, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Andorra.

Group E: Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus, Iceland.

Group F: Portugal, Russia, Israel, NORTHERN IRELAND, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg.

Group G: Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, Leichtenstein.

Group H: ENGLAND, Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, San Marino.

Group I: Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia, Finland.