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Next summer's World Cup is at last beginning to seem very real. While fans can finally start marking their calendars, the recent draw in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Well before the Village People performed with YMCA, we were left analyzing a group stage that includes a showdown between two of the world's best strikers and a knockout stage promising a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people logged on eager to find out their team's group stage opponents. But, despite the fact fans are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this one set a new standard.

After acts by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus countless video packages and interviews, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

This led to further commentary and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event first kicked off. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the largest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the most significant theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his major international competition next summer. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Together with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and Spain's division will clash for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

El Tri will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous goal.

Another notable group game will see France once more face Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. But, standing in their way are former world champions, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner 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 collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between former champions the Germans and France.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals Messi and Ronaldo are set for a possible clash. It would require both Argentina and Ronaldo's side finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely first knockout game. And, if Scotland progress, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.