England stalwart Rio Ferdinand said he expected England to book their place at the 2014 World Cup finals after Saturday's draw treated the team kindly.
Former Brazilian champion Ronaldo drew seeded England in Group H alongside Euro 2012 qualifying rivals Montenegro, Ukraine, old rivals Poland, Moldova and San Marino.
"Some tricky away games. But have to be looking to qualify top," the veteran defender told FIFA.com.
Ferdinand, who missed last year's finals through injury, is unlikely to be on the teamsheet by the time the event comes round as he will then be 35 - though he will doubtless hope to achieve similar longevity in the international game as former Italian star Paolo Maldini, who was still a regular at 34.
England coach Fabio Capello will definitely have moved on by the time Brazil welcomes the world for the first time in 64 years.
But the Italian, who will bow out after Euro 2012, thought the draw was quite a reasonable deal for the Three Lions.
"Yes, I am confident. There are young players who are coming through," Capello said.
But he also warned: "It's not going to be easy. Ukraine and Montenegro are going to be tough.
"You have to be really, really focused and play every game like a final - but that will be another manager's job. I'm focused on my job now to qualify for the Euro."
England could have drawn unseeded France, who won the pair's last friendly meeting and who now must duel with world champions Spain.
Although Montenegro held Capello's men to a Wembley stalemate last year, England would not normally expect to trip over any of their group rivals.
Even so, they will be mindful of past failures.
After winning in 1966, and then just failing to get past Germany in the 1970 quarters, England promptly slipped up against Poland, constantly frustrated by their keeper Jan Tomaszewski, in a 1973 qualifier.
Then they lost out to Italy four years later after Don Revie had dropped his bombshell that he was resigning mid-campaign to go and coach in the United Arab Emirates.
In those days, only one side qualified from the group and the Italians made it instead.
When the World Cup last crossed the Atlantic, England were missing once again as they failed to qualify for the finals at USA '94 under Graham Taylor.
But the greatest humiliation of all was the one that they suffered the last time the World Cup was held in Brazil, when Joe Gaetjens scored the only goal as the United States won 1-0 in Belo Horizonte during the 1950 finals.
Source: AFP
