Group A: England headline this group and although they should progress comfortably, there could be a potential shock if Taylor or Lewis fail to turn up. Mensur Suljovic returns for Austria and can perform on the big stage, on paper he'll be the carrier of the team with Maik Langendorf backing him up. Suljovic is ranked 59th in the world with Langendorf miles down in 175th. Austria did make it into the second round last year. Japan are the other nation in this group and Haruki Muramatsu had a good showing in the World Championships. He's currently ranked 91st while his partner, Sho Katsumi is unranked in the PDC and a real unknown. They'll be hoping for a better showing than last year where they lost to Sweden in the first round. If England play at their best or even in second gear, they should easily brush the other two nations away.
Group B: Eighth seeds Republic of Ireland are probably expected to get through, but if there is a seeded nation to fall short, it could be Ireland. William O'Connor hasn't quite lived up to expectation and sits 54th in the world while his partner, Connie Finnan sits way down in 109th which makes them arguably the weakest seeds. They did get into the second round after beating Malaysia last year. Denmark have the lowest ranked player in this competition with Jan Hoffman 258th in the world, but he did beat Brendan Dolan last year. Per Laursen is definitely the better known Dane and may be the carrier of the team, although he still sits 203rd in the world which makes them arguably the worst team in the competition. But Denmark did progress to the second round of last year's competition by beating Gibraltar. South Africa are definitely the dark horse in the group and had a good showing last year by getting to the quarter finals. Charl Pietersen, 119th in the world, and unranked Shawn Hogan once again team up despite Devon Peterson being 61st. This group could be decided in the match between Ireland and South Africa.
Group C: Fourth seeds Scotland were the disappointment of last year's tournament, losing in the second round to South Africa. Gary Anderson has just slipped out of the top ten this year but he and UK Open champion, Robert Thornton, should get through. Canada got into the second round last year with 24th in the world, John Part, headlining the side while his partner Jeff Smith may met the side down being 179th in the world. Sweden are the third team in this trio and are another one of those average sides. Sweden did make into the second round last year with Magnus Caris working his way up to 44th in the world. Par Riihonen is another unranked player in this tournament after failing to earn a tour card in q-school. Again if Scotland don't perform then they could be in for a shock against either side.
Group D: The promising Welsh team would have a horror group if this was football with Spain and Italy. But in darts, there should only be one winner if Mark Webster and Richie Burnett play like they can. The Welsh made it to the semi-finals last year before losing to England. The Spanish side do boast a victory over England in that shock result in 2010. Last year the Spaniards lost in the first round to South Africa and the pairing of Antonio Alcinas, 113th in the world, and Carlos Rodriguez, 148th in the world, return for their third attempt at the world stage. Italy are a late inclusion after the Philippines pulled out due to travel reasons. This gives two completely unranked and unknown players a chance to grace the television stage so it will be interesting to see Daniele Petri and Matteo Dal Monte play. Spain could be a dark horse in this group but, like with the others, Wales should have enough even in second gear.
Group E: Second seeds and last year's semi-finalists Netherlands grace this group and really should get through comfortably. World Championship runner-up Van Gerwen and the rejuvenated Van Barneveld really do look like an ominous pairing. Gibraltar narrowly lost to Denmark in the first round of last year's competition and Dyson Parody, 124th in the world, and Dylan Duo, 182nd in the world, return for their third appearance. Both can play on their day but really don't have enough to worry the Dutch. Poland didn't participate in the last World Cup but were involved in the inaugural competition in 2010. They lost to Russia in the first round but the unranked players, Krzystof Kciuk and Krzystof Ratajski, do return for their second showing.
Group F: The hosts will compete in this group and like Ireland would be candidates for a seed, if any were to, go out. Germany lost in the second round to USA last year and Jyhan Artut, 143rd in the world, and Andree Welge, 116th in the world, will get the opportunity to avenge that result when they meet USA again this year. Perhaps the much talked about youngster Kevin Munch is upset to miss out being 136th in the world but both Bernd Roith and Michael Rosenauer are ranked higher than Welge which poses further questions. The USA did lose to England in the following round last year and Darin Young will be confident about being able to do it again. Young is unranked but has shown that he can play, this time though, Young will be partnered Larry Butler who is also unranked instead of Gary Mawson. The final team in this group is Finland who narrowly lost to Croatia last year. Jani Haavisto looked very good in the World Championships yet is unranked and is joined by Jarkko Komula who is also unranked but did participate in the 2010 World Cup. This may end up being the most open group of the tournament, with Germany in real danger of missing out.
Group G: Last year's runners-up Australia will be looking for the same thing this year and will face New Zealand in the battle of Oceania. Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson made a good partnership last year and should easily have enough to go through. Croatia beat Finland in the first round last year before losing 4-0 to Wales. Tonci Restovic, 149th in the world, returns from last year's competition but this time he is joined by Robert Marijanovic who is ranked 119th in the world. New Zealand had the second lowest average last year as they lost to Austria. This time they have a different pairing altogether as Preston Ridd and Warren French make way for Phil Hazel and Craig Caldwell who are both unranked and are again a completely unknown team.
Group H: Northern Ireland have probably been given the worst group out of all the seeded sides. The sixth seeds are captained by Brendan Dolan with 51st in the world Michael Mansell again partnering him. The Northern Irish did make into the quarter finals before losing to Netherlands. It looks like it'll be a shoot-out between these and Belgium who is captained by Kim Huybrechts. The Belgians also made it to the quarter finals last year before losing to Australia. That year, Huybrechts was partnered by Kurt Van De Rijk. This time Huybrechts is partnered by his brother Ronny who is 155th in the world which is 13-places higher than Van De Rijk. If Ronny is as half as good as Kim, Belgium will be a very exciting team. Hungary will be the minnows of the group and may be able to improve on their 5-3 defeat against Canada in the first round last year. Nandor Bezzeg returns from last year but Meszaros Zsolt replaces Kristian Kaufmann in another completely unranked team.
Group D: The promising Welsh team would have a horror group if this was football with Spain and Italy. But in darts, there should only be one winner if Mark Webster and Richie Burnett play like they can. The Welsh made it to the semi-finals last year before losing to England. The Spanish side do boast a victory over England in that shock result in 2010. Last year the Spaniards lost in the first round to South Africa and the pairing of Antonio Alcinas, 113th in the world, and Carlos Rodriguez, 148th in the world, return for their third attempt at the world stage. Italy are a late inclusion after the Philippines pulled out due to travel reasons. This gives two completely unranked and unknown players a chance to grace the television stage so it will be interesting to see Daniele Petri and Matteo Dal Monte play. Spain could be a dark horse in this group but, like with the others, Wales should have enough even in second gear.
Group E: Second seeds and last year's semi-finalists Netherlands grace this group and really should get through comfortably. World Championship runner-up Van Gerwen and the rejuvenated Van Barneveld really do look like an ominous pairing. Gibraltar narrowly lost to Denmark in the first round of last year's competition and Dyson Parody, 124th in the world, and Dylan Duo, 182nd in the world, return for their third appearance. Both can play on their day but really don't have enough to worry the Dutch. Poland didn't participate in the last World Cup but were involved in the inaugural competition in 2010. They lost to Russia in the first round but the unranked players, Krzystof Kciuk and Krzystof Ratajski, do return for their second showing.
Group F: The hosts will compete in this group and like Ireland would be candidates for a seed, if any were to, go out. Germany lost in the second round to USA last year and Jyhan Artut, 143rd in the world, and Andree Welge, 116th in the world, will get the opportunity to avenge that result when they meet USA again this year. Perhaps the much talked about youngster Kevin Munch is upset to miss out being 136th in the world but both Bernd Roith and Michael Rosenauer are ranked higher than Welge which poses further questions. The USA did lose to England in the following round last year and Darin Young will be confident about being able to do it again. Young is unranked but has shown that he can play, this time though, Young will be partnered Larry Butler who is also unranked instead of Gary Mawson. The final team in this group is Finland who narrowly lost to Croatia last year. Jani Haavisto looked very good in the World Championships yet is unranked and is joined by Jarkko Komula who is also unranked but did participate in the 2010 World Cup. This may end up being the most open group of the tournament, with Germany in real danger of missing out.
Group G: Last year's runners-up Australia will be looking for the same thing this year and will face New Zealand in the battle of Oceania. Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson made a good partnership last year and should easily have enough to go through. Croatia beat Finland in the first round last year before losing 4-0 to Wales. Tonci Restovic, 149th in the world, returns from last year's competition but this time he is joined by Robert Marijanovic who is ranked 119th in the world. New Zealand had the second lowest average last year as they lost to Austria. This time they have a different pairing altogether as Preston Ridd and Warren French make way for Phil Hazel and Craig Caldwell who are both unranked and are again a completely unknown team.
Group H: Northern Ireland have probably been given the worst group out of all the seeded sides. The sixth seeds are captained by Brendan Dolan with 51st in the world Michael Mansell again partnering him. The Northern Irish did make into the quarter finals before losing to Netherlands. It looks like it'll be a shoot-out between these and Belgium who is captained by Kim Huybrechts. The Belgians also made it to the quarter finals last year before losing to Australia. That year, Huybrechts was partnered by Kurt Van De Rijk. This time Huybrechts is partnered by his brother Ronny who is 155th in the world which is 13-places higher than Van De Rijk. If Ronny is as half as good as Kim, Belgium will be a very exciting team. Hungary will be the minnows of the group and may be able to improve on their 5-3 defeat against Canada in the first round last year. Nandor Bezzeg returns from last year but Meszaros Zsolt replaces Kristian Kaufmann in another completely unranked team.
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