Geoff Hurst was a national hero when he scored a hat-trick in England's 1966 final victory but he did his country no favours when he drew the former champions in one of the toughest 2014 World Cup groups.
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With three balls already drawn and five to go in the pot containing the remaining European teams, Hurst pulled out England for the one vacant position in Group D to set up their hardest campaign for years.
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Roy Hodgson's side will face South American champions and twice World Cup winners Uruguay, four-time winners Italy and unpredictable Costa Rica at the finals in Brazil.
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To add more spice to the mix England's opening game will be against Italy in Manaus in the humidity of the Amazon jungle on June 14.
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Hodgson's men must also contend with Uruguay's red-hot striker Luis Suarez, top scorer in the Premier League this season with 13 goals for Liverpool.
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FA chairman Greg Dyke was caught by TV cameras on Friday making a throat-slitting gesture, implying that England had been drawn in a 'group of death'. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli echoed Dyke's message with his choice of words.
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"It will be very tough indeed for all of us," Prandelli told reporters. "It does not matter that we beat England in the Euros last year.
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"This is different, everything will be different, the heat will be different, but that is the World Cup. It means that one former world champion will go out and my job is to make sure it is not Italy."
England should not panicking and focus on the games because i believe they can end up winning.