Goalkeepers

12. Robert Green
Debut: 31/May/2005
Age: 30
Caps: 10, Goals: 0

23. Joe Hart
Debut: 01/Jun/2008
Age: 23
Caps: 3, Goals: 0

1. David James
Debut: 29/Mar/1997
Age: 39
Caps: 50, Goals: 0

Defenders

18. Jamie Carragher
Debut: 28/Apr/1999
Age: 32
Caps: 36, Goals: 0

3. Ashley Cole
Debut: 28/Mar/2001
Age: 29
Caps: 78, Goals: 0

Michael Dawson
Age: 26
Caps: 0, Goals: 0

2. Glen Johnson
Debut: 16/Nov/2003
Age: 25
Caps: 22, Goals: 1

20. Ledley King
Debut: 27/Mar/2002
Age: 29
Caps: 20, Goals: 2

Joleon Lescott
Ryan Shawcross

6. John Terry
Debut: 03/Jun/2003
Age: 29
Caps: 60, Goals: 6

15. Matthew Upson
Debut: 22/May/2003
Age: 31
Caps: 19, Goals: 1

13. Stephen Warnock
Debut: 01/Jun/2008
Age: 28
Caps: 1, Goals: 0

Midfielders

14. Gareth Barry
Debut: 31/May/2000
Age: 29
Caps: 36, Goals: 2

22. Michael Carrick
Debut: 25/May/2001
Age: 28
Caps: 22, Goals: 0

11. Joe Cole
Debut: 25/May/2001
Age: 28
Caps: 54, Goals: 10

4. Steven Gerrard
Debut: 31/May/2000
Age: 30
Caps: 80, Goals: 16

8. Frank Lampard
Debut: 10/Oct/1999
Age: 31
Caps: 78, Goals: 20

7. Aaron Lennon
Debut: 03/Jun/2006
Age: 23
Caps: 17, Goals: 0

16. James Milner
Debut: 12/Aug/2009
Age: 24
Caps: 8, Goals: 0

17. Shaun Wright-Phillips
Debut: 18/Aug/2004
Age: 28
Caps: 31, Goals: 6

Forwards

9. Peter Crouch
Debut: 31/May/2005
Age: 29
Caps: 38, Goals: 21

19. Jermain Defoe
Debut: 31/Mar/2004
Age: 27
Caps: 40, Goals: 11

21. Emile Heskey
Debut: 28/Apr/1999
Age: 32
Caps: 58, Goals: 7

10. Wayne Rooney
Debut: 12/Feb/2003
Age: 24
Caps: 60, Goals: 25

Serbia played their maiden international, independently, on 16 August 2006, winning 3-1 away to Czech Republic. They did, however, former part of two now disbanded teams: Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro.

The former participated at nine FIFA World Cups™ between 1930 and 2002, and finished runners-up at the UEFA European Championship twice. Then, at Germany 2006, Serbia and Montenegro lost all three matches in a competitive group to fall at the first hurdle.

While Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montengro wore blue shirts, Serbia adopted a red jersey and the nickname Beli Orlovi (White Eagles).

The road to South Africa
When the draw for the first phase of European Zone qualifying was made, the consensus was that Austria, Romania and Serbia were competing for second place behind France. However, although Les Bleus edged the Beli Orlovi 2-1 in Saint-Denis in their second outing, Radomir Antic’s team won their next five preliminaries to establish a four-point lead atop of the section. They retained it by drawing 1-1 at home to the French. That result left Serbia needing victory from their penultimate qualifier with Romania to make sure of a place at South Africa 2010, and they achieved it in emphatic fashion with a 5-0 success in Belgrade.

The star players
Widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world, Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic is a rock at the heart of the Serbian backline. Fierce in the tackle and strong in the air, the 28-year-old was named the 2008/09 English Premier League’s player of the season. Multifunctional midfielder Dejan Stankovic has played international football since 1998 and now captains his country, while Marko Pantelic and Milan Jovanovic carry a threat in attack.

The coach
Radomir Antic’s playing career included an impressive eight-year spell with Partizan, and stints in Turkey, Spain and England, but it was at the coaching reins that he truly began to excel. He led Zaragoza, Real Madrid and Oviedo prior to landing at Atletico Madrid, who he improbably guided to a La Liga/Copa del Rey double in his first season in 1995/96. Antic had three spells at the Atletico controls, but had been out of the game for four years when he was appointed Serbia coach in 2008. However, thanks to his tactical expertise and ability to elicit the best from his charges, the Serbians charged through to South Africa 2010.

Previous FIFA World Cups
* Serbia will be appearing at the FIFA World Cup independently for the first time in South Africa.
* They formed part of the Yugoslavia side that appeared at nine editions of the competition, and the Serbia and Montenegro team that competed at Germany 2006.

What they said
“We’re thrilled to have booked a place in South Africa. We’ve proven ourselves to be a strong team. I am sure that we will play the best we can and not let our fans down at the World Cup,” Serbia forward Nikola Zigic.

Three-time FIFA World Cup™ winners Germany are usually there or thereabouts when the honours are handed out, and the current national squad will head for South Africa with their sights and expectations set appropriately high. After triumphing in Switzerland in 1954, on home soil in 1974 and in Italy in 1990, the team now coached by Joachim Low are aiming to hoist the most prestigious trophy in the world’s favourite sport for the fourth time.

The Germans’ consistent success is based on deep reserves of experience, finely-honed tactical know-how, and the ability to rise to the occasion when the chips are down. Their qualifying campaign merely served to emphasise the enduring nature of those attributes. Michael Ballack will be utterly determined to lead his country to a major international title after the runners-up spot at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, third on home soil in 2006, and another second place at UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.

That would not merely be the crowning glory of the Germany captain’s already illustrious career, it would elevate him to membership of an elite group of FIFA World Cup-winning captains, legendary trio Fritz Walter, Franz Beckenbauer and Lothar Matthaus. Apart from Ballack, German hopes rest largely on striker Miroslav Klose, a goal-getter with the uncanny ability to hit peak form bang on time for the FIFA World Cup, and former talented youngsters turned senior pros Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski.

The road to South Africa
Clinical efficiency and unbending resolve rather than sparkling skill were the hallmarks as Low’s men marched to first place in European qualifying Group 4 for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa. The Germans dropped points only in their home and away meetings with an awkward Finnish side. Klose’s hat-trick dragged his side level three times in a 3-3 draw in Helsinki, and Podolski netted a face-saving last-minute equaliser in a 1-1 stalemate in Hamburg. However, that was the final qualifying fixture, and Ballack and company were already guaranteed top spot, as Wales, Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein had all been despatched with the minimum of fuss.

By contrast, in the two meetings with closest rivals Russia, Germany showed all the class that has made them such formidable opponents down the years. In Dortmund, Low’s men produced their best attacking half of football since their rousing displays at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and held on to win 2-1. In the crunch return in Moscow on the penultimate matchday, it was almost inevitably Klose who netted the only goal of the game to seal the Russians’ first-ever home defeat in FIFA World Cup qualifying. Renowned Sbornaja boss Guus Hiddink mused afterwards on Germany’s “utter determination” and named Low’s side as contenders in South Africa.

The star players
Chelsea midfielder Ballack rates as the undisputed leader of the team. The 33-year-old national captain has earned 97 senior caps to date and is determined to lead his men to a major trophy after falling at the final hurdle at the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and the EURO in 2008. In all probability, the showdown in South Africa will be Ballack’s last chance on a major stage.

Despite his unassuming public persona, Bayern Munich striker Klose comes next in the dressing room hierarchy. His record of 48 goals in 93 internationals puts him third in the Germany all-time scoring chart, behind only living legend Gerd Muller (68 goals) and former GDR goal-getter Joachim Streich (55). Events in South Africa will show whether fellow Bayern men Lahm and Schweinsteiger, and Podolski, who returned home to Cologne from Munich in summer 2009, have what it takes to acquire world-class billing. Diminutive but exceptionally versatile full-back Lahm looks the best bet of the three.

The coach
Joachim Low, Jurgen Klinsmann’s assistant at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, long ago emerged from the shadow thrown by the former world-class striker. On stepping up to the top job on 12 July 2006, the 49-year-old named winning EURO 2008 and continuing Klinsmann’s attacking philosophy as his primary goals. Neither target has been fully hit, but the SC Freiburg all-time leading scorer has earned huge respect for his calm, knowledgeable and sympathetic manner of dealing with stars, press and public alike. “Meticulous and painstaking hard work is the only way to succeed,” he has said, true to his reputation as a skilled tactician and all-round sage of the game, and neatly summing up the soul of German football into the bargain.

Previous FIFA World Cups
- Germany have won the FIFA World Cup three times (1954, 1974 and 1990), a figure bettered only by Brazil (5) and Italy (4).

- Apart from the 1930 and 1950 tournaments, which they did not enter, Germany have contested every FIFA World Cup finals.

Records
- Germany have reached the FIFA World Cup Final seven times, a record they share with Brazil.

- Germany have contested four penalty shoot-outs at the FIFA World Cup finals, winning all of them.

What they said
“We’ve been very successful in the past, and that’s an inspiration to the next generations. You only have to look at Germany’s record at major tournaments. We won the World Cup in 1954, ‘74 and ‘90, and the European Championship in ‘72, ‘80 and ‘96. We’ve made it through to finals at least as often. We’ve grown up with the conviction that Germany are always good enough to reach the Final. We’re definitely among a group of countries with a chance of taking the Trophy. We were third at the World Cup and second at the EURO, so our goal for 2010 is to make the Final and win the Trophy.”

France crossed a new threshold in qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, having never before graced the finals on four consecutive occasions. Les Bleus have become a regular presence in recent years, having earned a reputation as one of world football’s leading teams since the late 1990s. Their fine displays at the first edition in 1930 marked them out as a good side and they have occasionally produced legendary talents, but only in the last decade or so have they evolved into a team that starts every major tournament with serious hopes of winning it.

The generation of players that included Zinedine Zidane, Laurent Blanc, Didier Deschamps and Fabien Barthez finally found a way past the obstacles that had blocked the route of earlier vintages. The fine team featuring Michel Platini, Alain Giresse, Luis Fernandez and Jean Tigana had stumbled at the semi-final stage in 1982 and 1986, but their successors went all the way to lifting the Trophy in 1998.

Despite a drop in standards in 2002 and 2006, France still came agonisingly close to grasping a second global title in the latter tournament, only losing out on penalties to Italy in the Final. The Zidane chapter came to a close that night in Berlin, but Les Bleus can still call upon some of the biggest names in world football, with a seemingly endless production line of young talents having unearthed the likes of Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and Yoann Gourcuff in recent seasons.

The road to South Africa
They may not have done it in style, but France just about satisfied the demands of their supporters by booking themselves a place in South Africa. It took an extra-time goal in their play-off with Ireland to give them a 2-1 aggregate win and finally send them through, and that came after they had finished second in qualifying Group 7 of the European Zone.

Pipped to first spot by Serbia, frustrated by Romania and given problems by Lithuania, Raymond Domenech’s charges kicked off their bid with a damaging 3-1 loss in Austria, but they later rallied to secure a 1-1 draw in Serbia despite being reduced to ten men and finding themselves trailing early on. After that, they saw out the section with a 5-0 success against the Faroe Islands and a 3-1 victory over Austria. Pessimists will focus on the team’s troubles in securing a ticket to the main event, while optimists will recall that they also flirted with disaster ahead of Germany 2006, before going on to reach the Final.

The star players
Since Zinedine Zidane, Fabien Barthez, Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram all called time on their international careers in 2006, a new selection of senior figures has stepped forward. With Patrick Vieira having long struggled with injury, sole France 1998 survivor Thierry Henry has taken the captain’s armband, with William Gallas the leader at the back and both Jeremy Toulalan and Lassana Diarra indispensable in midfield. Meanwhile, the emergence of Yoann Gourcuff, the talent of Franck Ribery and the rejuvenation of Nicolas Anelka have given the coach a variety of options in attack, where Karim Benzema, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Florent Malouda and Loic Remy will also be hoping to feature.

The coach
The French public have come to regard Raymond Domenech as a paradox unto himself since he took the reins in 2004. Praised for his communication skills when he first arrived, his perceived weaknesses in that domain were leapt upon after France failed to shine at UEFA EURO 2008. Domenech has yet to lift silverware with Les Bleus, but he is now the country’s longest serving national coach and can point to a FIFA World Cup Final appearance as the highlight so far of a career that has had a steady upwards trajectory.

Mulhouse and Lyon were his starting points in the club game before he entered the national fold to coach the Under-20s, after which a worthy record with the U-21s won him a crack at the senior side. As a player, he was a combative defender who won the French league title with Strasbourg in 1979 and Bordeaux in 1984, in addition to the French Cup with Lyon in 1973 and Paris Saint-Germain in 1982, plus a total of eight caps in the 1970s.

Previous FIFA World Cups
Les Bleus have appeared in 12 final tournaments, winning on home soil in 1998. Regular actors on the greatest stage of all, France also managed third-place finishes in 1958 and 1986, as well as fourth spot in 1982.

Honours

- 1 FIFA World Cup (1998)

- 2 FIFA Confederations Cup (2001, 2003)

- 2 UEFA European Championships (1984, 2000)

What they said
“The objective was to qualify. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I never had any doubts. We’ve had difficulties for two years now, but everyone kept believing and they were justified in doing so. We grabbed hold of the right to take part in something exceptional – a World Cup in South Africa.” Raymond Domenech, France coach

Dubbed English football’s ‘golden generation’, only to fall flat at UEFA EURO 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, South Africa 2010  may well be the last chance of international silverware for some of the most well-known faces in the world game.

However, he appointment of Fabio Capello appears to have brought fresh vigour to the Three Lions’ squad, many of whom have a point to prove after lacklustre displays when it mattered most under Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren. With the tournament due to take place in the South African winter, conditions which should suit the English players and style, so excuses will be at a premium should Wayne Rooney and Co fall short once more.

The road to South Africa
Following the disappointment of missing out on a place at the UEFA EURO 2008, England bounced back in emphatic fashion in qualifying for South Africa. Indeed, they stormed to no fewer than nine wins from ten Group 6 games, scoring a European Zone high of 34 goals in the process, with their only defeat coming in Ukraine with qualification already secured.

The star players
Leading from the front in terms of both goals and commitment was Manchester United forward Rooney, who responded to shouldering the main responsibility for England’s attacking threat by finding the net nine times in as many games. Also chipping in were midfield duo Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, who hit four and three goals respectively. Rangy front-man Peter Crouch certainly made the most of limited opportunities by grabbing four goals in as many appearances, while Tottenham team-mate Jermain Defoe underlined his finishing prowess with three strikes in just 135 minutes on the field.

The coach
Winner of Serie A with AC Milan, AS Roma and Juventus, as well as a two-time La Liga champion at Real Madrid, Italian disciplinarian Capello wasted little time in instilling a renewed work ethic and squad spirit in an England squad packed with big-name stars and equally large egos. Qualification for South Africa 2010 with two games to spare and a solitary competitive defeat speak volumes for Capello’s impact in his relatively short time in charge.

Previous FIFA World Cups
England have appeared at 11 previous editions of the global showpiece, including their debut at Brazil 1950. Victors on home soil in 1966, their best performance outside their own shores came under the late Sir Bobby Robson at Italy 1990, when a side featuring the likes of Gary Lineker, Chris Waddle, Paul Gascoigne and David Platt reached the last four only to lose out on penalties to eventual winners West Germany.

Records
The 1-0 loss in Ukraine on 10 October 2009 ended a run of ten consecutive victories in FIFA World Cup qualification, which England had begun with a 1-0 win over Austria in Manchester on 8 October 2005.

The Three Lions’ leading scorer in qualifying, Wayne Rooney, was at his most dangerous between the 72nd and 76th minutes of play, during which period he scored no fewer than four times.

What they said
“I think we’ve put the record straight, to some extent.  Since the manager arrived, there has been nothing but hard work, our confidence has come on a million miles in the way the team is playing. Today typified everything about us in this campaign. It is the first step and we’ve qualified now but there’s still a long way to go.” England midfielder Frank Lampard, following the 5-1 home win over Croatia which sealed qualification for South Africa 2010.

After a six-year absence, Danish Dynamite is once again set to explode on the elite world footballing scene. The Scandinavians missed out on both the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany and UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, but the FIFA founder members blazed an impressive trail en route to a berth in South Africa next summer.

The Danes will now be looking to extend their creditable record at three previous finals appearances, where they reached the Round of 16 twice and the quarter-finals on the other occasion. Denmark’s first tilt at the trophy was in 1986 in Mexico, where they progressed to the last sixteen. The core of that team then went on to register the nation’s greatest footballing triumph with the 1992 UEFA European Championship crown in neighbouring Sweden.

The small but totally football-mad nation went on to further success in the period after that. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup France, the Danes were a shade unlucky to lose to eventual finalists Brazil in the quarter-finals, before England proved too strong in the Round of 16 at the 2002 tournament in Korea/Japan. Denmark played some of the most attractive football at UEFA EURO 2004 in Portugal, but came up against the in-form Czech Republic in the quarter-finals and lost 3-0.

With their long absence from the major stage now poised to end, captain Jon Dahl Tomasson and his men are keen to cut a dash in South Africa. Should head coach Morten Olsen be spared the injury woe which threatened to derail his side’s qualification campaign at one point, the undoubted quality in the squad means the Scandinavians must be a good bet for a shock or two in South Africa.

The road to South Africa
The Danes saw off big-name rivals Portugal and Sweden in European qualifying Group 1 to top the group with just one defeat in their ten matches.

Campaign highlights included a 3-2 win and 1-1 draw with the Portuguese Selecção das Quinas, where convincing team performances saw the Danes take four points off the group favourites and earn themselves the decisive advantage. The crucial win in Lisbon featured an astonishing three goals in the last ten minutes. Denmark also beat neighbours and keen rivals Sweden home and away by the only goal of the game on both occasions.

Hungary ultimately caused Olsen’s men more trouble than any other group opponents. After opening with a goalless draw against the Hungarians, the 1992 European champions lost 1-0 in their final group fixture, although it was a dead rubber by this stage.

The star players
Denmark’s key players are largely drawn from big-name European clubs including the likes of Juventus, Arsenal, Liverpool and Werder Bremen. National captain Tomasson currently leads the Feyenoord forward line after a career featuring spells with AC Milan and Villarreal.

Olsen’s core of players with wide international experience includes defender Daniel Agger (Liverpool), midfield trio Daniel Jensen (Bremen), Christian Poulsen (Juventus) and Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax), and striker Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal).

The coach
Morten Olsen will complete a decade as Denmark head coach at the finals in South Africa. He took the helm in 2000, guiding Danish Dynamite to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2004. He has yet to indicate whether he will extend his current contract, set to expire after the 2010 tournament.

A more than solid performer in the long-lost position of libero, Olsen’s clubs included Cologne and Anderlecht, where he recorded his greatest success as a player when the Belgian outfit claimed the UEFA Cup in 1993. Olsen was 40 before he hung up his boots and began a coaching career, including spells with Cologne and Ajax.

Previous FIFA World Cups
- South Africa will be Denmark’s fourth appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals

- The Danes made the Round of 16 in 1986 and 2002, and the quarter-finals in 1998

Records
- Denmark triumphed at the 1992 UEFA European Championships, going on to claim the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1995.

- The Scandinavians’ Olympic record features three silver medals (1908, 1912, 1960) and a bronze (1948)

What they said
“World Cups are always special. The fact it’s the first time in Africa is fantastic because it’s bringing it closer to the people there, but every World Cup has its own unique flavour and appeal. I remember seeing how excited Asia was in 2002 to have it and what a fantastic experience that was for everyone. For me and for all the players, competing at the World Cup is the ultimate; it’s the biggest honour for any player.”

If an African team is to make a major impact on the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finals in South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire are seen by many as the most likely candidates. And with world class talent throughout the starting 11, it’s no wonder. Les Elephants also a point to prove after being eliminated in the first round at Germany 2006, albeit in an extremely difficult group, where they lost 2-1 to giants Argentina and the Netherlands before coming from two goals down to beat Serbia and Montenegro 3-2.

With more experience, and a little more luck in the draw, Didier Drogba and Co are certain to be a handful in attack as they look to cement their emerging pedigree on the international level at South Africa 2010.

The road to South Africa
Befitting their status as one of the continent’s powerhouses, Côte d’Ivoire strode through qualifying without losing a match, running away with their final qualifying group ahead of Burkina Faso, Malawi and Guinea. There only moment of genuine uncertainty came when they were on the brink of qualifying, although – as usual – Didier Drogba responded when his team needed him. The Chelsea man’s decisive 70th-minute goal at Burkina Faso gave the side just enough insurance to hold off the Stallions 3-2 in Ouagadougou, and fittingly, it was his dramatic equaliser after coming off the bench against Malawi that gave the West Africans a 1-1 draw and the point they needed to reach South Africa. All told, the Chelsea man was top scorer for Les Elephants, with six goals in five matches.

The star players
Les Elephants feature top-drawer talent throughout their side, with the Chelsea pair of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou a formidable duo up front. Sevilla’s Didier Zokora and Barcelona’s Yaya Toure provide bite in midfield alongside Marseille’s diminutive Bakary Kone, while the England-based pair of Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure combine with Stuttgart’s Arthur Boka to form one of the best defences in Africa.

The coach
Vahid Halilhodzic took the reins of his first national side when he assumed control of Côte d’Ivoire after the 2008 CAF African Cup of Nations. However, the Bosnian only made it through the next edition of the continental contest when he was sacked after a disappointing quarter-final finish at Angola 2010. After Guus Hiddink was linked with the job, Bernd Schuster and Sven-Goran Eriksson were both considered possibilities to lead the team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Record
• Côte d’Ivoire were the only nation at Germany 2006 whose squad was made up of players entirely based at clubs outside their home country.
• They are the only team to never failed to score in a FIFA World Cup match.
• Côte d’Ivoire conceded early goals in all three of their 2006 matches, with all six of their goals against coming before the 40th minute.

What they said
“At the last World Cup we played really well, but we were unlucky because we were in a very tough group with Argentina and Holland and went out in the first round. But I think with this kind of experience, it will be possible at South Africa 2010 to do much better. Perhaps we can make the quarter-finals and then semi-finals; this is something we can achieve,” Côte d’Ivoire striker Didier Drogba.

Chile’s recent renaissance has been capped by a return to the FIFA World Cup™ finals following a 12-year absence. In the international wilderness since France 1998, when Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano showcased their consummate finishing skills, La Roja believe they have the resources to emulate their illustrious predecessors and advance beyond the group phase.

Coached by the experienced Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa, the Chileans qualified for the finals with some ease, atoning for poor performances in the qualifying competitions for Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006, when they finished ninth and seventh respectively. And having finally found talented replacements to fill the void left by the Za-Sa partnership, hopes are high that they can go on and excel themselves in South Africa.

The road to South Africa
Bielsa’s side, which boasts the youngest average age of all the South American teams, finished second in the continental qualifying group, just one point behind Brazil. That performance, their best since the group format was introduced, was rounded off in style with a spectacular 4-2 win in Colombia in October, a result that rubber-stamped their return to the world elite with one game remaining.

In total, La Roja would win 16 of their 33 points away from Santiago, an impressive statistic that underlines the resolve of the team.
Raising expectations further is the fact that the attack-minded Chileans ended the group as the second-highest scorers with 32 goals, including ten from top marksman Humberto Suazo, and recorded ten wins in all, more than any of their continental rivals.

The star players
As you might expect of a compact side that likes to get forward at every opportunity, Chile’s star performers are to be found in advanced positions. Leading the line with distinction are Matias Fernandez, Alexis Sanchez and Humberto Suazo, three players who teamed up to great effect for domestic giants Colo Colo in 2006 and who have since gone their separate ways.

The scheming Fernandez and the explosively talented Sanchez form part of a new breed of Chilean footballer anxious to build reputations abroad, while the more experienced Suazo is a lethal finisher with a happy knack for appearing in the right place at the right time.

The coach
Marcelo Bielsa was the man in charge of Argentina’s ill-fated bid for glory at the FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan 2002. While memories of La Albiceleste’s shock first-round exit in the Orient linger, Bielsa has given himself a shot at redemption by engineering Chile’s unlikely revival.

Nicknamed El Loco (The Madman) for his unique dedication to the game, the 54-year-old strategist enjoyed only a brief playing career but commands the respect of players, fellow coaches and reporters alike. The hard-working and principled Bielsa is a devoted student of tactics and an advocate of enterprising football, characteristics that have earned him huge popularity in his adopted homeland, where the fans are anxious for him to remain in the post for many years to come.

Previous FIFA World Cups
- Chile will be taking part in the FIFA World Cup finals for the eighth time at South Africa 2010.
- Their best performance to date came when they hosted the tournament in 1962 and finished third.

Records
- Guillermo Subiabre (1930), Leonel Ramirez (1962) and Marcelo Salas (1998) are Chile’s top scorers in the finals with four goals apiece.

What they said
“I’m not looking at this as a chance to get revenge for what happened to me in 2002. Nothing I can ever achieve in the future will make that sadness go away. The most important thing at a World Cup is to make sure the players are in top form and that depends on so many different factors. Some of them you can control, but some are the result of everything the player has been through in the previous ten months. I hope everything comes together for Chile.” Coach Marcelo Bielsa

Though their light may have faded somewhat since they brightened up the world stage at the 1990 FIFA World Cup™, Cameroon are not a side to underestimate at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The top African nation in FIFA’s rankings, they also bring Africa’s richest pedigree to the finals. They have appeared a continental-best five times in the World Cup, and no other African side has yet eclipsed their historic run to the Italy 1990 quarter-finals – though Senegal equalled the achievement in 2002.

However, the team have not managed to advance past the group stage in three finals appearances since then, winning just once in their nine matches. They lost out on Germany 2006 entirely after missing a penalty kick in the final moments of their last qualifier against Egypt. But the long road to the 2010 World Cup has forged considerable momentum behind what many Cameroonians are hoping is the right mix of players, and a new generation of Roger Millas and Francois Omam-Biyiks.

The road to South Africa
Though the 2-0 victory in Morocco that clinched their qualification was straightforward enough, Cameroon had in fact completed an impressive turnaround in a campaign that started with just a draw from their first two matches. Two victories in four days over contenders Gabon were followed by a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Togo, and Cameroon’s four consecutive wins were more than enough to reach South Africa. In the end, the team, led from the back by the likes of veterans Geremi Njitap, Rigobert Song and goalkeeper Idriss Carlos Kameni, gave up just two goals in six final round contests.

The star players
Eto’o scored a total of nine goals in 11 qualifiers, and the world class striker will be the first player opposing coaches try to stop. The promising Pierre Webó is the other main threat up front, while Jean Makoun, Stephane Mbia and Alexandre Song give the midfield a classy but rugged edge in front of mainstays Song, Geremi and Kameni.

The coach
The reversal of fortune for Cameroon coincided with the arrival of no-nonsense 45-year-old coach, Frenchman Paul Le Guen, who took over from German veteran Otto Pfister after the slow start. Le Guen had previously taken charge of big clubs Lyon, Rangers and Paris St. Germain, and he brought a sea change in attitude and professionalism to the side. His controversial decision to hand the captaincy to three-time African player of the year Samuel Eto’o in place of long-time captain Rigobert Song turned out to be just what the two players and the team needed.

Record
• Cameroon were eliminated at the group stage of Spain 1982 despite not suffering a defeat. They lost out to Italy for second in the table on the goals scored ti-ebreaker after three draws.

• Cameroon have played in 17 FIFA World Cup matches, the most of any national team from Africa. Their 1-0 defeat of holders Argentina to kick off the 1990 FIFA World Cup is one of the great upsets in the history of the event.

• Roger Milla was a record 42 years and 39 days old when he scored for the Lions against Russia in the 1994 World Cup. He was also the first African to play in three World Cup finals.

What they said
“We have again made people believe in this team. It’s a great achievement for all of us to be able to play in a World Cup, especially one in Africa. We are dangerous because we have a good mix of experience, and we have learned to play together,” Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o.

Fast-forward acht Jahrzehnten, und mit Ausnahme des Gastlandes Südafrika, jedes Land, wird ein Teil der Feierlichkeiten kommen Juni wird ihre Tickets für die Show durch verschiedene Qualifikationsturniere gebucht.

Einige der Favoriten, wie Spanien und England, leicht gemacht Arbeit zu qualifizieren, mit ihren Kampagnen nur dazu dient, ihre Mandate als Seiten, die die begehrte Trophäe am 11. Juli heben konnte zu stärken.

Andere Favoriten wie Brasilien, Argentinien und 2006 WM-Finalisten Frankreich, hatte ihren Anteil an Schlaglöcher auf dem Weg, aber immer noch gelungen, ihren Platz im Turnier sichern. Auch amtierende Weltmeister Italien, ungeachtet dessen, was ihre Ergebnisse kann darauf hindeuten, hatte ihre Probleme im Qualifying als auch.

WM-Qualifikationsspiel hatte auch seinen Anteil an Überraschungen, Start-ups aus Slowenien, Nordkorea, und Algerien spielen ihren Weg in die World Cup Liegeplätze bis hin zu hoch eingestuft und hoch gepriesen Seiten wie Russland und Ägypten nicht in der Lage, den Job zu erledigen.

Zu blinken zurück zur WM-Qualifikationsgruppe und werfen Sie einen Blick darauf, wie jedes Team auf dem Feld, haben wir eine Gruppe getan-by-Gruppe heruntergekommenen Straßen jedes Teams nach Südafrika.

Klicken Sie auf den Gruppennamen, um herauszufinden, wie jede Gruppe Quartett der Teilnehmer verdient ihren Platz im Bereich von 32 Jahren.

Gruppe A

Südafrika kann automatisch für die WM qualifiziert haben, aber nicht davon abhalten sie von der Teilnahme im Qualifying? Es gab einen guten Grund dafür.

Frankreich könnte sicherlich von einer automatischen Anerkennung profitiert haben, denn das hätte bedeutet, nicht unter die mit bestimmten Streitigkeiten befassen.

Frankreich hat die Dinge auf die harte Weise, und so auch Mexiko und Uruguay, aber alle drei kamen durch, wenn es darauf ankam den Anspruch zu erwarten Plätze im Finale.

Gruppe B

Eine andere Seite, wer des vorstehenden Satzes bestätigen ist Argentinien, die alles andere als eine WM-Favoriten sah auf mehr als ein paar Mal im Qualifying, sondern erhielten ihre gemeinsam handeln, in der Zeit genug, um zu vermeiden, was ein Scheitern des epischen Ausmaßes gewesen sein.

Sie und Griechenland sowohl links es ist spät, aber auf der anderen Seite, Qualifying war ein Kinderspiel für Nigeria und Südkorea, die mit Platz qualifiziert, um zu atmen und Zeit zu ersparen.

Gruppe C

England benötigt, um eine starke WM-Qualifikation ernsthaft als Top-Anwärter in Südafrika getroffen werden, und die Three Lions sicher geliefert.

Die Vereinigten Staaten ohne qualifizierte wenigen echten Unebenheiten auf dem Weg, wie erwartet, aber das war der einfache Teil. Ihr Auftakt gegen England könnte das ein, dass sie kreisen sind auf dem Kalender, aber die USA sollten sich bewusst, dass die Sache, dass die meisten Spiele sind die zweite und die dritte, nicht die erste, vor allem nach Algerien und Slowenien abgeschlagen Top-Teams zu qualifizieren sich für das Turnier.

Gruppe D

Deutschland, wie England, schlenderte durch die Qualifikation für die meisten, aber es mag vielleicht überraschend sein, denen es gelungen, ihnen die härteste Zeit in dem, was sonst war ein Kinderspiel.

Es ist vielleicht nicht viel von einem Wunder, dass Deutschland, Australien und Ghana alle leicht gemacht Arbeit zu qualifizieren, aber Serbien hat ihren Fall als eine reale Bedrohung in Südafrika so ziemlich das gleiche sich.

Gruppe E

Die Niederlande waren eines von nur zwei Seiten, die durch die WM-Qualifikation ging ohne Auslassen von einem einzigen Punkt (wir auf die andere ein unten).

Es wäre mit Sicherheit annehmen, dass ihre drei Gruppe E wird härter als die acht qualifizierten kombinierten Spiele entspricht. Dänemark und Kamerun wurden uns noch nicht perfekt, aber sie waren sehr beeindruckend, die als gut.

Gruppe F

Weltmeister Italien waren im Qualifying ungeschlagen, aber ihren Lauf war weit davon entfernt fehlerlos.

Wenn Italien Schwierigkeiten haben, die sich gerne von Zypern hatte, konnte sie einige echte Mühe gegen Paraguay und der Slowakei, deren Datensätze waren nicht so spritzig, Italien, wurden aber im großen und ganzen, sehr viel beeindruckender.

Gruppe G

Das letzte, was nötig war Brasilien nach einer underwhelming zeigt bei der WM 2006 ein enttäuschende Qualifying-Kampagne, sondern die gestartet wurde, was genau passiert, bis das Licht ging an und Brasilien wird die Brasilien.

Es dauerte eine Weile, bis das Licht an für Portugal als auch kommen, und wenn Motivation und Inspiration sind Themen bei der WM, könnte es Katastrophe gegen Côte d’Ivoire, der hoffentlich nicht verlassen habe meine Stiefel hinter ihren Scoring im Qualifying, und Nordkorea, wer einen starken Verteidigung zu bringen, das Turnier.

Gruppe H

Gruppe H ist ohne Zweifel in Spanien zu verlieren, und sprach zu verlieren, das ist etwas Spanien nicht in der Qualifikation zu tun.

Es passiert nicht oft, dass du wirst sehen, ein Team zu Hause gegen Luxemburg zu verlieren und die WM zu erreichen, aber das ist der Fall für die Schweiz, deren peinliche Niederlage’s getan hätte viel mehr Nutzen als Schaden.

Chile und Honduras haben nicht das gleiche Maß an internationaler Erfahrung, dass Spanien und der Schweiz, kann aber weder die leichte Schulter genommen werden können, nachdem einige beeindruckende Ergebnisse.