World Cup 2010 finals will have 32 teams competing. In the first round, they will compete in eight groups of four each, playing each other once. Two teams that emerge with maximum points in each group progress to the 2nd round. Then the knock out stage in the round of last 16, quarter finals and semi finals will make an end to all tactical considerations until the final decision is made in the grand final
Just the best of all world football teams managed the qualification for World Cup 2010. Big nations like reigning world champion Italy, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Spain and France will have to face emerging football countries like Ivory Coast, Chile, Paraguay, Serbia, USA and hosts South Africa.
But also outsiders can match any team for a surprising outcome anytime.
Find out details about the teams' skills, strengths and tactics. How was their recent performance, who is in their squads, what can be expected from them at the World Cup? Which player is in top shape and who struggles at the moment? Which teams have all their top players on board, which ones have promising youngsters? How is the the team spirit? The links below will give you answers to all these questions and offer a lot of other interesting details.
For many, the road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals were arduous, nerve-wracking and some filled with controversy. France won through a play off against Ireland, helped by a clear handball in the set up for the winning goal by Thierry Henry. Some other fancied teams took qualification down to the wire, like Greece, Portugal and Argentina, who all had their struggles. For some, like England, Spain, Brazil, New Zealand and the Ivory Coast, qualification was completed without too many worries at all. For Egypt and Algeria, things went to extremes, needing a one match play-off after finishing level on all stats in their Group. But out of all the qualification participants from around the world, 31 teams have joined host nation South Africa for the feast of football which starts on June 11.
With the World Cup opening fixture on the horizon, qualified teams will be looking to get as much practice under their belt before the tournament starts. Mexico, for example has booked a six match tour of the United States; tournament favourites Spain have booked in three matches for May, and the Korea Republic are busying themselves with a host of games during January. For the African teams, they will have benefited from competitive matches in the African Cup of Nations, with the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Algeria, Ghana and Cameroon all heading to South Africa. England have announced a friendly against Egypt on March 3rd, with the possibility of playing Mexico to follow. Fabio Capello’s men will also likely turn out against Japan just before the tournament starts.
For the 32 qualified World Cup teams, the draw was the next big step to get through. A favourable draw can mean a world of difference to the chances of progression. For some teams, simply making it out of the Group Stage will be the equivalent of a World Cup triumph, while other teams will see nothing less than an appearance in the World Cup Final, a failure. There is a lot of pressure on the top teams, and certainly the managers of those top teams to deliver. England landed a good draw against the USA, Slovenia and Algeria, while France and Argentina will also be happy with the draws they landed. From the point of view of exciting betting opportunities, there was a Group of Death drawn, containing Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast and Korea DPR.
There is no coasting to a World Cup Final however. Ambitions need to be fulfilled, and those ambitions, along with quality of player and management, is what drives the betting odds. The draw is all important, so is winning the Group in the first round. But somewhere along the line, a nation will have to beat a team of the highest standard. It may come in the final, it may come in the semi final, but it will come. The Spaniards are still outright favourites after winning Euro 2008, and cruising majestically through 2010 World Cup qualification, and Spain are 9/2 at Victor Chandler to lift the World Cup. Brazil are 5/1 at Bet365, as second favourites, while Fabio Capello’s England are well backed at 6/1 with Bwin.
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