Group A
Match	Date - Time	Venue		Results
1	11/6/2010 16:00	Johannesburg - JSC	South Africa	1:1 (0:0)	Mexico
2	11/6/2010 20:30	Cape Town	Uruguay	0:00	France
17	16/06 20:30	Tshwane/Pretoria	South Africa	0:3 (0:1)	Uruguay
18	17/06 20:30	Polokwane	France		Mexico
33	22/06 16:00	Rustenburg	Mexico		Uruguay
34	22/06 16:00	Mangaung/Bloemfontein	France		South Africa
Group B
Match	Date - Time	Venue		Results
3	12/6/2010 16:00	Johannesburg - JEP	Argentina	1:0 (1:0)	Nigeria
4	12/6/2010 13:30	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth	Korea Republic	2:0 (1:0)	Greece
19	17/06 16:00	Mangaung/Bloemfontein	Greece	2:1 (1:1)	Nigeria
20	17/06 13:30	Johannesburg - JSC	Argentina	4:1 (2:1)	Korea Republic
35	22/06 20:30	Durban	Nigeria		Korea Republic
36	22/06 20:30	Polokwane	Greece		Argentina
Group C
Match	Date - Time	Venue		Results
5	12/6/2010 20:30	Rustenburg	England	1:1 (1:1)	USA
6	13/06 13:30	Polokwane	Algeria	0:1 (0:0)	Slovenia
22	18/06 16:00	Johannesburg - JEP	Slovenia		USA
23	18/06 20:30	Cape Town	England		Algeria
37	23/06 16:00	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth	Slovenia		England
38	23/06 16:00	Tshwane/Pretoria	USA		Algeria
Group D
Match	Date - Time	Venue		Results
7	13/06 20:30	Durban	Germany	4:0 (2:0)	Australia
8	13/06 16:00	Tshwane/Pretoria	Serbia	0:1 (0:0)	Ghana
21	18/06 13:30	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth	Germany		Serbia
24	19/06 16:00	Rustenburg	Ghana		Australia
39	23/06 20:30	Johannesburg - JSC	Ghana		Germany
40	23/06 20:30	Nelspruit	Australia		Serbia
Group E
Match	Date - Time	Venue		Results
9	14/06 13:30	Johannesburg - JSC	Netherlands	2:0 (0:0)	Denmark
10	14/06 16:00	Mangaung/Bloemfontein	Japan	1:0 (1:0)	Cameroon
25	19/06 13:30	Durban	Netherlands		Japan
26	19/06 20:30	Tshwane/Pretoria	Cameroon		Denmark
43	24/06 20:30	Rustenburg	Denmark		Japan
44	24/06 20:30	Cape Town	Cameroon		Netherlands
Group F
Match	Date - Time	Venue		Results
11	14/06 20:30	Cape Town	Italy	1:1 (0:1)	Paraguay
12	15/06 13:30	Rustenburg	New Zealand	1:1 (0:0)	Slovakia
27	20/06 13:30	Mangaung/Bloemfontein	Slovakia		Paraguay
28	20/06 16:00	Nelspruit	Italy		New Zealand
41	24/06 16:00	Johannesburg - JEP	Slovakia		Italy
42	24/06 16:00	Polokwane	Paraguay		New Zealand
Group G
Match	Date - Time	Venue		Results
13	15/06 16:00	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth	Côte d'Ivoire	0:00	Portugal
14	15/06 20:30	Johannesburg - JEP	Brazil	2:1 (0:0)	Korea DPR
29	20/06 20:30	Johannesburg - JSC	Brazil		Côte d'Ivoire
30	21/06 13:30	Cape Town	Portugal		Korea DPR
45	25/06 16:00	Durban	Portugal		Brazil
46	25/06 16:00	Nelspruit	Korea DPR		Côte d'Ivoire
Group H
Match	Date - Time	Venue		Results
15	16/06 13:30	Nelspruit	Honduras	0:1 (0:1)	Chile
16	16/06 16:00	Durban	Spain	0:1 (0:0)	Switzerland
31	21/06 16:00	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth	Chile		Switzerland
32	21/06 20:30	Johannesburg - JEP	Spain		Honduras
47	25/06 20:30	Tshwane/Pretoria	Chile		Spain
48	25/06 20:30	Mangaung/Bloemfontein	Switzerland		Honduras

Algeria National Team

Algeria will end a 24-year absence from football’s top table when they kick their first ball at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Les Fennecs (the Desert Foxes) may have won the CAF African Cup of Nations since appearing at Mexico 1986, but they spent a long time in the wilderness before slowly working their way back as a competitive force at the start of the century. The current crop of players feel stronger than ever, with enough belief to put in a historic performance in South Africa.

The road to South Africa

Until finally sealing their place via a one-off play-off match with Egypt in Khartoum, Sudan, on 18 November, Algeria both suffered and impressed in their qualifying campaign. They won all six of their home games in the second and third qualifying rounds but lost three of their away visits, while drawing twice and winning the other game. As a result, they finished one slender point ahead of Gambia, Senegal and Liberia in their first qualifying group, before ending on equal terms with the Pharaohs in their second, and bringing about the need for a play-off on neutral terrain. The duo nonetheless came in eight points ahead of Zambia and 11 ahead of Rwanda.

The star players

Scorer of the goal that took Les Fennecs through to South Africa, Antar Yahia is one of the pillars at the back for his team, a status he shares with Madjid Bougherra, Nadir Belhadj and goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui, although back-up custodian Fawzi Chaouchi is now making serious claims on the gloves. Midfield is Algeria’s strength, meanwhile, with captain Yazid Mansouri spreading the ball around and forward-thinkers Karim Ziani and Mourad Meghni the most likely players to spark danger. Lastly, striker Karim Matmour has steadily been proving himself more than useful on the right wing.

The coach

Following a modest playing career in his homeland and briefly in France, ‘Cheik’ (the Elder, the Wise or the Master) Rabah Saadane quickly tried his hand at coaching. He soon found employment with the national association, first taking charge of various youth teams. In 1982, he was part of the coaching staff as Algeria disputed the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. Four years later, he took over the reins of the national side but paid the price for poor results at the global showcase. He took up the post again for a short while in 1999, then from 2003 to 2004 and began his current stint in 2007. In the club game, the veteran trainer notably lifted the CAF Champions League with Raja Casablanca in 1989 and the Arab Champions League title with ES Setif in 2007.

Previous FIFA World Cups

South Africa will mark Algeria’s third appearance at a FIFA World Cup finals, and they will be looking to graduate from the group stage for the first time in their history. In 1982, they made history by defeating West Germany 2-1 and Chile 3-2, only to lose 2-0 to Austria. Four years on from their debut, with a certain Saadane in the dugout, they shared a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland before losing 1-0 to Brazil and 3-0 to Spain.

Records

1 CAF African Cup of Nations (1990)

What they said

“Our qualification has made it possible for the country to put itself back on the map. It’s a joy and even an honour to be at the origin of that. I’m touched to the see the happiness we have given our people. It’s a splendid example to have set the young,” Rabah Saadane, coach

www.FIFA.com

Argentina National Team

Despite a tortuous qualification campaign, Argentina are travelling to South Africa with serious designs on winning the title for the first time in 24 years. To achieve that goal, the 1978 and 1986 world champions have pinned their faith in coach Diego Armando Maradona, the country’s most famous footballing son and the inspiration behind the second of those memorable triumphs.

His task is made easier by the fact that he has a star-studded squad at his disposal, one that features several survivors of the team that reached the quarter-finals at Germany 2006, not to mention Lionel Messi and a host of other young stars with several youth titles to their name. Given that roll call, the Argentinians appear to have the resources to atone for recent disappointments and win the country’s first international trophy since the Copa America in 1993.

The road to South Africa

The Argentinians made extremely hard work of qualifying for the finals, just as they did in 1985, the prelude to an electrifying charge to glory at the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™. The two-time world champions started the campaign under the stewardship of Alfio Basile, who made way for Maradona after a defeat to Chile on Matchday Ten had relegated them to third place. Yet after a series of setbacks, they eventually hauled themselves over the line with narrow victories in their final two games against Peru and Uruguay.

La Albiceleste collected 28 points in all, their lowest tally since the introduction of the ten-team group system, recording eight wins, four draws and six defeats. Three of those reverses proved particularly painful. After going down to their first competitive defeat to Chile, Argentina slumped to a humiliating 6-1 reverse in Bolivia and suffered only their second-ever home qualifying loss at the hands of Brazil. Maradona’s men engineered a late revival, however, with Martin Palermo scoring a dramatic late winner in the driving rain against the Peruvians. And days later the Argentinians made sure of their place in the finals with a battling 1-0 win over La Celeste in Montevideo.

The star players

Most of Argentina’s hopes are invested in Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the best footballer in the world. Having earned that reputation thanks to his consistently brilliant performances for Barcelona, La Pulga (The Flea) has yet to fire on a regular basis in the famous blue and white striped shirt, something he will be hoping to make amends for in South Africa.

Providing the midfield ballast for the darting Messi will be their captain and driving force Javier Mascherano and the hugely experienced Juan Sebastian Veron, who will be out to prove a point or two after coming in for criticism during Argentina’s fateful display at Korea/Japan 2002.

The coach

Considered by many to be the finest footballer ever to walk the Earth, Diego Maradona now has the opportunity to repeat as a coach his finest achievement as a player. Straight-talking, impulsive and a born competitor, Maradona retains the aura that made him such a revered figure during his playing days and will be hoping to impart his experience and know-how to a group of players who figure among his most ardent admirers.

Prior to taking on the national job, the legendary former No10 enjoyed brief spells in the hotseat at lesser lights Mandiyu in 1994 and Racing Club a year later, before making a return to the playing fields with his beloved Boca Juniors. A nine-year sabbatical from the game ended with his appointment as Basile’s successor, and having steered his side into the finals he now faces a challenge he has already risen to once in his career.

Previous FIFA World Cups

- Argentina have reached four FIFA World Cup Finals in all. They beat Netherlands in 1978 and Germany in 1986 but lost to Uruguay in 1930 and to the Germans in 1990.
- La Albiceleste will be appearing in the FIFA World Cup for the 20th time at South Africa 2010, their tenth consecutive appearance.
- Set to make his first appearance as a coach, Diego Maradona played in four successive finals competitions between 1982 and 1994.

What they said

“I tell my players that 30 days of sacrifice for the chance to kiss the World Cup is nothing in the life of a man. An achievement like that is like touching the sky. I played in World Cups and I reached two Finals. I know what it takes. I know how to lead the group and how to coach the players. I’ve earned the right to talk about the subject. I didn’t come eighth, ninth or get knocked out in the first round. I know something about this.” Coach Diego Maradona

www.FIFA.com

Australia National Team

After a 32-year absence from the world stage, Australia made a strong statement at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, reaching the knockout stage where it took a last-minute goal from eventual champions Italy to eliminate Guus Hiddink’s team. The squad, now under another Dutchman, Pim Verbeek, features many of the Germany 2006 personnel and is a battle-hardened and experienced group.

Unlike four years ago when Australia qualified through via the Oceania zone, and finally a dramatic play-off against Uruguay, the preparation for the Socceroos this time is very different following a lengthy campaign across the length and breadth of Asia.

The road to South Africa

The Socceroos impressed in a 14-match Asian qualification campaign overcoming some of the continents best to finish top of Group 1 and be one of the first nations to reach South Africa 2010. Australia also finished top of the previous qualifying stage ahead of Qatar, China and Asian champions Iraq, despite losing matches to the latter two. The next and final stage proved a triumph for Pim Verbeek’s tactical acumen as the Socceroos remained undefeated across eight matches, five points clear of Japan, with Bahrain, Qatar and Uzbekistan trailing well behind.

The star players

Undoubtedly Tim Cahill has become a talisman for the national team, with the attacking midfielder recording a remarkable goal return for the national team thanks to an uncanny positional sense and aerial ability. Galatasaray wide-man Harry Kewell provides a source of inspiration on the left, with Brett Emerton playing an equally important role on the opposite flank, while in the centre of the park, the under-rated duo of Vince Grella and Jason Culina are a well-oiled and invaluable engine room. The current side are renowned for their defensive capabilities with central defender Lucas Neill and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer an essential cog as the Socceroos leaked just four goals, including a record run of seven matches without conceding, en route to South Africa.

The coach

After a lengthy apprenticeship under Guus Hiddink, Pim Verbeek stepped out of the shadows to take Korea Republic to the 2007 AFC Asian Cup before assuming the reins of Australia in December 2007 just prior to the commencement of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Verbeek has brought a pragmatic approach to the team, built on a thrifty rock-solid defence, but also with capabilities going forward on the flanks. Highly respected by the players, Verbeek has instilled a strong sense of team in what is a highly motivated and focussed unit.

Previous FIFA World Cups

Australia have appeared on the world stage just twice, but are now making up for lost time by claiming a second consecutive qualification. Following a breakthrough showing in 1974, where a team of amateur players were far from embarrassed despite a first-round exit, the sports-mad nation had to wait another 32 years for a return to the FIFA World Cup. The revisit to Germany proved a success with Australia finishing second in their group behind Brazil and ahead of Croatia and Japan. It took a penalty deep into injury-time for Italy to overcome the Socceroos in the Round of 16 and continue their run to the crown.

Records

* Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer claimed a national record as the team maintained a cleansheet for seven consecutive FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
* Goalscoring honours in qualifying were shared by Brett Emerton and Tim Cahill with four goals apiece.

What they said

“We have to go there and do it better than last time. I think you have to make targets in life and the players are going to do that also. We want to do better than last time, and we will do everything possible to do that,” Australia coach Pim Verbeek.

www.FIFA.com

Brazil National Team

It almost goes without saying that Brazil, the five-times world champions, go into every FIFA World Cup™ heavily favoured to add yet another star to the legendary Amarelinha shirt. Having played for A Seleção at three editions of the global showpiece, coach Dunga will be fully aware that any outcome other than a sixth world crown will likely be considered a failure.

The road to South Africa

The fans’ at times vitriolic reaction to Brazil’s results and performances particularly early on in the qualifying phase illustrates just how demanding they can be. Despite ending the preliminary event on top of the standings, after recording nine wins, seven draws and two defeats, and having clinched a South Africa 2010 berth with three matchdays to spare, the Auriverde camp had been subjected to a torrent of abuse after successive goalless home draws against Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia. Dunga’s charges really hit their stride from April 2009, however, racking up five wins in a row including two landmark away results: a 4-0 humbling of Uruguay in Montevideo and a 3-1 defeat of arch-rivals Argentina in Rosario. It was the latter which confirmed their passage to South Africa.

The star players

Picking just a few names from a country so prolific at producing footballing talent is no easy task, though 2009 did underline the importance of certain key players. Starting between the sticks and we have keeper Julio Cesar, whose safe hands are a vital feature of A Seleção’s miserly defence. The triumphant FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 campaign cemented Kaka’s place as the man Brazil look to for inspiration, a fact reflected in him taking the adidas Golden ball. Meanwhile up front, Luis Fabiano proved himself a truly world-class finisher with five goals including a priceless brace in the 3-2 final win over the USA.

The coach

Upon taking the job in August 2006, Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri, better known as Dunga, had already experienced the full gambit of emotions that come with playing for Brazil. Indeed, having been among the scapegoats targeted after the disappointment at Italy 1990, the powerful midfielder skippered Brazil to victory four years later in the USA. Despite the Brazilian national team position being his first coaching role, Dunga answered those who doubted his credentials by guiding A Canarinha to triumph in the 2007 Copa America, the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and qualifying the team for South Africa 2010 with room to spare.

Records

- Brazil are preparing to contest their 19th consecutive FIFA World Cup finals. They are the only country to have taken part in every edition of the global showpiece.
- They are also the only country to have won the title five times: amassing a total of 64 victories, 14 draws and 14 defeats in 92 games played.
- Between 15 June 2008 and 11 October 2009, A Seleção went 19 games unbeaten.

What they said

“We have to learn to live with the favourites’ tag. We mustn’t let it turn into something negative, as it has done in previous years.” Kaka, following the win over Argentina which clinched qualification.

www.FIFA.com

Cameroon National Team

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.

www.FIFA.com

Chile National Team

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

www.FIFA.com

Ivory Coast National Team

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 and Bernd Schuster were both linked with the job, Sven-Goran Eriksson was given the helm just months before the start of the finals.

South Africa 2010 will be Eriksson’s third FIFA World Cup after leading England to the quarter-finals at both the 2002 and 2006 finals. He had an unsuccessful stint with Mexico in the first half of qualifying for 2010, but he was sacked after less than a year. He is a vastly experienced club coach, having led Gothenburg to the UEFA Cup in 1982, and leading teams in Portugal, England and Italy.

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.

www.FIFA.com

Denmark National Team

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.” Morten Olsen, Denmark coach, interviewed exclusively by FIFA.com

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England National Team

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.

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