The Worlds Greatest Dance!

Well, everything is set for December 4th, when we have the draw for the World Cup groups. The 32 teams are all selected and in the process of getting ready. So. Who do we have going to the dance? Well, I will go strictly Alphabetically.

AFRICA

Algeria qualified in the most dramatic of fashions, squeezing out of their first group, then finishing perfectly level with Egypt in the second. This called for a unique one-off playoff game against Egypt to be played in a neutral venue. So, Algeria finally made it to their second world cup after beating Egypt 1-0 in Kartoum, Sudan.

Cameroon started their campaign in a reasonably lacklustre fashion, but where able to turn it around and qualify easily in the end. Cameroon also hold the record for the most number of world cup games (17) for an African nation.

Ghana qualified for the world cup without much stress, and even though this is only their second appearance, they are highly fancied to go far at the first African world cup.

The Ivory Coast is another team highly fancied. Able to build a squad without an domestic players, the Ivory Coast can call upon a squad of expensive stars who are plying their trade with some of the top European clubs.

Nigeria have been the perennial powerhouse of African football. Regularly touted as the most likely African nation to make it to the semi finals of a world cup. This goal has so far eluded them. Whilst they do not quite have the stars of yore, they are not to be taken for granted.

This is South Africa's first world cup. A team that burst back on the scene back in 1996 when they won the African Nations cup. However, they do have the ability to blow hot and cold. Did very well at the recent Confederations cup, however, have put in some awful performances in the games either side of that tournament!

ASIA

Australia. Second Asian nation to qualify behind Japan, despite heading Japan in qualifying. Last time, got to the knock-out stages, and it required a last minute goal for eventual winners Italy to beat them. And not without controversy.

Japan was the first nation to qualify for the world cup. Granted, because of the fact that Australia, the team they trailed in their qualifying group, playing later because of time zone stuff. Japan has featured in the last 4 world cups, and 4 cups in total, and so far have only reached the knock-out stages once, in 2002. Their head coach, despite some worrying performances in friendly games, has a stated ambition of reaching the semi finals...

New Zealand of course, won Oceania easily. Then they had to play off against the 5th placed Asian team, Bahrain. Bahrain won the right to play New Zealand after they beat Saudi Arabia. New Zealand held out for a 0-0 draw in Bahrain, and finally battled through to a 1-0 victory in New Zealand. This will be the second time at the world cup.

The South Koreans are really trying to replace Japan as Asia's perennial top nation. (Australia dont count. Yet.) They have some excellent players, qualified relatively easily, and this will be their 8th time. The highest number for any nation out of Asia. Famously making it to the semi finals in 2002. Albeit with rumblings of dodgy referees....

The North Koreans have essentially come from nowhere to roar into the world cup. Finally doing something in the game, and making use of a pool of talent in the Koreans that live in Japan. Because they are born in Japan, but recognised as Korean, they cannot play for Japan, but get to pick the north, or the south. Their most famous moment was a 4-3 win against Italy in England, in 1966.

EUROPE

After missing out on the last world cup, the Danes where determined to make it to South Africa. And they did so in style. Being placed in the same group as the much fancied Portugal team, everyone had them pegged as runners up. Beating Portugal put paid to that, and only 1 defeat in qualifying saw them get through easily! This will be their 4th time at the world cup.

England was the second European team to qualify, and the first from one of the "full size groups." The Dutch qualified before, but out of the smaller group. After appointing Capello, England set about setting right the wrongs of the McClaren era. England ran riot in the groups, winning every game until they had qualified. The final game saw Capello rest a lot of his first team, and used many of his fringe players, and Ukraine pulled out a hard-fought 1-0 win. The difference between England now, and before, makes England as genuine contenders. Not just hopeless optimists, they are now in the hunt.

Right now, France has to be the most vilified nation in world football. The French public openly loathe Domenech, their head coach, and the team continues to frustrate. On paper, one of the best teams in the world. However, the qualifying rounds saw them continually to fall far short of expectations. Some FIFA shenanigans saw them "seeded" and against Ireland in a playoff. A deflected goal saw them win in Dublin, then back in Paris, the Irish pegged them back. Outplayed them, and where taking the game to penalties until Henry deliberately handled the ball (twice) and from the resultant blatant cheating, France scored. That goal took them through.

FIFA have yet to comment. Henry will probably be punished. France will be hated by pretty much everyone there.

The Germans made it to the world cup without any fuss, or flair. Grinding out results when they needed to. The Germans will be there or thereabouts pretty much perennially.

Riding high off the back of their victory in the Euro 2004 tournament, the Greeks continue to surprise and confound. After that, a limp run in 2008, and failure to qualify for 2006 world cup would have been more than enough for many coaches. Greece kept the faith, and where rewarded with their second ever trip to the world cup finals. The Greeks lost out to Switzerland, and then pulled out a 1-0 (over 2 legs) victory over the Ukraine.

Italy are the current world champions, but did not dazzle in the qualifiers. They did finally manage to top the group, but it was less than convincing. They will be one of the teams to watch, and many people will bet on them. However, it is doubtful they will be able to retain their crown.

The Dutch where in the same group as the Scots, and had the shorter campaign. However, the Dutch made short work of it, winning all 8, and being the first European nation to qualify. The Dutch have managed to get themselves branded as the best team that never won the world cup! A dubious honour indeed.

Thanks to Ronaldo, many people expected Portugal to roar to the world cup. But 1 win in the first 5 saw them nearly drop right out of the running, and not even the playoff. Portugal finally managed to turn it around, and in the second half of the campaign, managed to scrape back up to 2nd where they ended up playing Bosnia. Unlike France, they did win without cheating, and are off to South Africa.

This is the first time Serbia has been to the world cup as an independent nation, and where expected to be fighting it out for second place behind France. As it turned out, the Serbs played well, and booked their place at the world cup in a convincing fashion at the first time of asking.

Slovakia are definately not one of the favourites for the world cup. They do not boast any major international stars in their squad, they do prove the old adage "greater than the sum of its parts." They are very organised and work well as a very strong unit. In 1998, they where 4th in their group. For 2002, 3rd. For 2006, 2nd, and yep. This year, they won their group!

The Slovenians boast, er, and, um, well, OK, I dont know! A squad not built on international stars, but built from the back with one of the meanest defences in European qualifying! They pushed Slovakia all the way, only losing out on the last day. Russia was almost dancing with delight when they where paired with the Slovenian minnows. All was going to plan when the Russians raced to a 2-0 lead in Moscow. However, the Slovenians managed to bag a crucial away goal in the final few moments of the game. In the return leg in Slovenia, with 2 minutes to go, the Slovenians scored. Allowing Slovenia to qualify at Russia's expense on the away goals rule.

Spain is currently ranked as one of the top teams in the world. They won all their games in qualifying. Highest scorers, reigning European champs... The list goes on. The Spanish rightly have high hopes for this team, it is settled and they have blended well. However, Spain does have vulnerabilities, and has been known to explode dramatically when it comes to the crunch games. Will they go all they way? Or will it go up in flames?

The Swiss have managed to blend a team full of youth with some seasoned campaigners and progressed to the world cup as group winners. Though it was not without panic. Drawing to Israel, then the shock defeat to Luxembourg proved a big wake up call!

NORTH AMERICA

This is the second time that Honduras has made it to the world cup. Honduras started their campaign brightly, and easily made it to the final round of 6 from the CONCACAF region. Here, however, they started badly, then managed to turn it around in the second half of the campaign. At the end, they had to beat El Salvador, and hope the US got a result in the US-Costa Rica game. It took a last gasp equalizer from the US to get Honduras to the finals.

Mexico started the campaign badly, racing through 60 players and 5 managers including Sven Goran Eriksson. Once they appointed Javier Aguirre, the Mexican ship stabalized and results began to pick up. In the final group stage, at the outset, they wobbled. This cost Sven his job, and allowed Aguirre back in and again he delivered.

The US made it to the world cup with little fuss. Losing on occasion, and dragging out results when they needed to. This will be the US' 9th time at the world cup, but they will be hoping to do better than 2006 when they crashed out in the group stage.

SOUTH AMERICA

Argentina managed to make hugely heavy weather of qualification this time round. It took dramatic victories in their final 2 games to guarantee their place in finals. To prop up their campaign they turned to talismanic/cheating little SOB (dependant on your point of view) Diego Maradonna. And whilst he did lead them to the finals, he did so whilst managing to still generate controversy. Including being hit with a stiff ban from FIFA after he launched a foul mouthed tirade on the media and others.

What is there to say about Brazil? Pretty much always one of the favourites for any competition they go into. The campaign did not start out too well, and resulted in serious criticism from the public. However, they turned it around and qualified at a canter. Securing their place with a victory over arch-rivals Argentina.

Chile exploded in the current qualifying campaign, taking a very young team and running Brazil all the way. Chile finished second by only 1 point. They won 16 points out of 33 on the road, and where the second highest scorers at 32. A very impressive campaign.

The Paraguayans qualified in style. Breaking through 30 points for the first time, and booking their place in the world cup with a 1-0 victory over Argentina. After Paraguay qualified the president declared a national holiday!

By finishing 5th in the qualification campaign the Urugayans had to go through a playoff with Costa Rica. A victory in Costa Rica set them on the way, then back in Uruguay a late and blatantly off-side goal earned them a draw which booked them through to the finals.

Well. There you have it. All 32 teams heading to the world cup. Some made it with little fuss and fanfare like Switzerland. Others blasted their way to the finals, like the Netherlands and Spain.

Others are very much more controversial inclusions in the finals. France got there by a blatant hand ball which the referee "missed" and Uruguay got there after a blatant off-side goal.

The South Africa world cup is going to be an amazing event. It is breaking new grounds in many ways, both good and bad. It will be interesting to see how it develops. However, FIFA has to hope that France and Uruguay get knocked out early, otherwise this world cup will go down in history with a huge asterisk next to it!