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World Cup Teams Review and Overview - South Africa Fifa World Cup 2010 - by Cape Spirit

England - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review 1/2

After England failed to qualify for Euro 2008, it looked like England’s so-called “Golden Generation” of players would never work well together as a team. Harsh criticism was aimed at both the players and their coach, Steve McClaren. English football was in the doldrums and McClaren made a hasty exit. In December 2007, Italian coach Fabio Capello was appointed as England manager. Capello set about reshaping the side, drilling a sense of discipline and teamwork back in to the squad. Ignoring individual player reputations, Capello began to select the players based on merit and form alone. The English still have a lot to prove, but Capello has at least got them as far as South Africa.

Read further about the England Football Team competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (review 1)

England - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review 2/2

Considered something of a team of underachievers, the English have enjoyed an emphatic qualifying campaign under the stewardship of new Italian coach Fabio Capello. Nine victories from 10 games saw the Three Lions roar to top spot and secure qualification with two matches to spare. However, this followed a failure to qualify for Euro 2008 and despair at the World Cup in 2006. Arrival of new Fabio Capello has certainly seen some major changes, mostly in the way the players perform as a team and the level of commitment they offer in matches.

Read further about the England Football Team competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (review 2)


Netherlands / Holland - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review 

The Dutch will once again be looking to overcome their reputation as World Cup underachievers in South Africa. Often tipped for success, the Netherlands has frequently failed to make its mark on the tournament, and has yet to lift the trophy. The days of ‘total football’ may have been and gone, but the Dutch will again be heading in to a World Cup with a strong side.

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Germany - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review / Overview

World Cup heavyweights Germany will be looking to go all the way in South Africa. While on paper the Germans may not look as strong as the likes of Spain and Brazil, they can never be dismissed as potential World Cup winners. First, however, they will need to negotiate their way through a tricky Group D draw.

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France - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review / Overview

After having qualified for South Africa by means of a controversial play-off, the French will be reasonably happy with their Group A draw. The French have managed to avoid facing any of the World Cup superpowers early on, having been drawn alongside South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay. However, France has been struggling recently and squad confidence has been ebbing away. Any fragility within the side could be punished in Group A, and the French will need to pull together to see it through to the knockout stages.

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USA - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review / Overview

The USA has slowly but surely crept up the FIFA World Rankings where it now sits in 14th place. It’s quite an achievement considering that football is still struggling to gain a foothold in the United States. The Americans will once again be looking to raise the game’s profile in their homeland with a successful campaign in the 2010 World Cup.
An impressive run in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup saw the USA reach the final before losing 3-2 to Brazil. This will have been a valuable experience for the Americans, especially since the competition was staged in South Africa.

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Spain - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review 1/2

Spain is one of the hot favourites to lift the World Cup in South Africa. Currently ranked number one in the world by FIFA, the Spanish are also the reigning champions of Europe. Their victorious Euro 2008 campaign contributed to an incredible run of 35 games without loss between November 2006 and June 2009. This record, equalled only by Brazil, helped lift Spain to the top of the World Rankings for the first time in its history. Spain, however, is also the only nation to have reached the top spot without ever having won a World Cup. In South Africa, the Spanish will be setting out to add the elusive trophy to their collection.

Read further about the Spain Football Team competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (review 1)

Spain - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review 2/2

The world ranked number one national team Spain have progressed a long way in relatively few years to dethrone Brazil as the world's number 1 and their qualification was further testament to this, ending up one of three European teams including England the Netherlands, to qualify with two games to spare. They are defensively strong and creatively attacking and in winning Euro 2008 they proved that they have what it takes to become the world's best despite never lifting the World Cup.

Read further about the Spain Football Team competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (review 2)

Australia - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review / Overview

Australia has been handed a tough group in which to begin its World Cup campaign. The Australians will be eyeing a second-place finish in Group D, but they face some stiff competition against Germany, Serbia and Ghana. If they are to progress to the knockout stages, as they did in 2006, the ‘Socceroos’ will need to be on top form.

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New Zealand - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review / Overview

New Zealand is regarded as one of the World Cup’s rank outsiders. Playing in only their second World Cup finals, the New Zealanders may dream of getting through Group F but, realistically, they will do well to pick up a point. Italy is expected to dominate the group, leaving New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia to battle it out for second-place.

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Italy - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review 1/2

As the reigning World Cup champions, Italy will again be looking to go all the way in South Africa. With their distinctive mix of flair, organisation and passion, the Italians will provide a tough challenge for all of their World Cup rivals. Drawn in Group F alongside Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia, Italy should have a comfortable start to its World Cup title defence.

Read further about the Italy Football Team competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (review 1)

Italy - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review 2/2

Italy are one of two teams, along with Brazil, to have won the World Cup tournament twice in succession and have won the tournament just once less than Brazil with 4 victories to their name. This role of honour includes victory at the last tournament in 2006 and under the returning management of Marcello Lippi they will be vying to go the distance and lift the cup again this year in South Africa. While their qualifying campaign was not exactly alight with flare and style it was relatively easy as they topped the group following their first match and remained their all the way. However, they did only gain qualification in their penultimate match.

Read further about the Italy Football Team competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (review 2)

Argentina - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review / Overview

A world ranking of 8th and a shaky qualification journey has seriously dented the pride of a team that is able to boast some of the best attacking talent in the world. Under the stewardship of coach and former playing legend Diego Maradona, La Albiceleste left it to the very end of their qualification campaign to secure progress through to the finals. They had to rely on narrow victories over Peru and Uruguay to ensure they would travel to South Africa. In fact, it was only Bolatti's late goal in the final game that saw Maradona's star studded side joining the likes of Brazil and France in the finals. Despite many fearing for the team's success under Maradona, his task should be made considerably easier by a star studded list of world class performers at his disposal. At the centre of almost every attack is Lionel Messi, a player that is widely considered to be the best the world has to offer. Messi was, along with fellow key players Juan Riquelme and Sergio Aguero, the team's leading scorer in qualification and will almost certainly be the Argentinean player to watch during the finals.

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Brazil - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review 1/2

Currently ranked by FIFA as the second best team in the world, Brazil will be one of the main contenders in South Africa. Bursting with flair and footballing talent, the Brazilian squad looks strong. Their attacking options are almost limitless, while Dunga has helped to create a strong and organised defence. Brazil’s inclusion in Group G, however, has put the pressure on the Seleção. North Korea shouldn’t pose a problem, but both Portugal and the Ivory Coast have the potential to upset the Brazilians.

Read further about the Brazil Football Team competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (review 1)

Brazil - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review 2/2

The Brazilian national team has undergone some remarkable changes in recent months, especially since coach Dunga took over the position. Rather than the usual samba flare that flows from virtually every Brazilian side, the new look Brazil boasts discipline and a miserly defence to boot. The fans may have taken some time to warm to this new footballing approach but a comfortable qualification for the World Cup with some excellent results along the way has won the majority over to this new way of thinking.

Read further about the Brazil Football Team competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (review 2)

Chile - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review / Overview

Chile is seen as one of the World Cup dark horses. An impressive South American qualifying campaign saw the Chileans finish only one point behind group winners Brazil. With a strong squad capable of playing attractive football, Chile will be looking to impress in South Africa.

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Uruguay - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review / Overview

Uruguay had to make its way through a total of 20 qualifying matches in order to get to South Africa 2010. The team has certainly shown a fair degree of stamina, but whether they have enough all-round strength to succeed in South Africa remains to be seen. The Uruguayans won the first ever World Cup back in 1930 and will be looking to progress at least to the knockout stages in the latest instalment. First they will have to get through a group which includes their South African hosts, an erratic French side and a capable bunch of Mexicans.

Read further about the Uruguay Football Team competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa

Mexico - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review / Overview

Since the very first World Cup back in 1930, Mexico has been one of the most regular contenders in World Cup football. However, the Mexicans have not often progressed beyond the second round of the tournament itself. The team will be looking to get a little further in South Africa, but first they will need to get through a tricky Group A draw.

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Portugal - 2010 Fifa World Cup Team Review / Overview

Portugal almost added another failure to an already long list of unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaigns. Sneaking into South Africa via a playoff, the Portuguese have not been given any breathing space in Group G. Having been drawn alongside Brazil, the Ivory Coast and North Korea, they now face a tough battle in order to progress to the knockout stages.

Read further about the Portugal Football Team competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa

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