With a squad consisting predominantly of Champions League regulars, and their newly acclaimed title of European Champions still echoing throughout the footballing world, most people asssumed the Spanish team would be on the plane to South Africa in 2010 even before the first ball of the qualifying campaign had been kicked; particularly in comparison to [...]

It can’t be easy being manager of Brazil. After the England managerial position (a job which turns previously well thought-of mangers into public enemy number 1’s), the Brazil job is probably the hardest international position in the world. However Dunga is doing OK so far, winning both of the international tournaments he has been involved [...]

Cast your mind back to 22nd November 2007. Steve McClaren had just lost his job after seeing his England team lose 2-3 to Croatia at Wembley and in turn overseeing their first failed attempt at qualifying for a major tournament since 1994. Nobody knew what the future held for the Three Lion’s, and surely no-one [...]

It’s probably fair to say Korea DPR will represent the unknown when it comes to South Africa 2010. Politically at least, they are considered the most secret nation in the world and why should it be any different when it comes to football. Sure! They won’t exactly have the European and South American giants quaking [...]

‘That tiny country sandwiched between Argentina and Brazil? What about them?’ Clearly my geography teacher knows nothing about football. He may have been able to tell me that Asunciόn is its’ capital city and that it has a subtropical climate, but he missed the most important thing; Paraguay are second in the South American Qualifying [...]

Boasting players such as Michael Essien and Sully Muntari alongside multiple other established club stars and it’s no real surprise that Ghana were tipped to comfortably qualify for the 2010 World Cup. After a good performance in their first ever World Cup tournament at Germany 2006 where they reached the Second round, Ghana were looking to continue their [...]

Australia were the first team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, but you wouldn’t know it by some of the criticism Pim Veerbeek has received from the Australian public. Labeled boring and unattractive, many fans were not happy with the tactics and selections Veerbeek decided on. But it’s hard to argue with a record [...]