 |
 |
 |
 |
| Phone: |
+27 21 813 9091 |
| E-Mail: |
 |
| Skype: |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
| Home / Articles / FIFA 2010 / South Africa FIFA 2010 World Cup - Top Eight Teams |
| South Africa FIFA 2010 World Cup - Top Eight Teams |
ARGENTINA
Diego Maradona’s team made heavy weather of qualifying for the world cup. However, the 1978 and 1986 world champions have been inspired by coach Maradona, a football God in his homeland (not too mention notorious still for his ‘hand of God’ goal in the 1986 final) and have really dug deep to make it to the world cup finals. If superstition has a role to play in sport, it is wise to remember they also had a hellish qualifying round in 1985 and went on to win the world cup the following year.
The road to the World cup 2010, South Africa
After a series of major setbacks, they did well with narrow victories in their final games against Peru and Uruguay.
The star players
Regarded by many as the best footballer in the world, the brilliant Lionel Messi will keep the Argentine flag aloft. Driving the midfield is captain Javier Mascherano and the experienced Juan Sebastian Veron.
Previous FIFA World Cups: Argentina have reached four FIFA World Cup Finals. This will be their tenth consecutive world cup.
Best performances: Winners against the Netherlands in 1978 and Germany in 1986. Semi-finalists to Uruguay in 1930 and Germans in 1990.
BRAZIL
The beautiful game of football has been adopted right around the globe, but by all accounts it seems Brazil is its natural mother. There isn’t a team that has more pressure on them than the sublimely talented Brazil. Five-times world champions, go into every FIFA World Cup™ as favourites to win and add another star to the legendary Amarelinha shirt. Coach Dunga, who played in three world cups, knows that anything other than coming home with the trophy for the sixth time would be failure.
The road to the World cup 2010, South Africa
The road to FIFA 2010 was rather dramatic and shaky for the Brazillians. Despite ending on top of the standings, with nine wins, seven draws and two defeats, the team only secured a South Africa 2010 berth with three match days to spare. As a result, the Auriverde camp was subjected to a torrent of abuse from fans and media, after goalless home draws against Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia.
However, Dunga’s team found their feet from April 2009, with five wins in a row including thrashing Uruguay 4-0 and humbling fierce rivals Argentina with 3-1 win.
The star players
There isn’t a weak link in the team. Certain key players: golden keeper Julio Cesar; the ever-inspiring adidas golden ball star, Kaka and striker Luis Fabiano.
Previous FIFA World Cups- This being their 19th consecutive FIFA World Cup finals, they are the only country to have taken part in every World Cup tournament.
Between June 2008 and October 2009, they were undefeated for 19 games.
Best Performance- They have won the title a whopping five times which translates to 64 victories, 14 draws and 14 defeats in 92 games.
ENGLAND
Even though English football had what was called the ‘golden generation' during the last decade, they failed to bring in silverware at UEFA EURO 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. David Beckham and co will undoubtedly hope to fair better in South Africa 2010 under Fabio Capello.
The road to the World cup 2010, South Africa
England had an impressive run with nine out of ten wins in group 6, losing only to the Ukraine after qualification, and ending with a remarkable 34 goals.
The star players
Manchester United’s forward Wayne Rooney, who scored nine goals in nine games, and joining him up front is the gangly Peter Crouch. Middlefiled sees the likes of the sterling Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
Previous FIFA World Cups: 11 previous tournaments.
Best performances: Winners in 1966, Semi-finals in 1990.
GERMANY
Three-time FIFA World Cup™ champions Germany do consistently well at the World Cup, and the team coached by Joachim Low will most definitely be aiming to get take the trophy home with them for a fourth time.
The road to the World cup 2010, South Africa
The Germans success rests with their experience, work-horse ethic, and the ability to dig deep when the chips are down, and their qualifying matches proved just that. Clinical precision and their never-say-die attitude marked the German’s march to first place in European qualifying Group 4 for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Surprisingly, they dropped points against Finland after qualifying, but put in some sterling performances against Russia, ensuring the latter side’s first ever home defeat in FIFA World Cup qualifying.
The star players
Captain and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack with 97 senior caps to his name, ace striker Miroslav Klose who boasts a record 48 goals in 93 internationals, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski are a few of the great German players partaking in the world’s most prestigious sporting event.
Previous FIFA World Cups- Germany have contested every FIFA World Cup they’ve entered.
Germany and Brazil are the only teams to have reached the FIFA World Cup Final a record seven times.
Germany have contested and won four penalty shoot-outs at the FIFA World Cup finals.
Best performances- Germany have won the FIFA World Cup three times in 1954, 1974 and 1990.
ITALY
As defending champions, Italy will naturally have all eyes on them to perform well during 2010 FIFA World Cup™ South Africa. Alongside Brazil, they are the only team to have won two consecutive world cups, and this should spur Marcello Lippi's men will to repeat their predecessor’s success in 1934 and 1938.
The road to the World cup 2010, South Africa
The Azzurri topped Group 8, recording seven wins and three draws, with eighteen goals and conceding seven.
The star players
Regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers alive, Gianluigi Buffon remains one of the two powerhouses of the renown Italian defence. His cat-like reflexes in the post stopped what was sure to be a winning header from Zinedine Zidane in extra time of the World Cup final 2006.
Evergreen captain Fabio Cannavaro 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year, and 130 caps, is a constant force and support for the Azzuri.Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is the battle-axe and heart of the Azzurri line-up with his die-hard attitude.
Previous FIFA World Cups- Italy have qualified for 16 of the 18 FIFA World Cup finals.
Best Performances-They have won the competition four occasions, in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006. Runners-up in 1970 and 1994 and third place on home soil in 1990.
NETHERLANDS
The Dutch have claimed that it will be the final or bust for them. Twice runners-up in the past, the Oranje have through the years produced teams with enormously talented players, but often fail to produce winning results. Bert van Marwijk, is working to change the label the Dutch have of being at best ‘also-rans’.
The road to the World cup 2010, South Africa
They had a great run up to the tournament, winning eight out of eight. If history is anything to go by, he and his team might fortune smiling on them: the last team to reach a FIFA World Cup final without dropping a point in qualifying went on to contest the final.
The star players
The key men: Arjen Robben, Joris Mathijsen, Andre Ooijer, Dirk Kuyt, Mark van Bommel, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Rafael van der Vaart, Robin van Persie, Nigel De Jong and Wesley Sneijder also remain closely involved.
Previous FIFA World Cups- In their eight finals appearances
Best performance: Finals twice, in 1974 and 1978. Semi-finals at France 1998.
SOUTH AFRICA
The Rainbow Nation has a Herculean task ahead. Recent years have been disappointing, but Bafana Bafana have also shown, sparks of potential. It is also wise to note that there can be no greater motivation than representing your country in a FIFA World Cup™ on home soil.
The road to the World cup 2010, South Africa
South Africa, by virtue of their role as hosts, gained automatic qualification.
The star players
Everton talented midfielder Steven Pienaar is South Africa's leading player along with wingbacks Siboniso Gaxa and the talented Tsepho Masilela.
Previous FIFA World Cups - South Africa are yet to make it beyond the group stages, and this is their third world cup apperance. The performed well at the FIFA Confederations Cup June 2008, when they lost narrowly to Brazil in the semi-finals
SPAIN
Spain's road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ was incredibly successful and they enter the finals with a remarkable ten wins from ten South Africa 2010 qualifiers, as well as 2008 European Championship winners. To top this, La Roja were also the European Zone's second top scorers with 28 goals.
The road to the World cup 2010, South Africa
Although they won all their games, the Spaniards to dig deep for nine valuable points. After tough matches over Turkey, Armenia Belgium Brussels, they secured a ticket to South Africa with a convincing 5-0 win over Belgium in their return match and a comfortable win over Estonia. They underlined their threat with a 5-2 away thrashing of closest challengers Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The star players
Captain Iker Casillas is one of the wortd's finest keepers, with superhuman reflexes. Midfield string-puller Xavi Hernandez's superb passing and vision is vital to the Spaniards' fluid style, and in David Villa and Fernando 'El Niño' Torres Spain has great strikers.
Previous FIFA World Cups - Spain have taken part in 12 FIFA World Cups including every tournament since Germany 1974.
Best performance- La Roja's best performance was fourth-place at Brazil 1950.
|
Planning a trip to SA?
The following may help you: |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Safari information that may interest you: |
2010 World cup overview
FIFA 2010 World Cup draw in Cape Town- how it works
|
|
|
 |
|
