Group A
South Africa
Uruguay
Mexico
France
Group B
Argentina
Korea Rpb
Nigeria
Greece
Group C
England
Algeria
USA
Slovenia
Group D
Germany
Serbia
Australia
Ghana
Group E
Holland
Japan
Denmark
Cameroon
Group F
Italy
New Zealand
Paraguay
Slovakia
Group G (Group of Death)
Brasil
Ivory Coast
N.Korea
Portugal
Group H
Spain
Honduras
Switzerland
Chile
Both Italy and Spain are lucky on the draw but in Group G, since Brasil SHOULD go through safely, then either Drogba or C.Ronaldo will survive and grap for the other seat. I personally think Germany and Argentina will be the favourite. Here are all the teams and my prediction on how far can they go
South Arica
The host, most likely will make history as the first host nation that can't qualify to second round
Current Form: Confederation Cup good result but friendly not that good.
Strengths: Skilful and quick, home advantage
Weakness: Struggle to score goals
Star Player: Steven Pienaar (Everton)
Player to Watch: Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates)
The Boss: Carlo Parreira
My prediction: 1st round
Mexico
Underachievers of world football
Current Form: Things improved after parted with Sven Goran Eriksson
Strengths: Individual talent, especially through the middle
Weaknesses: Lack of firepower
Star Player: Andreas Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna)
Player to Watch: Giovani Dos Santos (Galatasary)
The Boss: Javier Aguirre
My prediction: Quarter-finals
Uruguay
One of the most succesful teams in the world, confidence is the key
Current Form: They will miss Paolo Montero
Strengths: Strong defence and aerial power
Weaknesses: Inconsistent and unpredictable
Star Player: Diego Forlan (Atlehtico Madrid)
Player to Watch: Luiz Suarez (Ajax)
The Boss: Oscar Tabrez
My prediction: 1st round
France
One of the inaugural European teams that participate on the 1930 World Cup will be depending on the Domenech effect
Current Form: Downhill after defeated by Italy in 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 was a massive dissapointment with a 4-1 deafeat by Holland
Strengths:Great Players-at least on paper
Weaknesses: Have not found right balance in central defence
Star Player: Frank Ribery (Bayern Munich)
Player to Watch: Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)
The Boss: Raymond Domenech
My prediction: Semi-final
Argentina
One of the most succesful teams alongside Uruguay with 19 international titles will be on the Maradona roller-coaster
Current Form: Bookie's favourite
Strengths: Small partnership within the team
Weaknesses: Do not have a clear style of play
Star Player: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Player to Watch: Fernando Gago (Real Madrid)
The Boss: Diego Maradona
My prediction: Champion
South Korea
Asia football power since 1950s with Ji-Sung the ace in gamble
Current Form: Only team that finish unbeaten in AFC qualifying zone
Strengths: Good team chemistry
Weaknesses: Defending setpieces
Star Player: Park Ji-Sung (Man Utd)
Player to Watch: Park Chi-Young (Monaco)
The Boss: Huh Jung-Moo
My prediction: 2nd round
Nigeria
The Super Eagles still carrying excess baggage
Current Form: No longer the powerhouse they once were
Strengths: Attacking play has been their trademark
Weaknesses: Heart of the backline
Star Player: Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg)
Player to Watch: Osaze Odemwingle (Lokomotiv Moscow)
The Boss: Lars Lagerbeck
My prediction: 1st round
Greece
Return of the underdogs with the whole nation hoping for another 2004 miracle
Current Form: Beaten Ukraine in the play-offs
Strengths: Solid defence
Weaknesses: No creativity
Star Player: Theofanis Gekas (Hertha BSC)
Player to Watch: Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos)
The Boss: Otto Rehhagel
My prediction: 1st round
England
First national team alongside Scotland to be formed in the world is now dreaming big again
Current Form: Have been a cropper before to the USA in previous WC and Slovenia pusged them hard in recent friendly
Strengths: Outstanding players, leaders in few areas, impressive tactical approach
Weaknesses: Minor weaknesses in every area
Star Player: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)
Player to Watch: James Milner (Aston Villa)
The Boss: Fabio Capello
My prediction: Quarter-finals
Algeria
Tough return after hibernation
Current Form: Impressive records in qualifying and beaten African Champion Egypt
Strengths: Enthusiam and discipline of young squad
Weaknesses: Inability to travel
Star Player: Rafik Saifi (FC Istres)
Player to Watch: Rafik Halliche (Nacional)
The Boss: Rabah Saadane
My prediction: 2nd round
USA
Its a nice American habit, but that's all
Strengths: Compact, hustle and scrap
Weaknesses: Struggle to create chances in open play
Star Player: Landon Donovan (Everton)
Player to Watch: Michael Bradley (Borussia)
The Boss: Bob Bradley
My prediction: 1st round
Slovenia
Won't have it easy for the newcomer
Current Form: Underdogs but not a team to be sneered at
Strengths: Rock solid defence
Weaknesses: Strength
Star Player: Samir Handanovic (Udinese)
Player to Watch: Milivoje Novakovic (Koln)
The Boss: Matjaz Kek
My prediction: 1st round
Germany
Masters of the big occasion and are one the 3 most succesful nations
Current Form: Qualified without fuss but the squad still not as strong as the past
Strengths: Fitness and motivation
Weaknesses: Unable to win against "big nation"
Star Player: Michael Ballack (Chelsea)
Player to Watch: Lukas Podolski (FC Koln)
The Boss: Joachim Low
My prediction: Runners up
Australia
No real spring in the Socceroos
Current Form: played a whopping of 28 matches to get here so far
Strengths: Superbly unified and organised
Weaknesses: Goalscoring
Star Player: Tim Cahill (Everton)
Player to Watch: Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg)
The Boss: Pim Verbeek
My prediction: 1st round
Serbia
The newcomer as independent country in thriving on Antic class
Current Form: Could be a surprise
Strengths: Commanding defence and effective setpieces
Weaknesses: Central midfield
Star Player: Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan)
Player to Watch: Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege)
The Boss: Radomir Antic
My prediction: 2nd round
Ghana
The Black Star will need Essien the Enforcer
Current Form: Considered as one of Africa's best hope in this tournament
Strengths: Powerful midfielders
Weaknesses: Still searching for a dependable left back and golkeeper
Star Player: Michael Essien (Chelsea)
Player to Watch: Asamoah Gyan (Rennes)
The Boss: Milovan Rajevac
My prediction: 1st round
Holland
The unlucky favourite....again
Current Form: Unbeaten in the qualifier and ranked world no.3 as one of the early favourites
Strengths: World class offensive end
Weaknesses: Defence
Star Player: Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan)
Player to Watch: Gregory Van Der Wiel (Ajax)
The Boss: Lambertus Van Marwijk
My prediction: 1st round
Denmark
Wily Olsen keeps Danes well-grounded
Current Form: Only one deafeat in their qualifying campaign
Strengths: Hard in the middle
Weaknesses: Few option upfronts
Star Player: Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal)
Player to Watch: Simon Kjaer (Palermo)
The Boss: Morten Per Olsen
My prediction: 2nd round
Japan
Their best won't be good enough
Current Form: 5 points behind Australia in the final qualifying group
Strengths: Excellent midfielders
Weaknesses: Lack of punch upfront and physical stature
Star Player: Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F.Marinos)
Player to Watch: Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse)
The Boss: Takeshi Okada
My prediction: 1st round
Cameroon
The Africa's most succesful side is ready to be charming again
Current Form: Best generations of players so far
Strengths: Samuel Eto'o and the midfielders
Weaknesses: Overall age
Star Player: Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan)
Player to Watch: Sebastian Bassong (Tottenham)
The Boss: Paul Le Guen
My prediction: 2nd round
Italy
It's the Lippi route for the champs
Current Form: Crashed in Confederation Cup where crushed by Brasil 3-0 and Egypt 1-0
Strengths: Collective group
Weaknesses: Attack
Star Player: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Player to Watcch: Domenico Criscito (Genoa)
The Boss: Marcelo Romeo Lippi
My prediction: 2nd round
Paraguay
Must listen to the preacher
Current Form: Best ever qualifying campaign
Strengths: Defence
Weaknesses: Don't like to hold the ball
Star Player: Roque Santa Cruz (Man City)
Player to Watch: Salvador Cabanas (America)
The Boss: Gerardo Daniel Martino
My prediction: 2nd round
New Zealand
Muscular Kiwis look powerless in football compared to Cricket and Rugby
Current Form: Some think they don't even deserve to be in WC
Strengths: Physically strong with work ethic
Weaknesses: Lack of regular competitive international fixtures
Star Player: Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn)
Player to Watch: Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast Utd)
The Boss: Richard Lloyd Herbert
My prediction: 1st round
Slovakia
Beware,newcomers Slovakia have bite
Current Form: Winning 7 out of 10 in their qualifying with only 2 defeats
Strengths: All the players play outside country
Weaknesses: Limited top level internation experience
Star Player: Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
Player to Watch: Stanislav Sestak (Bochum)
The Boss: Vladimir Weiss
My prediction: 1st round
Brasil
Dunga's way, or nothing
Current Form: There appear to be no weakness
Strengths: Setpieces and lightning fast counter-attacks
Weaknesses: Struggle against team that sit back and defence
Star Player: Kaka (Real Madrid)
Player to Watch: Nilmar (Villarreal)
The Boss: Dunga
My prediction: 2nd round
North Korea
Spoilers in the Group of Death
Current Form: Defensively solid team
Strengths: Solid backline and quick counterattacks
Weaknesses: Goals are hard to come by and experience
Star Player: Hong Yong-Jo (FC Rostov)
Player to Watch: Jong Tae-Se (Kawasaki Frontale)
The Boss: Kim Jong-Hun
My prediction: 1st round
Ivory Coast
The 1992 Africa Champion ready to rumble
Current Form: They have some of the best player in the planet and much is expected
Strengths: Endless firepower
Weaknesses: Ego
Star Player: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Player to Watch: Gervinho (Lille)
The Boss: Sven Goran Eriksson
My prediction:1st round
Portugal
They are missing their magician
Current Form: Stumbling performance in qualifying due to inability to find the net
Strengths: C.Ronaldo
Weaknesses: One dimension
Star Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Player to Watch: Raul Meireles (Porto)
The Boss: Carlos Queiroz
My prediction: 2nd round
Spain
They are up there now with Brasil
Current Form: Gifted who are on hot streak
Strengths: Possesion play
Weaknesses: Shakiness when faced with through ball and setpieces and an aversion to pla physical, sometimes "dirty" teams
Star Player: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Player to Watch: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
The Boss: Vicente Del Bosque
My prediction: Quarter finals
Honduras
Big surprise
Current Form: Posses some decent European-based players
Strengths: Strong defence and powerful midfield
Weaknesses: Silly mistakes, lack audacity away and psychological limitations
Star Player: Carlos Pavon (Real Espana)
Player to Watch: Wilson Palacios (Tottenham)
The Boss: Reinaldo Rueda
My prediction: 1st round
Switzerland
Swiss dancing to the Hitszfeld waltz
Current Form: Hardy wit 2 decent strikers and defence qualities
Strengths: Motivation
Weaknesses: Sometimes go off boil
Star Player: Alexender Frei (Basel)
Player to Watch: Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen)
The Boss: Ottmar Hitzfeld
My prediction: 1st round
Chile
Fans are biggest assets
Current Form: Positive play bring them here
Strengths: Attack-minded and talented to get goals
Weaknesses: Exposed defence
Star Player: Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza)
Player to Watch: Alexis Sanchez (Udinese)
The Boss: Marcelo Bielsa
My prediction: 2nd round
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