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The Football World Cup 2010
The football world cup will take place in South Africa. It has 32
teams competing to win. These teams are from across the world.
The following table shows all the teams that will be competing.
Pot 1
(Host & Top
seven)
South Africa
Brazil
Spain
Netherlands
Italy
Germany
Argentina
England
Pot 2
(Asia, North
America & Oceania)
Pot 3
(Africa & South
America)
Australia
Japan
Korea DPR
Korea Republic
Honduras
Mexico
United States
New Zealand
Algeria
Cameroon
Côte d'Ivoire
Ghana
Nigeria
Chile
Paraguay
Uruguay
Pot 4
(Europe)
Denmark
France
Greece
Portugal
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
South Africa
Argentina
England
Germany
Mexico
Nigeria
United States
Australia
Uruguay
Korea Republic
Algeria
Serbia
France
Greece
Slovenia
Ghana
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Netherlands
Italy
Brazil
Spain
Denmark
Paraguay
Korea DPR
Switzerland
Japan
New Zealand
Côte d'Ivoire
Honduras
Cameroon
Slovakia
Portugal
Chile
Denmark
Germany
England Netherlands
United States of
America
Italy
Korea
Republic Korea DPR
Slovakia
Serbia
France
Switzerland
Japan
Greece
Portugal
Spain
Slovenia
Algeria
Honduras
Nigeria
Ivory Coast
Cameroon
Brazil
Paraguay
South Africa
Uruguay
Chile
Argentina
Ghana
Australia
New Zealand
The South Africa national football team or Bafana Bafana is the national team of
South Africa and is controlled by the South African Football Association.
They returned to the world stage in 1992, after years of being banned from FIFA.
They will be hosting the 19th FIFA World Cup in June 2010 after they hosted the
FIFA Confederations Cup in 2009.
South Africa will be the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup.
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The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international football and is
controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation.
They are the most successful national football team in the history of the World Cup,
with five championships (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).
A common quip about football is: "The English invented it, the Brazilians perfected it.“
Currently ranked first by FIFA, Brazil is consistently among the strongest football
nations by Elo Ratings and is the only team to have played in every World Cup.
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The Spanish national football team represents Spain in international football and is
controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The Spanish side is commonly
referred to as La Furia Roja (The Red Fury).
Spain is the current European champion, having won the UEFA European
Championship in 2008. Spain also won the European Nations' Cup in 1964 and
reached the UEFA Euro 1984 Final. Spain has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 12
times, reaching fourth place in the 1950 tournament.
In July 2008, Spain rose to the top of the FIFA World Ranking for the first time in its
history, becoming the sixth nation, and the first who has never won the World Cup, to
top this ranking. Between November 2006 and June 2009, Spain went undefeated for
a record tying 35 consecutive matches —record shared with Brazil— including a
record 15-game winning streak.
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The Netherlands national football team is the national football team of the
Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB).
They won Euro '88 and reached two consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, but
lost both finals to their respective host nations, West Germany and Argentina.
At the peak of their success in the 1970s, the team was famous for its mastery of Total
Football and was nicknamed Clockwork Oranje for its precision passing.
In many countries and even the Netherlands itself, the team is colloquially referred to as
Holland. It is currently ranked fourth in the FIFA World Rankings and third in the World
Football Elo Ratings.
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The Italian national football team represents Italy in international football
competition and is controlled by the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC). They
are the current World Champions, having won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Italy is among the top teams in international football and the second most successful
national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles (1934, 1938,
1982, 2006), just one fewer than Brazil.
The traditional colour of the national team (as well as all Italian teams and athletes) is
azure blue (Savoy Blue), the colour traditionally linked to the royal dynasty which
unified Italy in 1861, and maintained in the official standard of the President of the
Italian Republic.
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The German national football team has been representing the country of Germany
in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football
Association which was founded in 1900. From 1950 to 1990, the team was called
West Germany.
Germany is one of the three most successful national teams at international
competitions, having won a total of three World Cups and three European
championships. They are also one of the most consistent teams.
Germany is the only nation to have won both the men's and women's World Cups.
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The Argentina national football team is the national association football team of
Argentina and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
Argentina has won the most international titles by any national team (19), a record
shared with Uruguay.
Argentina is one of the most successful national football teams in the world, and is
currently seventh in the FIFA world rankings. The team has twice won the FIFA World
Cup, in 1978 and 1986.
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The England national football team represents England in international association
football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in
England.
Although most national teams worldwide represent a sovereign state, the four Home
Nations which form the United Kingdom are each represented separately in international
tournaments, except at the Olympics. England's home ground is Wembley Stadium in
London and their head coach is Fabio Capello.
England are one of seven national teams to have won the FIFA World Cup, which they
did in 1966 when they hosted the finals. They defeated West Germany 4–2 in extra time
in the final. Since then their best performance at a World Cup was reaching the
semifinals in 1990, where they lost to West Germany on penalties.
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The Australia national football team represents Australia in international
association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos". The team
is controlled by Football Federation Australia (FFA).
Australia has been represented at two FIFA World Cup tournaments, in 1974 and
2006. 14th is Australia's highest ever FIFA World Ranking since the rankings were
introduced in 1992. Australia topped their group in the 2010 World Cup qualification
and became one of the first nations to qualify for the finals tournament without
losing a match and only conceding one goal.
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The Japan national football team is the national association football team of Japan
and is controlled by the Japan Football Association.
Takeshi Okada, who had previously served as the manager for Japan leading up to and
during the 1998 FIFA World Cup is the current coach for the team.
The Japanese team is commonly known by the fans and media as Soccer Nippon
Daihyō (サッカー日本代表, or Nippon Daihyō (日本代表?), Daihyō (代表) as abbreviated
expressions.
Although the team does not have an official nickname as such, it is often known by the
name of the manager. For example, under Ivica Osim, the team was known as Osim
Japan. Japan is one of the most successful national teams in Asia, having qualified for
the last four consecutive FIFA World Cup finals.
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The national football team of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(recognized as Korea DPR by FIFA) is the national team of North Korea and is
controlled by the DPR Korea Football Association.
The team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice; in 1966, where they reached the
quarter-finals, and for the forthcoming competition in 2010.
Korea DPR have qualified for the AFC Asian Cup three times; in 1980, when they
finished fourth, in 1992 and in 2011. The current team is composed of both native North
Koreans and Zainichi Koreans born in Japan.
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The Korea Republic national football team represents the Republic of Korea in
international football competitions. The team, also known as South Korea, is recognized
as Korea Republic by FIFA.
South Korea has participated in seven World Cup final tournaments and became the first
and only Asian team to reach the semi-finals, doing so when it co-hosted the 2002 FIFA
World Cup with Japan.
South Korea is considered as one of the most successful international football teams in
Asia. It has qualified for its eighth World Cup final tournament, the 2010 FIFA World Cup
in South Africa, having been the only unbeaten team during the AFC qualification
tournament.
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he Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, is the national
team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol
de Honduras (founded in 1951).
They are a rising team in CONCACAF, an ascent that started with their third place
finish in the 2001 Copa América, where they were a late invitee, due to a withdrawal
by Argentina one day prior to kickoff.
In October 2009, they confirmed qualification to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which will
be their first appearance in the competition since 1982.
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The Mexico national football team represents Mexico in international football
competition and is managed by the Mexican Football Federation (FEMEXFUT), who
also manages the women's national team.
The team is currently ranked 17th in the FIFA World Rankings, making Mexico one of
the strongest teams in the Americas.
Mexico has qualified for thirteen World Cups and has qualified consecutively since 1994.
Mexico's best progression was reaching the Quarterfinals in both the 1970 and 1986
FIFA World Cups, both of which were staged on Mexican soil.
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The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in
international association football competition and is controlled by the United States
Soccer Federation.
Though soccer has not traditionally had a high profile in American sporting life, the
sport has steadily grown in popularity since the 1970s.
The team is, according to the FIFA World Rankings, ranked 14th in the world, has
appeared in the last five FIFA World Cups, and will take part in the 2010 FIFA World
Cup in South Africa. The US team's player bonus scheme for the event is the largest for
any nation in World Cup history, potentially worth $20.6m, or $895,000 per man for
winning.
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The New Zealand national football team, nicknamed the All Whites, is the national
association football team of New Zealand and is governed by New Zealand Football.
The team plays in an all-white strip, hence its nickname.
The All Whites played in the 1982 FIFA World Cup and on 14 November 2009 qualified for
the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Because of the lack of a high-quality domestic league, most
top New Zealand footballers play in the leagues of Europe, in the United States, or in the
Australasian A-League.
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The Algeria national football team, nicknamed Les Fennecs (The Desert Foxes), is
the national team of Algeria and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football.
Algeria managed to qualify to two consecutive World Cups in 1982 and 1986. Algeria
also won the Africa Cup of Nations once in 1990 when they hosted the tournament.
In November 2009, Algeria beat North African rivals Egypt in a World Cup qualification
tiebreaker to secure a place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
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The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables (The
Indomitable Lions), is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is
Africa's most successful side.
Cameroon has qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times - in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998,
2002 and 2010- more than any other African nation.
They were the first African team to reach the quarterfinal of the World Cup, in 1990,
losing to England in extra time. They have also won four Africa Cup of Nations, they
won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
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The Côte d'Ivoire national football team (written as "Ivory Coast" in English),
nicknamed Les Éléphants (The Elephants), represents Côte d'Ivoire in international
football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football.
Until 2005, their greatest accomplishment was winning the 1992 African Cup of Nations
against Ghana on penalties at the Stade Leopold Senghor in Dakar, Senegal.
They have qualified for two World Cup finals, first in Germany in 2006, losing to
Argentina and the Netherlands and beating Serbia and Montenegro as they failed to
progress beyond the group stage. They qualified again for South Africa in 2010.
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The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national
association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association.
Before gaining independence from Great Britain in 1957, the country played as the Gold
Coast.
The team have won the Africa Cup of Nations four times, making Ghana the second
most successful team in the contest's history, behind Egypt.
After going through 2005 unbeaten, Ghana won the FIFA most improved team of the
year award and they reached the second round of the 2006 Germany World Cup.
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The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles, is the national
team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
According to the FIFA World Rankings, Nigeria ranks 21st and holds the third
highest place among the African nations behind Egypt (12th) and Cameroon
(19th). Their highest position ever reached on the ranking was 5th in April 1994.
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The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international
football competitions.
The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was
established in 1895.
They have appeared in seven World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the
1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in third place.
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The Paraguay national football team is the national team of Paraguay and is controlled
by the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol.
The Paraguay national football team has reached the second round of the World Cup on
three occasions (in 1986, 1998 and 2002) but has never advanced beyond that stage.
Paraguay's only major tournament victories have come in the Copa América, in which
they triumphed in 1953 and 1979.
Since the 1998 World Cup qualifiers Paraguay has been established between the top 3
teams of CONMEBOL.
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The Uruguay national football team represents Uruguay in international football
competition and is controlled by the Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol.
Uruguay have won two FIFA World Cups, including the first ever World Cup in 1930 as
hosts, beating Argentina 4-2 in the final.
They won their second title in 1950, upsetting hosts Brazil 2-1 in the final match.
Their success is amplified by the fact that the nation has a very small population.
Uruguay is the only country in the world to win a World Cup with a general population of
under 4 million inhabitants and is by far the smallest nation to do so.
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The Denmark national football team is controlled by the Danish Football Association and
has represented the country of Denmark in international football competitions since
1908.
The team has been a solidly competitive side in international football since the mid1980s, with the triumph in the 1992 European Championships (Euro 1992) tournament
as its most prominent victory, beating the European champions in the semi-final, and the
world champions in the final .
On October 10, 2009, Denmark qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup by winning their
qualification group with a victory over Sweden.
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The France national football team represents the nation of France in international
football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation and competes as a member of
UEFA.
France was one of the four European teams that participated at the inaugural World Cup
in 1930 and are one of seven national teams to have won the competition, which they
did in 1998 when they hosted the Cup. They defeated Brazil 3–0 in the final.
France currently share a competitive rivalry with neighbours Italy, whom they first
contested in 1910.
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The Greece national football team represents Greece in international football and is
controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation.
Greece spent most of their history in relative obscurity, having participated only twice in
the final tournaments of the FIFA World Cup
They have proven more competitive than they used to be and often reach high places in
the FIFA World Rankings.
Furthermore, the team attracts large numbers of fans not only at home matches, a rare
phenomenon in the previous years, but even when they play abroad, providing the team
with great support.
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The Portuguese national football team is governed by the Portuguese Football
Federation (FPF), finishing 4th at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The first appearance in the 1966 FIFA World Cup saw them reach the semifinal, losing
2–1 at Wembley to the eventual world champions England. The next two times
Portugal qualified for the World Cup were 1986 and 2002, with Portugal going out in
the first round both times.
In the 1986 tournament, players went on strike over prize-money and refused to train
between their first and second games.
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The Serbia national football team represents Serbia in international football competitions
and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia.
Both FIFA and UEFA consider the Serbia national team the direct descendant of the
Serbia and Montenegro national football team and the SFR Yugoslavia national football
team.
Serbian national team was previously known as the Yugoslavia national football team
from 15 January 1992 until 4 February 2003, and then as the Serbia and Montenegro
national football team until 3 June 2006
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The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in international football and
is controlled by the Slovak Football Association.
After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Slovak Football Association was founded
in 1993, and has been affiliated to both FIFA and UEFA since the same year.
They will be participants at the 2010 World Cup for the first time since independence.
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The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is
controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia.
They played their first match in 1992 after the split of Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia in 1991. Before that, Slovenian players played for the Yugoslavia national
football team.
Slovenia were surprise qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2000, when they beat Ukraine in a
playoff.
In November 2009, Slovenia defeated Russia in a playoff to clinch a berth in the 2010
FIFA World Cup.
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The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland and is
controlled by the Swiss Football Association.
Its best performances in the World Cup have been reaching the quarter-finals three
times, in 1934, 1938 and when the country hosted the event in 1954.
In 2006, Switzerland set a FIFA World Cup record by being eliminated from the
competition despite not conceding a goal, losing to Ukraine in a penalty shootout in the
last 16, by failing to score a single penalty - becoming the first national team in Cup
history to do this.
.
In October 2009, Switzerland booked their place at the 2010 World Cup finals with a
goalless draw against Israel at St Jacob stadium in Basel. World Map