2010. The year of the Fifa World Cup. It's that time of our lives when football's greatest event unfolds right before our very eyes. The time is now, the place is South Africa. The entire world looks set for the first ever World Cup on African soil.
It's the time when the 32 qualified nations begin their preperations for the ultimate gala event. In football one never knows what will happen.
Will Brazil win another World Cup? Will Italy successfully defend theirs? Are European Champions Spain going to complete a memorable double? Or is an African country going to shock us all? The answers to these will all be revealed come June 11th.
Hosts South Africa, like any other host nation, will be hoping that home advantage will be the corner stone for a long cup run. Having Mexico, France and Uruguay in the same group makes things very tough for the hosts.
The French will definitely be hoping to make amends for the last two World Cups which ended in failure. They will be aiming to put the 'Hand Of Frog' incident behind them as they hope to be title contenders. Franck Ribery's form might just be France's key to a World Cup success.
Uruguay have put the disappointment of missing last years World Cup behind them and will be hoping to launch a serious campaign. Having won the first World Cup will definitely make them want to repeat the feat again.
Mexico as ever have qualified with ease behind the United States and will be aiming to qualify from one of the toughest groups of the World Cup.
Argentina will be up against formidable opponents in the form of Nigeria, Korea Republic and 2004 European Champions Greece. The Argentine contingent will be hoping Star man Lionel Messi will have the same impact on the national team that he has at club level football.
South Korea will be aiming for another successful cup run again. Guus Hiddink, famously led the tiny Asian country to fourth place in 2002.
Nigeria, another African powerhouse will be wanting to do well in a World Cup. The fact that the tournament is taking place on African soil will make them want to do well.
The Greeks under Otto Rehhagel shocked us all in 2004 beating hosts and favourites Portugal in the European Championships. Are we in for more of the same? Certainly the Greeks will be hoping for that? Beating Ukraine in the playoff was no easy task but the Greeks did it quite easily.
The English will be up against The US, Algeria and minnows Slovenia. Given the discipline Fabio Capello has instilled into the team many believe that the side will lift the coveted trophy again. Although the English will probably be without star man David Beckham, the island nation will be hoping that Wayne Rooney will produce the sparkling form he had during the 2009-2010 season.
The Americans will be aiming for another run in the cup. They should be able to make it out of the group though Algeria will be hoping their fiery encounters against Egypt during the qualifiers will give them the spirit required to make the knockout phase.
Slovenia, World Cup minnows though they are, will be aiming to prove people wrong. The Slovenians surprisingly knocked out Guus Hiddink's Russia in the playoff. That in itself is a huge achievement for such a tiny nation.
Nobody expected Algeria to make the finals. This gives the Algerians the element of surprise. Teams knowledge of Algerian football will be limited and the Algerians will be hoping to use the element of surprise to maximum use.
Germany will be up against the talented Australians, Serbia and Ghana. The Germans should be able to pull of a good campaign and lift the trophy for the fourth time. Certainly that's what the previous World Cup hosts want. Having finished runners up in 2002 and third in 2006 can the Germans go one better and win the title?
Australia, Serbia and Ghana will have it all to play for in an attempt to make the knockout stages, Although the Australians are favourites to do so. The Socceroos will be banking on Tim Cahill to help them further their campaign.
Serbia as ever has a good qualifying campaign. With the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Dejan Stankovic this could finally be Serbia's chance to shine.
Ghana will be remembered for having almost shocked Brazil in the last World Cup will be hoping for more of the same this time around. Star man Michael Essien will have to deliver if the Africans are aiming for a successful campaign.
The Netherlands may have lost their 'Total Football' tag but that still leaves them as favourites from their group. Main man Wesley Sneijder and fellow midfielders Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart are capable of very entertaining performances all by themselves.
Denmark, Japan and Cameroon are all capable to making the knockout rounds. The Danes might be regarded as favourites but again in football everything is possible. The Danes will be hoping to live up to their unexpected win in Euro 92 and who knows? Maybe go one better?
Japan is regarded as one of Asia's finest teams. Certainly the Japanese will be wanting to live up to that expectation and prove to the world that Japanese football is as good as European and American football if not better.
Cameroon, another African team looking to make it's mark on world football. The lions could surprise people and join the Dutch in the knockout phase. Tho odds may be against them though but certainly the boys from Cameroon will not let this ruin a World Cup.
Italy have what many people consider as the easiest group with two minnows in the form of Slovakia and New Zealand. Defending champions Italy will want to retain the cup but they're well aware it won't be easy.
South Americans Paraguay should join the Italians in what is a group that many teams will have hoped for. The likes Of Roque Santa Cruz will be aiming to qualify from a very easy group especially after a tough qualifying campaign in South America (it's always tough in South America)
Nothing much will be expected from New Zealand and Slovakia though the two nations will be playing for pride. Making the World Cup in itself is such a big acheivement for these two small countries.
Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea form the famously infamous Group Of Death. Brazil and their Samba style should see them into the knockout phase safetly although in this group nothing will be taken for granted.
Portugal will be banking on Cristiano Ronaldo to propell them out of the Group Of Death. The Portuguese will be looking at the game against Brazil as a must win if they are to top teir group.
Ivory Coast could prove to be a tough nut to crack. Old horse Sven Goran Eriksson will have his work cut out. The men from Ivory Coast will shock the entire world if they upset either Brazil or Portugal and qualify.
Minnows North Korea will be playing for pride. Three tough games will not make their work easy and they will certainly be hoping to repeat the performances from the 1966 World Cup where they knocked out Italy and almost did the same to Eusebio's Portugal.
European champions Spain have a rather easy group. Switzerland, Chile and Honduras will be no match for the Spanish Armada. Much to the anger of the Brazilians because the Spainish have an easy route into the last sixteen making them tournament favourites.
The Swiss will be expecting to go through from the group as well. Their peace loving background may well be forgotten in the wake of some fiery encounters in the group stage.
Honduras will be playing for pride as well. Like Algeria they too will have the element of surprise with them as they look to set the world stage on fire.
South Americans Chile complete the 32 teams for the World Cup. They too will be expecting a good World Cup campaign and will want to surprise the world by who knows, maybe beating the Spanish!
What is in store for us only time will tell. Whether the World Cup will unfold as planned is a big mystery. One thing is certain come June 11th the party will begin. The party we call the Fifa World Cup.
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