SECTION 6: SOCCER MATCHES | < BACK | NEXT >

6.3 TEAM BIOS, STATS AND TEAM CAMPS

Over half the teams will be based at high altitude in or around Johannesburg and Pretoria, while only 8 will be at the coast. The name of the hotel where each team will stay is in each team’s profile below, as are some details of training grounds where this is known. Most teams will train at university or school grounds, while official training grounds such as Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, Kings Park in Durban and Orlando and Rand Stadia in Johannesburg are used on a rotational basis.
TEAMS BASED IN GAUTENG PROVINCE: Holland, Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Korea DPR, Serbia, Australia, Italy, Slovakia, Argentina, USA, Ivory Coast, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Ghana, New Zealand, Slovenia, South Africa
TEAMS BASED IN MPUMALANGA PROVINCE: ChileTEAMS BASED IN NORTHWEST PROVINCE: Korea Republic, England, Spain
TEAMS BASED IN NORTHEN CAPE PROVICE: Uruguay
TEAMS BASED IN KWAZULU NATAL PROVINCE: Paraguay, Algeria, Cameroon, Greece, Nigeria
TEAMS BASED IN WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: Japan, Denmark, France 
The team bios and stats are listed alphabetically in their confederations: Europe (UEFA), North America (CONCACAF), South America (CONMEBOL), Asia (AFC) & Oceana (OFC) and Africa (CAF). Latest Rankings listed are as of 26 May 2010.

• EUROPE: UEFA (Union of European Football Associations)

 DENMARK  - FIFA ranking: 36
Nicknames: Danish Dynamite, Olsen-Banden (The Olsen Gang)
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Morten Olsen
Captain: Jon Dahl Tomasson
World Cup Appearances: 3 (First in 1986)
Best World Cup result:                Quarter-finals, 1998
European Championship Appearances: 7 (First in 1964)
Best UEFA result: Winners, 1992
Confederations Cup appearances: 1 (First in 1995)
Best Confed result: Winners, 1995
Team Base Camp: Simola Hotel Country Club, Knysna, Western Cape
Training Ground: (Probably Loerie Park in Knysna or Outeniqua Stadium in nearby city of George )

 DENMARK WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen).
Defenders: William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar).
Midfielders: Martin Jorgensen (AGF Aarhus), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax Amsterdam), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax Amsterdam), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jepser Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen).
Strikers: Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (MSV Duisburg), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal).

 ENGLAND  - FIFA ranking: 8
Nicknames: The Three Lions
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Fabio Capello
Captain: Rio Ferdinand
World Cup Appearances: 14 (First in 1950)
Best World Cup result: Winners, 1966
European Championship Appearances: 8 (First in 1968)
Best UEFA result: Third, 1968; Semi-Finals: 1996
Team Base Camp: Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus, near Rustenburg, North West Province
Training Ground: Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus

  ENGLAND WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham)
Defenders: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa)
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City)
Strikers: Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
 

 
 FRANCE  - FIFA ranking: 9
Nicknames: Les Bleus ("The Blues"); L'Equipe tricolore ("The Tri-color Team")
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Raymond Domenech
Captain: Patrick Vieira; Thierry Henry (acting)
World Cup Appearances: 12 (First in 1930)
Best World Cup result: Winners, 1998
European Championship Appearances: 7 (First in 1968)
Best UEFA result: Winners, 1984 and 2000
Confederations Cup appearances: 2 (First in 2001)
Best Confed result: Winners, 2001 and 2003
Team Base Camp: Pezula Resort Hotel and Spa, Knysna, Western Cape
Training Ground: (Probably Loerie Park in Knysna or Outeniqua Stadium in nearby city of George)

 FRANCE WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyon), Steve Mandanda(Olympique Marseille) and Cedric Carrasso (Girondins Bordeaux).
Defenders: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla), Marc Planus (Girondins Bordeaux), Gael Clichy(Arsenal) and Anthony Reveillere (Olympique Lyon).
Midfielders: Alou Diarra(Girondins Bordeaux), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyon), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Yoann Gourcuff (Girondins Bordeaux), Abou Diaby (Arsenal) and Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich).
Strikers: Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos) and Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique Marseille).
 

 GERMANY  - FIFA ranking: 6

Nicknames: Die Mannschaft (The Team), Die DFB-Elf (The DFB-Eleven)
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Joachim Löw
Captain: Philipp Lahm (Michael Ballack out of World Cup due to injury)
World Cup Appearances: 16 (First in 1934)
Best World Cup result: Winners, 1954, 1974 and 1990
European Championship Appearances: 10 (First in 1972)
Best UEFA result: Winners, 1972, 1980 AND 1996
Confederations Cup appearances: 2 (First in 1999)
Best Confed result: 3rd, 2005
Team Base Camp: Velmore Hotel, Centurion, south of Pretoria, Gauteng
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 GERMANY WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Joerg Butt (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Schalke), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)
Defenders: Dennis Aogo (Hamburger SV), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Jerome Boateng (Hamburger SV), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Mesut Oezil (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV)
Strikers: Cacau (Stuttgart), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne)

 

 GREECE  - FIFA ranking: 13
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Otto Rehhagel
Captain: Giorgos Karagounis
World Cup Appearances: 1 (First in 1994)
Best World Cup result: Round 1, 1994
European Championship Appearances: 3 (First in 1980)
Best UEFA result: Winners, 2004
Confederations Cup appearances: 1 (First in 2005)
Best Confed result: Round 1, 2005
Team Base Camp: Beverly Hills Hotel, Umhlanga Rocks, Durban
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

  GREECE WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Michalis Sifakis (Aris Salonika), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos), Kostas Chalkias (PAOK Salonika)
Defenders: Giorgos Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos), Evangelos Moras (Bologna), Socrates Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Liverpool), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiakos), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiakos), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Stelios Malezas (PAOK Salonika)
Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Siena), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia), Sakis Prittas (Aris Salonika)
Strikers:  Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Pantelis Kapetanos (Steaua Bucharest), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic)
 
 
 
 ITALY  - FIFA ranking: 5
Nicknames: Azzurri
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Marcello Lippi
Captain: Fabio Cannavaro
World Cup Appearances: 16 (First in 1934)
Best World Cup result: Winners, 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006
European Championship Appearances: 7 (First in 1968)
Best UEFA result: Winners, 1968
Confederations Cup appearances: 1 (First in 2009)
Best Confed result: Round 1, 2009
Team Base Camp: Leriba Lodge, between Pretoria and Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 ITALY WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)
Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan)
Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)
Strikers: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli)

       NETHERLANDS  - FIFA ranking: 4
Nicknames: Oranje Holland; The Flying Dutchmen; A Clockwork Orange; La Machina Naranja
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Bert van Marwijk
Captain: Giovanni van Bronckhorst
World Cup Appearances: 9 (First in 1934)
Best World Cup result: Runners-up, 1974 and 1978
European Championship Appearances: 8 (First in 1976)
Best UEFA result: Winners, 1988
Team Base Camp: Hilton Hotel Sandton - northern suburbs of Johannesburg
Training Ground: University of Witwatersrand at Wits University Football Club, East Campus grounds

 NETHERLANDS WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht).
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax).
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid).
Strikers: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (Hamburg), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Milan), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
 
 
 PORTUGAL  - FIFA ranking: 3
Nicknames: Selecção das Quina
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Carlos Queiroz
Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo
World Cup Appearances: 5 (First in 1966)
Best World Cup result: Third Place, 1966
European Championship Appearances: 5 (First in 1984)
Best UEFA result: Runners-up: 2004
Team Base Camp: Valley Lodge, near Magaliesberg, 1 hour from Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 PORTUGAL WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis), Beto (Porto)
Defenders: Miguel (Valencia), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (Porto), Rolando (Porto), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Duda (Malaga), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica)
Midfielders: Pedro Mendes (Sporting), Pepe (Real Madrid), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting)
Strikers: Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg), Liedson (Sporting), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Nani (Manchester United)

 SERBIA  - FIFA ranking:15
Nicknames: Beli Orlovi (White Eagles)
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Radomir Antić
Captain: Dejan Stanković
World Cup Appearances:  11 (First in 1930)
Best World Cup result: 4th 1930 and 1962
European Championship Appearances: 5 (First in 1960)
Best UEFA result: 2nd 1960 and 1968
Team Base Camp: Sunnyside Park Hotel, Parktown, northern suburbs, Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 SERBIA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Wigan Athletic), Zeljko Brkic (Vojvodina Novi Sad), Bojan Isailovic (Zaglebie Lubin), Andjelko Djuricic (Leiria)
Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Antonio Rukavina (1860 Munich), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Lukovic (Udinese), Ivan Obradovic (Zaragoza), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio)
Midfielders: Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Milos Krasic (CSKA Moscow), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege), Milos Ninkovic (Dynamo Kiev), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (Stuttgart), Zoran Tosic (FC Cologne), Gojko Kacar (Hertha Berlin), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade)
Strikers: Nikola Zigic (Valencia), Marko Pantelic (Ajax), Danko Lazovic (Zenit St. Petersburg), Dragan Mrdja (Vojvodina Novi Sad)
 
 
 SLOVAKIA  - FIFA ranking: 34
Nicknames: Repre
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Vladimír Weiss
Captain: Marek Hamsik
World Cup Appearances: 1 (First in 2010)
Best World Cup result:    -
Team Base Camp: The Villas Luxury Suite Hotel, Pretoria
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 SLOVAKIA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw), Dusan Kuciak (Vaslui), Dusan Pernis (Dundee United)
Defenders: Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg), Martin Petras (Cesena), Martin Skrtel (Liverpool), Jan Durica (Hannover), Radoslav Zabavnik (Mainz), Marek Cech (West Brom), Kornel Salate (Slovan Bratislava)
Midfielders: Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava), Jan Kozak (Timisoara), Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague), Marek Sapara (Ankaragucu), Marek Hamsik (Napoli), Vladimir Weiss (Manchester City), Miroslav Stoch (Chelsea), Zdeno Strba (Xanthi)
Strikers: Erik Jendrisek (Schalke), Robert Vittek (Ankaragucu), Martin Jakubko (Saturn Moscow), Filip Holosko (Besiktas), Stanislav Sestak (Bochum)

 SLOVENIA  - FIFA ranking: 25
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Matjaž Kek
Captain: Robert Koren
World Cup Appearances: 2 (First in 2002)
Best World Cup result: Round 1, 2002
European Championship Appearances: 1 (First in 2000)
Best UEFA result: Round 1, 2000
Team Base Camp: Hyde Park Southern Sun Hotel, northern suburbs, Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 SLOVENIA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovic (Mantova), Aleksander Seliga (Sparta Rotterdam)
Defenders: Bojan Jokic (Chievo Verona), Marko Suler (Ghent), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Branko Ilic (Lokomotiv Moscow), Matej Mavric (Koblenz), Elvedin Dzinic (Maribor), Miso Brecko (Cologne), Suad Filekovic (Maribor)
Midfielders: Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Rene Krhin (Inter Milan), Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Robert Koren (West Bromwich Albion), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Larissa), Valter Birsa (Auxerre)
Strikers: Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne), Zlatko Dedic (VfL Bochum), Zlatan Ljubijankic (Ghent), Nejc Pecnik (Nacional), Tim Matavz (Groningen)

 
 
 SPAIN  - FIFA ranking: 2
Nicknames: La Furia Roja (The Red Fury); La Roja (The Red)
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Vicente del Bosque
Captain: Iker Casillas
World Cup Appearances: 12 (First in 1934)
Best World Cup result: 4th Place, 1950
European Championship Appearances: 9 (First in 1964)
Best UEFA result: Winners, 1964 and 1008
Confederations Cup appearances: 1 (First in 2009)
Best Confed result: 3rd Place, 2009
Team Base Camp: North West University Campus, Potchefstroom, North West Province
Training Ground: (Probably North West University sports grounds, but not yet made public)

 SPAIN WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Manuel 'Pepe' Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona).
Defenders: Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Xabier Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javier Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona).
Strikers: Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia).

  
 SWITZERLAND  - FIFA ranking: 24
Nicknames: Schweizer Nati
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Captain: Alexander Frei
World Cup Appearances: 8 (First in 1934)
Best World Cup result: Quarter Finals, 1934, 1938 and 1954
European Championship Appearances: 3 (First in 1996)
Best UEFA result: Round 1, 1996, 2004 and 2008
Team Base Camp: Emerald Resort and Casino, Vaal River, 1 hour south of Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 SWITZERLAND WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg), Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys Berne);
Defenders: Mario Eggimann (Hanover 96), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Ludovic Magnin (FC Zurich), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria);
Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Valon Behrami (West Ham United), Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne), Benjamin Huggel (FC Basel), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Goklan Inler (Udinese);
Strikers: Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexander Frei (FC Basel), Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede), Hakan Yakin (FC Luzern), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel), Albert Bunjaku (Nuiernburg)

 
• NORTH AMERICA: CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football)

 HONDURAS  - FIFA ranking: 38
Nicknames: Los Catrachos; La Bicolor; La H
Confederation: CONCACAF (North America)
Head coach: Reinaldo Rueda
Captain: Amado Guevara
World Cup Appearances: 2 (First in 1982)
Best World Cup result: Round 1, 1982
CONCACAF and Gold Cup Appearances: 15 (First in 1963)
Best Gold Cup result: Winners, 1981; 2nd, 1985 and 1991
Team Base Camp: The Indaba Hotel, Fourways, Sandton, northern suburbs of Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 HONDURAS WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Canales (Motagua), Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia).
Defenders: Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), Oscar Garcia (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Motagua), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Luchen), Osman Chavez (Platense).
Midfielders: Edgard Alvarez (Bari), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Ramon Nunez (Olimpia), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur), Hendry Thomas (Wigan), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia).
Strikers: David Suazo (Genoa), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana), Walter Martinez (Marathon).

 MEXICO  - FIFA ranking: 17

Nicknames: "El Tri"
Confederation: CONCACAF (North America)
Head coach: Javier Aguirre
Captain: Rafael Márquez
World Cup Appearances: 18 (First in 1930)
Best World Cup result: Quarter Finals, 1970 and 1986
CONCACAF Gold Cup: 18 (First in 1963)
Best Gold Cup result: Winners, 1965, 1971, 1977, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2009
CONCACAF and Gold Cup Appearances: 5 (First in 1995)
Best Confed result: Winners, 1999
Team Base Camp: Thaba Ya Batswana Eco Lodge, southern suburbs of Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 MEXICO WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Memo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Chivas/USA), Oscar Perez (Chiapas)
Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona/ESP), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart/GER), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmmar/NED), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM)
Midfielders: Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna/ESP)
Strikers: Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray/TUR), Guillermo Franco (West Ham/ENG), Carlos Vela (Arsenal/ENG)

 
 USA  - FIFA ranking: 14
Nicknames: The Yanks
Confederation: CONCACAF (North America)
Head coach: Bob Bradley
Captain: Carlos Bocanegra
World Cup Appearances: 8 (First in 1930)
Best World Cup result: 3rd Place, 1930
Gold Cup: 10 (First in 1991)
Best Gold Cup result: Winners, 1991, 2002, 2005 and 2007
Confederations Cup appearances: 4 (First in 1992)
Best Confed result: Runners-up, 2009
Team Base Camp: Irene Country Lodge, between Pretoria and Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 USA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tim Howard (Everton)
Defenders: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford),  Clarence Goodson (Start), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
 Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (AGF), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca)
 Strikers:Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez
(Pachuca)

• SOUTH AMERICA: CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation)

 
 ARGENTINA  - FIFA ranking: 7
Nicknames: La Albiceleste (White and Sky blue)
Confederation: CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach: Diego Maradona
Captain: Javier Mascherano
World Cup Appearances: 14 (First in 1930)
Best World Cup result: Winners, 1978 and 1986
Copa América Appearances: 38 (First in 1916)
Best Copa América result: Winners 1921,1925,1927,1929,1937,1941,1945,1946,1947,1955,1957,1959,1991,1993
Confederations Cup appearances: 3 (First in 1992)
Best Confed result: Winners, 1992
Team Base Camp: Pretoria High Performance Centre, University of Pretoria
Training Ground: LC de Villiers Sports Grounds, Pretoria High Performance Centre, University of Pretoria

 ARGENTINA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon).
Defenders:Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Vélez Sarsfield), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon).
Midfielders:Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Javier Pastore (Palermo).
Strikers:Sergio Aguero (Atlético Madrid), Diego Milito (Internazionale), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona).

 BRAZIL  - FIFA ranking: 1
Nicknames: Canarinho (Little Canary); A Seleção (The Selection); Verde-Amarela (Green and Yellow); The Samba Kings
Confederation: CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach: Dunga
Captain: Lúcio
World Cup Appearances: 18 (First in 1930)
Best World Cup result: Winners, 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002
Copa América Appearances: 32 (First in 1916)
Best Copa América result: Winners, 1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2007
Confederations Cup appearances: 6 (First in 1997)
Best Confed result: Winners, 1997, 2005 and 2009
Team Base Camp: The Fairway Hotel, northern suburbs, Johannesburg
Training Ground: (A school near the team hotel – further details not available)

 BRAZIL WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Júlio César (Internazionale), Doni (AS Roma), Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur).
Defenders: Maicon (Internazionale), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Michel Bastos (Lyon), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Lúcio (Internazionale), Juan (AS Roma), Luisão (Benfica), Thiago Silva (Milan).
Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray), Kaká (Real Madrid), Júlio Baptista (Roma), Kléberson (Flamengo), Josué (VfL Wolfsburg).
Strikers: Robinho (Santos), Luís Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Villarreal), Grafite (VfL Wolfsburg)

 
 CHILE  - FIFA ranking: 18
Nicknames: La Roja (The red one); El Equipo de Todos (Everybody's team)
Confederation: CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach: Marcelo Bielsa
Captain: Claudio Bravo
World Cup Appearances: 8 (First in 1930)
Best World Cup result: Third Place, 1962
Copa América Appearances: 35 (First in 1916)
Best Copa América result: Second place, 1955, 1956, 1979 and 1987
Team Base Camp: Ingwenyama Conference & Sport Resort, White River, Mpumalanga
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 CHILE WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola);
Defenders: Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Gonzalo Jara (West Bromwich Albion), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Pablo Contreras (PAOK Salonika), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica);
Midfielders: Marco Estrada, (Universidad de Chile), Rodrigo Millar, (Colo Colo), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Carmona (Reggina), Jorge Valdivia (Al Ain), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Jean Beausejour (Club America), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas);
Strikers: Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow).
  
 

 PARAGUAY  - FIFA ranking: 31
Nicknames: Guaraníes; La Albirroja (White and red)
Confederation: CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach: Gerardo Martino
Captain: Denis Caniza
World Cup Appearances: 8 (First in 1930)
Best World Cup result: Round 2, 1986, 1998, 2002
Copa América Appearances: 33 (First in 1921)
Best Copa América result: Winners, 1953 and 1979
Team Base Camp: Woodridge Country Estate, Natal Midlands, 1 hour from Durban
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 PARAGUAY WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Real Valladolid), Aldo Bobadilla (Independiente Medellin), Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno);
Defenders: Denis Caniza (Leon), Paulo Da Silva (Sunderland), Claudio Morel (Boca Juniors), Julio Cesar Caceres (Atletico Mineiro), Carlos Bonet (Olimpia), Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo), Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan Athletic);
Midfielders: Edgar Barreto (Atalanta), Cristian Riveros (Sunderland), Jonathan Santana (VfL Wolfsburg), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Enrique Vera (LDU Quito), Nestor Ortigoza (Argentinos Juniors);
Strikers: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City), Nelson Haedo Valdez, Lucas Barrios (both Borussia Dortmund), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benitez (Pachuca), Rodolfo Gamarra (Libertad)
 
 
 URUGUAY  - FIFA ranking: 16
Nicknames: Charrúas; La Celeste Olímpica (The Olympic Sky Blue); La Celeste (The Sky Blue)
Confederation: CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach: Oscar Tabarez
Captain: Diego Lugano
World Cup Appearances: 10 (First in 1930)
Best World Cup result: Winners, 1930 and 1950
Copa América Appearances: 40 (First in 1916)
Best Copa América result: Winners,1916,1917,1920,1923,1924,1926,1935,1942,1956,1959,1967,1983,1987, 1995.
Confederations Cup appearances: 1 (First in 1997)
Best Confed result: 4th, 1997
Team Base Camp: Protea Hotel Kimberley, Northern Cape Province
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

  URUGUAY WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Lazio), Juan-Guillermo Castillo (Cali), Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting)
Defenders: Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Andres Scotti (Colo Colo), Jorge Fucile (Porto), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica)
Midfielders: Walter Gargano (Napoli), Egidio Arevalo-Rios (Penarol), Sebastian Eguren (AIK Stockholm), Diego Perez (Monaco), Alvaro Pereira (Porto), Alvaro Fernandez (Universidad de Chile), Ignacio Gonzalez (Valencia), Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax)
Strikers: Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield), Luis Suarez (Ajax), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo), Edinson Cavani (Palermo)
 

• ASIA/OCEANA: AFC (ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFED) AND OFC (OCEANA FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION)

 
 AUSTRALIA  - FIFA ranking: 20
Nicknames: Socceroos, Aussies
Confederation: AFC
Head coach: Pim Verbeek
Captain: Lucas Neill
World Cup Appearances: 3 (First in 1974)
Best World Cup result: Round of 16, 2006
AFC Asian Cup Appearances: 1 (First in 2007)
Best AFC Asian Cup result: Quarterfinals, 2007
OFC Nations Cup Appearances: 6 (First in 1980)
Best OFC Nations Cup result: Champions, 1980, 1996, 2000 and 2004
Confederations Cup appearances: 3 (First in 1997)
Best Confed result: Runners-Up, 1997
Team Base Camp: Kloofzicht Lodge, Magaliesberg, 1 hour from either Pretoria or Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 AUSTRALIA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers:  Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Adam Federici (Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough)
Defenders:  Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Craig Moore (unattached), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), David Carney (Twente Enschede), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira)
Midfielders:  Tim Cahill (Everton), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Mile Jedinak(Antalyaspor), Richard Garcia (Hull), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg), Vince Grella (Blackburn)
Strikers:  Josh Kennedy (Nagoya), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente Enschede)

 

 JAPAN  - FIFA ranking: 45
Nicknames: Samurai Blue; Nippon Daihyō; Okada Japan
Confederation: AFC
Head coach: Takeshi Okada
Captain: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi
World Cup Appearances: 4 (First in 1998)
Best World Cup result: Round of 16, 2002
AFC Asian Cup Appearances: 6 (First in 1988)
Best AFC Asian Cup result: Champions, 1992, 2000, 2004
Confederations Cup appearances: 4 (First in 1995
Best Confed result: Runners-Up, 2001
Team Base Camp: Fancourt Hotel and Country Club, George, Western Cape
Training Ground: (Probably Loerie Park in Knysna or Outeniqua Stadium in nearby city of George)

 JAPAN WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus), Eiji Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale), Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata)
Defenders: Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama Marinos), Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Nagoya Grampus), Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Kashima Antlers)
Midfielders: Shunsuke Nakamura (Yokohama Marinos), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Junichi Inamoto (Kawasaki Frontale), Yuki Abe (Urawa Red Diamonds), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg/Germany), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow/Russia), Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble/France)
Strikers: Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse), Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus), Yasuhito Okubo (Vissel Kobe), Kisho Yano (Albirex Niigata), Takayuki Morimoto (Catania/Italy)
 

 KOREA DPR (NORTH KOREA)  - FIFA ranking: 105
Nicknames: Chollima
Confederation: AFC
Head coach: Kim Jong-Hun
Captain: Hong Yong-jo
World Cup Appearances: 2 (First in 1966)
Best World Cup result: Quarter-finals, 1966
AFC Asian Cup Appearances: 2 (First in 1980); Best AFC Asian Cup result: Fourth place, 1980
Team Base Camp: Protea Hotel Midrand, between Pretoria and Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 NORTH KOREA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL SQUAD (no info on player positions or clubs available)
Kim Myong-gil, Kim Myong-won (both Amrokgang), Ri Myong-guk (Pyongyang City); An Chol-hyok (Rimyongsu), An Yong-hak (Omiya Ardija), Cha Jong-hyok (Amrokgang), Choe Kum-chol (April 25), Hong Yong-jo (FK Rostov), Ji Yun-nam (April 25), Jong Tae-se (Kawasaki Frontale), Kim Hum-il (April 25), Kim Kyong-il (Rimyongsu), Kim Yong-jun (Pyongyang City), Mun In-guk, Nam Song-chol (both April 25), Pak Chol-jin (Amrokgang), Pak Nam-chol (April 25), Pak Nam-chol (Amrokgang), Pak Sung-hyok (Sobaeksu), Ri Chol-myong (Pyongyang City), Ri Jun-il (Sobaeksu), Ri Kwang-chon (April 25), Ri Kwang-hyok (Kyonggongop).

 KOREA REPUBLIC (SOUTH KOREA)  - FIFA ranking: 47
Nicknames: Taegeuk Jeonsa (Taegeuk Warriors), Tigers of Asia, Red Devils
Confederation: AFC
Head coach: Huh Jung-Moo
Captain: Park Ji-Sung
World Cup Appearances: 8 (First in 1954)
Best World Cup result: Fourth Place, 2002
AFC Asian Cup Appearances: 11 (First in 1956)
Best AFC Asian Cup result: Winners, 1956, 1960
Confederations Cup appearances: 1 (First in 2001)
Best Confed result: 1st Round, 2001
Team Base Camp: Hunters Rest Hotel, Magaliesberg, 1 hour from Pretoria or Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 SOUTH KOREA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Kim Young-Kwang (Ulsan), Lee Woon-Jae (Suwon), Jung Sung-Ryong (Seongnam)
Defenders: Kim Dong-Jin (Ulsan), Kim Hyung-Il (Pohang), Oh Beom-Seok (Ulsan), Lee Young-Pyo (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Lee Jung-Soo (Kashima, Japan), Cha Du-Ri (Freiburg, Germany), Cho Yong-Hyung (Jeju United), Kang Min-Soo (Suwon)
Midfielders: Ki Sung-Yueng (Celtic, Scotland), Kim Bo-Kyung (Oita, Japan), Kim Nam-Il (Tomsk, Russia), Kim Jae-Sung (Pohang), Kim Jung-Woo (Gwangju), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton, England), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United, England)
Strikers: Park Chu-Young (Monaco, France), Ahn Jung-Hwan (Dalian, China), Lee Seung-Yeoul (Seoul), Yeom Ki-Hun, (Suwon), Lee Dong-Ggook (Jeonbuk)

 
 NEW ZEALAND  - FIFA ranking: 78
Nicknames: All Whites
Confederation: OFC (Oceania)
Head coach: Ricki Herbert
Captain: Ryan Nelsen
World Cup Appearances: 1 (First in 1982)
Best World Cup result: Round 1, 1982
OFC Nations Cup Appearances: 8 (First in 1973)
Best OFC Nations Cup result: Champions, 1973, 1998, 2002 and 2008
Confederations Cup appearances: 3 (First in 1999); Best Confed result: Round 1, 1999, 2003 and 2009
Team Base Camp: Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate, near O R Tambo Airport, Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

  NEW ZEALAND WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Team Wellington), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory) Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix);
Defenders: Andy Boyens (New York Red Bulls), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers), Winston Reid (FC Midtjylland), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City);
Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jets), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Christie (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), Simon Elliott (unattached), Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners), David Mulligan (unattached);
Strikers: Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle), Chris Killen (Middlesbrough), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion)
 

• AFRICA: CAF (CONFEDERATION OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL)

  ALGERIA  - FIFA ranking: 31
Nicknames: Les Fennecs (The Desert Foxes)
Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head coach: Rabah Saadane
Captain: Yazid Mansouri
World Cup Appearances: 2 (First in 1982)
Best World Cup result: Round 1, 1982 and 1986
African Nations Cup Appearances: 14 (First in 1968)
Best African Nations Cup result: Winners, 1990
Team Base Camp: Monduzur Hotel, San Lameer, 2 hours south of Durban
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

ALGERIA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Faouzi Chaouchi (ES Setif), Raid Ouheb M’bolhi (Slavia Sofia)
Defenders: Abdelakder Laifaoui (ES Setif), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers FC), Carl Medjani (Ajaccio), Rafik Halliche (Madeira), Antar Yahia (Bochum), Habib Belaid (Boulogne Sur Mer), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce)
Midfielders: Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth), Medhi Lacen (Racing Santander), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Adlene Guidoura (Wolverhampton), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes), Foued Kadir (Valenciennes), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg), Karim Matmour (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Strikers: Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens), Rafik Saifi (Istres)

 CAMEROON  - FIFA ranking: 19
Nicknames: Les Lions Indomables (The Indomitable Lions)
Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head coach: Paul Le Guen
Captain: Samuel Eto'o
World Cup Appearances: 5 (First in 1982)
Best World Cup result: Quarterfinals, 1990African Nations Cup Appearances: 16 (First in 1970)
Best African Nations Cup result: Winners, 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002
Confederations Cup appearances: 2 (First in 2001)
Best Confed result: Runners-up, 2003
Team Base Camp: Oyster Box Hotel, Umhlanga Rocks, Durban
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 CAMEROON WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Guy Roland N'Dy Assembe (Valenciennes), Idriss Carlos Kameni (Espanyol), Hamidou Souleymanou (Kayserispor)
Defenders: Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham Hotspur), Gaetan Bong (Valenciennes), Aurelien Chedjou (Lille), Geremi (Ankaragucu), Stephane Mbia (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Nkoulou (Monaco), Rigobert Song (Trabzonspor)
Midfielders: Achille Emana (Real Betis), Enoh Eyong (Ajax Amsterdam), Jean Makoun (Olympique Lyon), Georges Mandjeck (Kaiserslautern), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Landry Nguemo (Celtic), Alexandre Song (Arsenal)
Strikers: Vincent Aboubakar (Coton Sport), Eric Choupo-Moting (Nuremburg), Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan), Mohamadou Idrissou (Freiburg), Achille Webo (Real Mallorca)

 CôTE d'IVOIRE (IVORY COAST)  - FIFA ranking: 27
Nicknames: Les Éléphants (The Elephants)
Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head coach: Vahid Halilhodžić
Captain: Didier Drogba
World Cup Appearances: 1 (First in 2006)
Best World Cup result: Round 1, 2006
African Nations Cup Appearances: 18 (First in 1965)
Best African Nations Cup result: Winners, 1992
Confederations Cup appearances: 1 (First in 1992)
Best Confed result: 4th, 1992
Team Base Camp: Riverside Hotel and Conference, Vaal River, 1 hour south of Johannesburg
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

 CôTE d'IVOIRE (IVORY COAST) WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium), Aristides Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya, Israel), Daniel Yeboah (Asec, Ivory Coast)
Defenders: Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian, Scotland), Arthur Boka (VB Stuttgart, Germany), Benjamin Brou Angoua (Valenciennes, France), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV, Germany), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic, England), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes, France), Kolo Toure (Manchester City, England)
Midfielders: Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso(Monaco, France), Abdelkader Keita (Galatasaray, Turkey), Emmanuel Kone (International Curtea Arges, Romania), Gervinho (Lille, France), Koffi N'Dri Romaric (Sevilla, Spain), Cheik Ismael Tiote (Twente Enschede, Holland), Yaya Toure (Barcelona, Spain), Didier Zokora (Sevilla, Spain)
Strikers: Aruna Dindane (Lekhwiya, Qatar), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea, England), Bakary Kone (Olympique Marseille, France)

 

 GHANA  - FIFA ranking: 32
Nicknames: The Black Stars
Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head coach: Milovan Rajevac
Captain: Stephen Appiah
World Cup Appearances: 1 (First in 2006)
Best World Cup result: Round 2, 2006
African Nations Cup Appearances: 17 (First in 1963)
Best African Nations Cup result: Winners, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982
Team Base Camp: Roode Vallei Country Lodge, north of Pretoria
Training Ground: (not yet made public)

  GHANA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Richard Kingston (Wigan, England), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions)
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle, Switzerland), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), John Mensah (Sunderland, England), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany), John Pantsil (Fulham, England), Jonathan Mensah (Granada, Spain)
Midfielders: Dede Ayew (Arlese Avignon, France), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy), Stephen Appiah (Bologna, Italy), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Al Sadd, Qatar), Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth, England)
Strikers: Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim, Germany), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan, Italy), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland)
  
  NIGERIA  - FIFA ranking: 21
Nicknames: Super Eagles
Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head coach: Lars Lagerbäck
Captain: Nwankwo Kanu
World Cup Appearances: 4 (First in 1994)
Best World Cup result: Round of 16, 1994 and 1998
African Nations Cup Appearances: 16 (First in 1963)
Best African Nations Cup result: Winners, 1980 and 1994
Confederations Cup appearances: 1 (First in 1995)
Best Confed result: 4th, 1995
Team Base Camp: Protea Hotel Waterfront, Richards Bay, 90 minutes north of Durban
Training Ground: Richards Bay Sports Stadium

 NIGERIA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva, Israel)
Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Daniel Shittu (Bolton Wanderers, England), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Rabiu Afolabi (SV Salzburg, Austria)
Midfielders: Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), John Utaka (Portsmouth, England), Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham, England), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Sani Kaita (Alaniya, Russia), Haruna Lukman (AS Monaco, France), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)
Strikers: Ayegbini Yakubu (Everton, England), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg, Germany), Victor Obinna (Malaga, Spain)
 
  
  SOUTH AFRICA  - FIFA ranking: 83
Nicknames: Bafana Bafana (The Boys)
Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira
Captain: Aaron Mokoena
World Cup Appearances: 3 (First in 1998)
Best World Cup result: Round 1, 1998 and 2002
African Nations Cup Appearances: 7 (First in 1996)
Best African Nations Cup result: Winners, 1996
Confederations Cup appearances: 2 (First in 1997)
Best Confed result: 4th place, 2009
Team Base Camp: Southern Sun Grayston, Sandton, northern suburbs of Johannesburg
Training Ground: Sturrock Park, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

 SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL 23 MAN SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United)
Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel) Innocent Mdledle (Mamelodi Sundowns), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Anele Ngcongca (Genk, Belgium) Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England) MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia) Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)
Strikers: Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Netherlands)

 6.4 HISTORY OF THE WORLD CUP AND PAST CHAMPIONS

The FIFA Football World Cup™ was first held in 1930, and subsequently every four years, except during the 2^nd World War. In all, 76 nations have played in a World Cup, but only 7 nations have won it. Brazil are the most successful team, having won 5 titles and are also the only nation to have played in every World Cup.

Past Host Nations and the results of the final World Cup game are listed below. Winning nations are in bold type.

1930 Hosts: Uruguay | Final: Uruguay 4  - Argentina 2
1934 Hosts: Italy | Final: Italy 2 - Czechoslovakia 1
1938 Hosts: France | Final: Italy 4 - Hungary 2
1950 Hosts: Brazil | Final: Uruguay 2 - Brazil 1
1954 Hosts: Switzerland | Final: West Germany 3 - Hungary 2
1958 Hosts: Sweden | Final: Brazil 5 - Sweden 2
1962 Hosts: Chile | Final: Brazil 3 - Czechoslovakia 1
1966 Hosts: England | Final: England 4 - West Germany 2
1970 Hosts: Mexico | Final: Brazil 4 - Italy 1
1974 Hosts: West Germany | Final: West Germany 2 - Netherlands 1
1978 Hosts: Argentina | Final: Argentina 3 - Netherlands 1
1982 Hosts: Spain | Final: Italy 3 - West Germany 1
1986 Hosts: Mexico | Final: Argentina 3 - West Germany 2
1990 Hosts: Italy | Final: West Germany 1 - Argentina 0
1994 Hosts: United States | Final: Brazil 3 - Italy 2 (penalty shootout after 0-0 in extra time)
1998 Hosts: France | Final: France 3 - Brazil 0
2002 Hosts: Korea Rep and Japan | Final: Brazil 2 - Germany 0
2006 Hosts: Germany | Final: Italy 5 - France 3 (penalty shootout after 1-1 draw in extra time)
2010 Hosts: South Africa | Final: (Fill in your Prediction of the final match here)
2014 Hosts: Brazil:
 

6.5 WORLD CUP COMPETITION – WIN VOUCHERS FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE AFRICAN SAFARI

In celebration of the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup™ being hosted in South Africa and the upcoming 20th year in business in 2012 for Greenlife Africa Safaris, the company are giving away up to US$1 Million in Vouchers to all the winners in their www.e-gnu.com/2010competition.html for safari travel to Selected Safari Lodges in Southern Africa anytime until 31 December 2012!

Entrance is free and all you need do is Choose a Team to Support for Wins in the Quarter Finals, Semi Finals, 3rd/4th Place Playoff and Final. If your Team wins, you receive a Travel Voucher:

• US $200 Q/Finals Win
• US $400 S/Finals Win
• US $500 3rd Place Win
• US $600 Finals Win

If your team loses, you can simply re-enter by selecting a new team to follow!
Enter the competition now at www.e-gnu.com/2010competition.html

2010 Winner Poll: Cast your vote to Predict the 2010 Winner at www.e-gnu.com/2010predictwinner-poll.html

 

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