Group D:
Australia: The Australian Men’s National Football team’s official nickname is the "Socceroos". The football association in Australia is known as soccer, as it is in the US. The team is run by the Football Federation Australia (FFA), which is currently a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The first time Australia participated in a World Cup tournament was in 1974. The team qualified for two other World Cup tournaments including the current one and in 2006.
Germany: The football team as it is known today, has represented the country of Germany From 1950 to 1990. In English the team is called West Germany since WWII. Germany is one of the three most successful national teams at international competitions, having won a total of three World Cups and have qualified for every world cup except for the inaugural one.
Ghana: Before gaining independence from Great Britain in 1957, the country played as the Gold Coast. Ghana’s national football team did not qualify for the FIFA World Cup until 2006, and they reached the second round of the 2006 Germany World Cup.
Serbia: Serbia have played at eleven FIFA World Cups, four were played consecutively from 1950 to 1962 (back then as SFR Yugoslavia). The team qualified for this year’s 2010 World Cup under the name of Serbia. The team was banned from qualifying for the 1994 tournament due to international sanctions that were placed on the country and region due to the Yugoslav wars.
Group E:
Netherlands: The Dutch national football team reached two consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, but lost both finals to their respective host nations, West Germany and Argentina. The team is colloquially referred to as Oranje. The Netherlands made their first appearance at the World Cup final tournament in 1934. In 1974 the team reached the final for the first time in their history, but lost in Munich. During the 2006 tournament the Netherlands finished second in their group behind Argentina, but were eliminated in a match against Portugal, losing 1-0. The match produced 16 yellow cards, setting a new World Cup record of four red cards (two for either side) and was nicknamed "the Battle of Nuremberg" by the press.
Denmark: The Football team qualified in three World Cup’s prior to this year’s tournament: 1986, 1998, and 2002. 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.
Japan: The Japan national football team was banned in Brazil in 1950. A thing to note about the team is that it reached the first round in 1998, and have qualified for the last 4 consecutive world cups.
Cameroon: The Cameroon national football team is nicknamed 'The Indomitable Lions' and is currently considered to be Africa's most successful team; Cameroon has qualified for the FIFA World Cup a total of six times - in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010- (more than any other African nation). They were the first African team to reach a quarterfinal in a World Cup tournament.
Group F:
Italy: The Italian national football team represents Italy in international football competitions and is run by the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC). They are the current World Champions, having won the last FIFA World Cup. Italy declined it’s invitation to the inaugural World Cup, but went on to win the two consecutive trounaments under head coach, Vittorio Pozzo, and thanks to the genius of Giuseppe Meazza, one of the best Italian players ever.
Paraguay: The Paraguay national football team has reached the second round of the World Cup on three occasions (1986, 1998 and 2002) but has never advanced beyond that stage.
New Zealand: The New Zealand national football team, nicknamed the 'All Whites', play in an all-white strip, hence its nickname. The team entered its first ever World Cup in 1982.
Slovakia: The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in international football. After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Slovakia Football Association was founded in 1993. The 2010 FIFA World Cup is the first time the team has qualified under the name“Slovakia”.
Group G:
Brazil: The Brazil national football team is the most successful national football team in the history of the World Cup, with five championships in four different continents (1958 Sweden, 1962 Chile, 1970 Mexico, 1994 USA, 2002 S. Korea-Japan). A saying in relation to the type of football the Brazilians play is: "The English invented it, the Brazilians perfected it Brazil hosted the 1950 FIFA World Cup which was the first tournament to be held after World War II. It was the only time Brazil hosted the tournament to date (not counting the upcoming 2014 tournament). Brazil won their fifth World Cup Tournament in 2002 thanks to the unbeatable trio of the "Three R's" (Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho).
Korea DPR: Korea DPR as it is known by FIFA is otherwise known as North Korea. The first time the team appeared in a World Cup tournament was in 1966. This year represents the team’s second ever World Cup tournament.
Ivory Coast: nicknamed Les Éléphants (The Elephants), represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football they did not enter or qualify for a FIFA World Cup until 2006, where they only made it to the first round.
Portugal: First appeared in the 1966 FIFA World Cup where the national football team reached the semi-finals. At the semi-final game, Portugal lost 2-1 at Wembley stadium against England. After placing third in the 1966 World Cup tournament in England, the next time Portugal was able to qualify for a World Cup tournament was in 1986 and in 2002. In both 1986 and 2002 Portugal was knocked out in the first round. However, by 2006 Portugal reached their first semi-final since 1966, but lost 1-0 against France.
Group H:
Spain: Spain has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 12 times. At the 1950 tournament, Spain placed fourth. Spain was selected as host of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. This edition of the World Cup featured 24 national football teams for the first time.
Switzerland: Switzerland’s National Football team have reached the quarter finals in three World Cup tournaments; once in 1934, again in 1938 and also when the Swiss hosted the event in 1954. Those three instances are considered to be Switzerland’s best performances during a World Cup tournament.
Honduras: In October 2009, Honduras’s National Football team confirmed qualification to this year’s World Cup. The last time Honduras qualified was at the World Cup trounament held in Spain in 1982.
Chile: Chile’s National Football Team was one of the teams at the inaugural World Cup in 1930. An interesting fact is that most football fanatics agree that Chile’s best run at a World Cup tournament until now was in 1962. The Chilean team was banned from participating in the 1990 and 1994 tournaments due to a scandal during a qualifying match against Brazil that involved a Brazilian fan shooting a firework near Chie’s goalkeeper, Roberto Rojas’s head. Chile once again qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup after their 1990 & 1994 ban, but only made it to the round of 16, despite putting up a brave against the Brazilians who ultimately defeated them.
More to follow!
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