| The 2010 World Cup qualifying round is now | | | | may play against Cuba while South Korea will |
| over; for the first time since 1934 the host | | | | meet North Korea in Asian qualifying. |
| nation (South Africa) will take part of the | | | | |
| qualifying round. However, the South Africans | | | | On the other hand, Italy, the World Cup |
| will qualify despite the position they finish | | | | champion seems to be satisfied in a "easy |
| at. It is also the first time the tournament | | | | group" in company of Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia |
| will be hosted by a Confederation of African | | | | and Montenegro. As yet, the European team |
| Football nation. According to FIFA President | | | | drawn in which is considered the toughest |
| the selection of Africa is "justice to a | | | | group is France, club that will have to play |
| continent that has given so much to | | | | against well known teams as: Romania and |
| football". | | | | Serbia. However, the nation has been a |
| | | | football force in the last year's as world |
| The draw of the 19th FIFA WORLD CUP | | | | cup runner up and previously achieving the |
| celebrated last Sunday in Durban, South | | | | 1998 World Cup title. |
| Africa attracted over 3,000 football | | | | |
| administrators and coaches and it was watched | | | | Last year champion, Italy was drawn with |
| around the world in 170 countries. There were | | | | Bulgaria, Ireland Cyprus, Georgia and |
| 169 nations in the draw which works as a | | | | Montenegro; an easy team for the champions, |
| qualifying round for the 2010 African Cup of | | | | according to their soccer chief, Giancarlo |
| Nations to be place in Angola. | | | | Abete, the group is a group Italy should |
| | | | cruise through without problems. |
| The draw was attended by South African | | | | |
| president Thabo Mbeki; not all the countries | | | | The entrances to the World Cup will have a |
| were blessed as the draw did not please | | | | different format depending on the continent; |
| countries as England. The team was placed in | | | | for example: North, Central America and the |
| the same group than their torment, Croatia, | | | | Caribbean will have preliminary rounds to |
| club which only a few days before humiliated | | | | reduce the teams to 24 while in South America |
| England in a 3 to 2 win eliminating them from | | | | there are 10 teams playing in eighteen |
| the Euro 2008. | | | | rounds. Asia is into 20 teams; the first and |
| | | | second place of each pot gets through the |
| England will have a second chance to bit | | | | final rounds. Africa, as well, will be split |
| their hardest opponent in the preliminary | | | | into 12 groups while Europe is divided in |
| stage but the main goal now is to find a new | | | | nine groups to fill in the 13 places |
| coach who can face this new challenge. | | | | available; 9 winners and the rest will be |
| Nevertheless, both teams were paired in a | | | | decided between the second places in playoff |
| complicated group; the European Group 6 is | | | | matches. The only Confederation with no |
| also conformed by powerful teams as: Ukraine, | | | | automatic place in the finals is Oceania; |
| Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra. Other than | | | | therefore; the winner of the qualification |
| just sport rivalries, during the qualifying | | | | rounds will face the fifth placed in the |
| matches there will be a mix of politics | | | | Asia's Confederation. |
| rivalries too. The United States for example, | | | | |