Bus half full to South Africa

Cool weekend, when almost all the European qualifying groups crowned a winner on the pursuit of a World Cup spot. Denmark, Germany, Serbia and Italy have secured a place in the 2010 World Cup and join previous stage winners England, Spain and Netherlands.

Denmark
Underdogs against Portugal and Sweden, the Danish have adopted a nice style of play, with the midfield always working hard and the offense on the feet of their biggest talents.

Best: The offense line, with Bendtner, and veterans Tomasson and Rommedhal on constant pursuit of the ball and with eyes on the opponents net.
Worst: On the other side of the pitch, the defense seems too permissive – remember the game against Portugal? It ended as a draw, but the Portuguese side had more than 15 scoring opportunities. The unbelievable amount of injuries on the last months as to end.

Germany
The European vice-champions have cruised in a tough group. They’re doing an awesome job with youngsters and winning a lot of trophies, now is probably the time of the big boys.

Best: Pragmatic like always, Germany as found a way to use their traditional good strikers, after England they have the best attack of the qualifying round.
Worst: While their full-backs give the right consistency, the centre-backs are too ‘German’, Metzelder, Mertesacker or Westermann have a lot of difficulties on their opponents play the ball thru the grass.

Serbia
The young country as inherited the former-Yugoslavia style of play. Short pass, all ready to aim at the opponents defense. They’ve contributed to France actual crisis.

Best: Very compact and always cohere on the defensive side. A lot of stars like Vidic, Ivanovic, Zigic or Stankovic in the main European championships.
Worst: They tend to have moments when concentration disappear, giving them a lot to work if they want to perform well against the best national sides in the world.

Italy
There’s no passion when the azzurri are playing, it’s all about the score, but they are world champions.

Best: The pragmatism of a score-oriented team that usually delivers. Marcello Lippi back at the helm is a crucial asset.
Worst: Like the Serie A top teams, the oldness of most of his players will probably show when it’s time to make four/five games in two weeks.

Congratulations also: on South America to Chile, that joins Brazil and Paraguay. On Africa to the Ivory Coast, that joins Ghana. On North, Central America and Caribbean to Mexico and USA.

On the playoffs Bahrain drawn 0-0 at home with New Zealand, the All Blacks have home advantage on South Africa road.