Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on England

England are the second European country to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. This is the English squad I believe has the best chance of success in South Africa next year.

First 11

GK. David James, Club- Portsmouth, (AWC) 39.

RB. Glen Johnson, Club- Liverpool, (AWC) 25.

CB. Rio Ferdinand, Club- Manchester Untied, (AWC) 31.

CB. John Terry captain, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 29.

LB. Ashley Cole, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 29.

CM. Michael Carrick, Club- Manchester United, (AWC) 28.

CM. Gareth Barry, Club- Manchester City, (AWC) 29.

CAM. Frank Lampard, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 31.

CAM. Steven Gerrard, Club- Liverpool, (AWC) 30.

ST. Wayne Rooney, Club- Manchester United, (AWC) 24.

ST. Jermain Defoe, Club- Tottenham Hotspur, (AWC) 27.

Subs

GK. Robert Green, Club- West Ham, (AWC) 30.

GK. Paul Robinson, Club- Blackburn, (AWC) 30.

RB. Micah Richards, Club- Manchester City, (AWC) 21.

CB. Joleon Lescott, Club- Manchester City, (AWC) 27.

CB. Jamie Carragher, Club- Liverpool, (AWC) 31.

LB. Wayne Bridge, Club- Manchester City, (AWC) 29.

CM. David Beckham, Club- Los Angles, (AWC) 35.

CM. Scott Parker, Club- West Ham, (AWC) 29.

RW. Aaron Lennon, Club- Tottenham Hotspur, (AWC) 23.

LW. Joe Cole, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 28.

ST. Peter Crouch, Club- Tottenham Hotspur, (AWC) 29.

ST. Michael Owen, Club- Manchester United, (AWC) 30.

The Coach

Coaching England is the first time Italian Fabio Capello has managed an international side.

England's Strengths

England have two of the worlds best centre-backs and two of the worlds best attacking midfielders they also have one of the best strikers in the world in Wayne Rooney.

England's Weakness

England's main weakness is that although they have good goalkeepers they lack a world class goalkeeper. England also have a lack of quality depth in the two fullback positions.

Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Ghana

Ghana are the first African (other then hosts South Africa) team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. This is the Ghanaian squad i believe has the best chance of success at the World Cup next year.

First 11

GK. Richard Kingson, Club- Wigan, (AWC) 31.

RB. John Paintsil, Club- Fulham, (AWC) 28.

CB. Isaac Vorsah, Club- Hoffenheim, (AWC) 21.

CB. John Mensah, Club- Sunderland, (AWC) 27.

LB. Hans Sarpei, Club- Bayer Leverkusen, (AWC) 33.

RW. Laryea Kingston, Club- Hearts, (AWC) 29.

CM. Michael Essien, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 27.

CM. Sully Muntari, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 25.

LM. Kwadwo Asamoah, Club- Udinese, (AWC) 21.

ST. Assamoah Gyan, Club- Stade Rennes, (AWC) 24.

ST. Prince Tagoe, Club- Hoffenheim, (AWC) 23.

Subs

GK. William Amamoo, Club- FC Telecom Egypt, (AWC) 28.

GK. George Owu, Club- Al Masry (Egypt), (AWC) 27.

RB. Daniel Opare, Club- Real Madrid Castilla, (AWC) 19.

CB. Samuel Inkoom, Club- FC Basel, (AWC) 20.

CB. Eric Addo, Club- Roda JC, (AWC) 31.

LB. Alfred Arthur, Club- FK Jagodina (Serbia), (AWC) 23.

Mid. Nana Akwasi Asare, Club- FC Utrecht, (AWC) 23.

CDM. Moussa Narry, Club- Auxerre, (AWC) 24.

CM. Derek Boateng, Club- Getafe, (AWC) 27.

LW. Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Club- Spartak Moscow, (AWC) 24.

ST. Matthew Amoah, Club- NAC Breda, (AWC) 29.

ST. Ransford Osei, Club- FC Twente, (AWC) 19.

The Coach

Ghana are coached by Serbian Milovan Rajevac, previously he has coached Serbian clubs Red Star Belgrade, FK Vojvodina and FK Borac Cacak.

Ghana's Strengths

Ghana's strength is in the centre of midfield with Essien and Muntari playing with two of the best clubs in European football. The rest of the starting 11 also play at good quality clubs across Europe. Although the subs for Ghana aren't playing at the same quality of clubs as the first 11, the majority are playing at clubs in the the top division of their respective leagues across Europe.

Ghana's Weakness

Ghana's main problem is in the goalkeeping department with there currently only being one Ghanaian goalkeeper playing in Europe, Richard Kingson and he is currently in a battle trying to recognised as Wigan's second choice goalkeeper.

Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Brazil

Brazil are the first South American team to qualify for 2010 World Cup. This is the Brazilian squad I believe has the best chance of winning the World Cup in South Africa next June and July.

First 11

GK. Julio Cesar, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 3o.

RB. Maicon, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 28.

CB. Juan, Club- Roma, (AWC) 31.

CB. Lucio, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 32.

LB. Maxwell, Club- Barcelona, (AWC) 28.

CDM. Feilipe Melo, Club- Juventus, (AWC) 26.

CDM. Ze Roberto, Club- Hamburg, (AWC) 35.

CAM. Kaka, Club- Real Madrid, (AWC) 28.

CAM. Diego, Club- Juventus, (AWC) 25.

ST. Luis Fabiano, Club- Sevilla, (AWC) 29.

ST. Robinho, Club- Manchester City, (AWC) 26.

Subs

GK. Heurelho Gomes, Club- Tottenham Hotspur, (AWC) 29.

GK. Doni, Club- Roma, (AWC) 30.

RB. Dani Alves, Club- Barcelona, (AWC) 27.

CB. Alex, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 27.

CB. Thiago Silva, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 25.

LWB. Filipe, Club- Deportivo Le Coruna, (AWC) 24.

CDM. Gilberto Silva, Club- Panathinaikos, (AWC) 33.

RW. Rodrigo Taddei, Club- Roma, (AWC) 30.

LW. Ronaldinho, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 30.

CAM. Julio Baptista, Club- Roma, (AWC) 28.

ST. Nilmar, Club- Villarreal, (AWC) 25.

ST. Alexandre Pato, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 20.

The Coach

Inexperienced Brazilian Dunga is the Brazil coach, coaching the Brazilian national team is Dunga's first experience of coaching at the professional level. Under Dunga Brazil play more conservatively then they have in the past and have become very dangerous on the counter attack.

Brazil's strengths.

In Julio Cesar Brazil have one of arguably the best half a dozen goalkeepers in the world at the moment. Maicon and Daniel Alves are two of the best right backs in the world unfortunately Brazil can only play one at a time. Lucio and Kaka are amongst the best players in the world in their respective positions.

Brazil's weakness

For a side expecting to in the World Cup Brazil have a few problem areas, at left-back no player has yet emerged to adequately replace retired great Cafu, theirs a worrying lack of quality or depth for the centre of midfield position and a lack of depth for the striking positions.

World Cup 2010 Squad changes.

With the European transfer window closing last week and Brazil and Ghana having just qualified for the World Cup. I've updated the information and or made adjustments to the squads of the six countries that had already qualified for South Africa 2010. The changes can be seen by clicking on World Cup 2010 under Labels.