World Cup 2010: Part Two - Powered with Spicebets

GROUP E

Denmark
A solid midfield side, they will prove tough to beat and should provide some competition for the top spot.

Strengths
Denmark have a strong and solid midfield.

Weaknesses
Denmark's main weakness is in the few options they have up front.

Coach
Morten Olsen played 102 internationals for Denmark between 1970 and 1989. he took Denmark to the WC finals in 2002. Therefore he has an enormous international experience and is admired by players, fans and the governing body alike.

Netherlands
The tecnically brilliant Van Persie, the playmaking qualities of Sneijder and the dribbling ability and pace of Robben are a big threat for every opponent. When fully fit, the trio are a dangerous weapon.

Strengths
Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben; many countries would like them in their squad. The offensive part of the Dutch team is very strong, probably close to world class.

Weaknesses
Despite have a good qualifying campaign, the defence has always been a point of discussion in the Netherlands itself. Andre Ooijer is an experienced centre-back, who is however getting a bit old.

Coach
Bert van Marwijk was the successor of Marco van Basten after Euro 2008. As a club coach he reached the Dutch Cup final with the modest side Fortuna Sittard in 1999. At Feyenoord he lived his finest moments, winning the UEFA Cup in 2002 and the national Cup in 2008.

Japan
Having been beaten convincingly in recent friendlies, the Japanese are not in a good position here. All of the other sides in the group will view them as the weakest side and so the expectation level should be fairly low.

Strengths
At every World Cup, Japan has had excellent midfielders like Hidetoshi Nakata or Shinji Ono. This World Cup is no exception. The Japanese have good skill, accuracy, and devotion.

Weaknesses
Japan lacks scoring punch upfront. Also it is hard for the squad to play against physically strong teams. They usually struggle against African teams as well.

Coach
This will be Takeshi Okada second World Cup. He became the coach in for Japan's qualifiers in 1997. Japan ended up qualifying but did not make a splash in the tournament the following year.

Cameroon
On their own continent, Cameroon should be one of the hardest sides to beat in this competition with their physical power. Perhaps a lack of cohesion could pull them apart.

Strengths
Midfield: whether playing in a 4-3-3 or a 4-4- 2 formation has been excellent at linking the defence to the forwards.

Weaknesses
The main weakness of the team will be their overall age and ability to cope with high-level competition.

Coach
Paul Le Guen is very well respected by his players, who prefer his methods to those of former coach Otto Pfister.

GROUP F
Italy
Italy doesn't show the same solidity of Germany 2006, too few goal scored.. too many goals conceeded. The match against Paraguay will be a great test, if they fail the morale will drop and will be hard to recover.

Strengths
The collective. Lippi doesn't like individualism, that's why cohesion is the most important Azzurri virtue.

Weaknesses
Italy's biggest problem is in attack. The Azzurri lack a world class forward like Messi, Kaka or Torres. Gilardino, Iaquinta, and Di Natale are good players, but they don't seem to be decisive.

Coach
Marcello Lippi is a winner. His honours list is as impressive as anyone in the world: from Serie A to Champions League, from Intercontinental Cup to World Cup, nothing is missing.

New Zealand
The team is made up of mediocre players with only Blackburn's Ryan Nelsen as a leading light. They cruised through qualifying in the Oceania region and then beat Bahrain in the play-off, but they won't make an impact in this group.

Strengths
New Zealand is a physically strong team with a good work ethic. The average height in the squad for the last match against Bahrain was just under 185 cm. New Zealand will be dangerous at set-pieces and will not be easily out-muscled by their opponents. The fact that this will be the first winter World Cup since 1978 will probably suit New Zealand’s playing style.

Weaknesses
There is no hiding the fact that New Zealand will not be the most technically gifted team at the finals.

Coach
Ricki Herbert, a former defender, was part of the All Whites team that qualified for the 1982 World Cup.

Paraguay
One of the best sides in the South American qualifying campaign, Paraguay will be lead by Roque Santa Cruz.

Strengths
Paraguay's historical main strengh is the defense, and today is no exception. The team conceded just 16 goals in 18 matches during WC qualification, the second best record of all. The counterattack is one of their main weapons, and they are extremelly dangerous in the aerial game. In addition, Paraguay comprises a brave team that likes challenges and plays better if the opposition is harder.

Weaknesses
One of the weaknesses is a lack of possession play. Paraguayans don't really like to have the ball: they feel more comfortable waiting and counterattacking. Teams who pass well, such as Spain, would have a field day.

Coach
Argentine boss Gerardo Martino has imposed in the Paraguayan national team the same work ethic that made him such a succesful coach with local clubs Cerro Porteno and Libertad. He is from the school of Marcelo Bielsa, so he's a firm believer in tactics and strategy. Generally he goes with a 4-4-2, with 4-3-3 deployed on special occasions.

Slovakia
The Slovaks have a decent side, with the likes of Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik providing them with quality across the pitch. However, they won't have enough to make a historic march to the knockout stages.

Strengths
The pillar of the team's strength is in defence, led by the goalkeeper Jan Mucha and central defender Martin Skrtel (Liverpool).

Weaknesses
The limited quantity of star players with top level international experience. If two or three of the squad's high end players were injured, then Weiss would struggle to replace them.

Coach
Vladimir Weiss is one of the most respected and celebrated figures in Slovakian football.

GROUP G

Brazil
Dunga has been under serious pressure over the past few months. Many would expect the world's highest ranked side to stroll through the groups, but this is no easy task. The Ivory Coast and Portugal will be eyeing up top spot

Strengths
Set-pieces and lightning fast counter-attacks are Brazil's specialities under Dunga . Corner Kicks and free kicks close to the box are taken with efficiency. The counter-attacks are usually led by the speed of Kaka.

Weaknesses
Brazil struggles when facing teams that just sit back and defend. The passing game is not sharp or quick enough to get through.

Coach
The nomination of Dunga, in 2006, was highly criticised by the media because of his lack of experience. His results, however, have proven that he is good enough for the job. Dunga likes to play in the 4-2-3-1 formation, but often relies on the 4-3-1-2.

Portugal
They have one of the better squads in the competition; although England won't be sad to see them go out early if that happens.

Strengths
Portugal are solid at the back. Then there's the undoubted wing talents of Simao, Nani and a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Weaknesses
Portugal's failings in the striking department need hardly be pointed out. They struggle without Ronaldo

Coach
Carlos Queiroz is in his second stint as Portugal coach, having endured an ill-fated spell in charge of the country in the early 1990s. He plays a typically Portuguese style of football comprising a tough centre and dynamic play on the flanks.

Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast have to fight hard to reach the next stage of competition, few star players are not enough to beat Brazil and Portugal. A bad news is the injury of Drogba.

Strengths
With Salomon Kalou and other strikers starting in some of the most successful European clubs, the Ivorians have an impressive attacking lineups.

Weaknesses
The main weakness of the team will be the tremendous egos that are in it. Despite an overall great ambiance, the competitive aspect of things has proven to be a negative catalyst over the last year, as several fights have erupted during their qualifying campaign.

Coach
Sven Goran Eriksson perfom better with league competition, where he has time to create a style of play. His African adventure is a first and it remains to be seen if he is the right man to bring a talented group of players together.

Korea DPR
The whipping boys of the Group of Death.

Strengths
The team counter-attacks have speed and is capable of catching out an opposition that strays too far forward.

Weaknesses
A lack of firepower is perhaps something that was evident in qualification. Goals are hard to come by as is experience.

Coach
Kim Jong-hun took his team to the World Cup at his first attempt, is respected by the players though rumours abound in Pyongyang that his position isn't as secure as it should be.

GROUP H

Chile
Another team hard to beat, full of creativity and talented players.

Strengths
Very technical team, the offensive style of play

Weaknesses
The defence. Errors in the backline due to the pressure create at the opposite end. Another weakness is the defensive aerial game, due to their lack of height.

Coach
Marcelo Bielsa is a personality in football. He is studious and ‘crazy’ (his alias is ‘El Loco’) for strategy and football. Their lineup either at home or away is always 3-3-1-3.

Honduras
Honduras don't have the firepower to dispatch of their opponents, but there are a number of their players who have proved themselves to be solid performers.

Strengths
Honduras has a strong defence and a powerful midfield. Its back line conceded less goals than any other in the qualification phase.

Weaknesses
Lack of star players and experience

Coach
Colombian Reinaldo Rueda showed a defensive style of play that were widely criticised by the press.

Spain
Luis Aragones, the victorious 2008 coach, built a team around Barca pair Andres Iniesta and Xavi. With David Villa, David Silva, and Fernando Torres to aim for, this team does not want either for creativity or firepower.

Strengths
It's Barcelona-style football: possession play and an eye firmly on attack.

Weaknesses
Spain have two traditional weaknesses: shakiness when faced with the through ball and set-pieces, and an aversion to playing well when faced with physical, sometimes 'dirty' teams.

Coach
Vicente Del Bosque replaced Turkey-bound Aragones right after Euro 2008. Hhe proved to be a successfull choice, specially in two subjects. He showed experience to deal with a squad full of stars, controlling the euphoria, but also avoided wholesale changes.

Switzerland
Having hosted the Euros, the Swiss will have experience of the big time, but it would be a surprise if they made it far in the competition. With a steady, if uninspired, side, they will be looking at second place below Spain

Strenghts
organization and international experience

Weaknesses
there are concerns over their physicality.

Coach
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a big name in football circles, winning trophies with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.