The line-up of teams hoping to claim the world's biggest sporting prize - the 2010 football world cup in South Africa - has been completed [GALLO/GETTY]
Published On 19 Nov 200919 Nov 2009
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Japan became the first country to make it through to the finals back in June. It will be the team's fourth straight world cup and they will be hoping to better their previous best of the second round on home soil in 2002 [GALLO/GETTY]
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Australia and Tim Cahill followed Japan quickly through the qualifying door. The Socceroos breezed through their first qualifying campaign in the Asian federation without conceding a goal [GALLO/GETTY]
South Korea topped their qualifying group and will be making their seventh successive appearance in the World Cup finals [GALLO/GETTY]
South Korea's neighbours from the north will also be in South Africa. North Korea emerged from a tough group to book their first finals place since 1966 and will be hoping to match the shock victories they achieved in that tournament [EPA]
Rory Fallon's winner against Bahrain in front of a record crowd ensured that New Zeland qualified, that football oveshadowed rugby for once and that the All Whites took full advantage of Australia's decision to leave the Oceania federation [AFP]
Ghana and Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien could be one of the stars of next summer's tournament. His side became the first African nation to qualify and will appear in the World Cup finals for the second successive time [EPA]
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Ivory Coast, who are being tipped by many observers as a potential outside winners in South Africa, eased through their qualifying group with a game to spare [EPA]
Cameroon, spearheaded by Samuel Etoo, defeated Morocco to book their place in their fianal qualifier to make it to football's showpiece event for the sixth time, an African record [GALLO/GETTY]
Nigeria, traditionally one of Africa's footballing powerhouses, looked set to miss out on the finals for the second time in a row. But a brace from Obafemi Martins in a 3-2 win over Kenya and defeat for Tunisia in Mozambique saw the Super Eagles squeak through in the final round of qualifiers [GALLO/GETTY]
Algeria looked to have blown their chance of qualifying when a 2-0 defeat to arch rivals Egypt left the two countries with identical records and set up an unprecedented one-off play-off in Sudan. But Anthar Yahia's strike in a tense match put Algeria through to their third World Cup and their first since 1986 [AFP]
The Netherlands will be a force to be reckoned with in South Africa. The Dutch were the first European team to book their place in the finals and raced through qualifying with a perfect record [EPA]
European champions Spain are many people's favourites for the world crown next year. They stroleld through qualifying with two games to spare and have only lost one match since 2007 [GALLO/GETTY]
Whatever the line-up Germany are always a force to be reckoned with. A flawless qualifying campaign was overhsadowed by the tragic death of goalkeeper Robert Enke and the team will be hoping to do well in South Africa in honour of him [GALLO/GETTY]
England and the talismanic Wayne Rooney charged through qualifying with eight straight wins under Fabio Capello. They will be aiming to add to their sole world title achieved on home soil in 1966 [GALLO/GETTY]
Current world champions Italy have been reunited with victorious coach Marcelo Lippi and ensured they will defend their title by finishing top of their group after a 2-2 draw in Ireland [GALLO/GETTY]
Denmark will be in South Africa after topping a tough group, forcing Portugal into the play-offs and eliminating arch-rivals Sweden altogether [EPA]
Serbia surprised many people by comfortably finishing ahead of France in qualifying. Boasting quality players such as captain Dejan Stankovic they will be looking to do better than 2006 when they crashed out early on [EPA]
Slovakia will be appearing in the finals for the first time in their history. Qualification was made all the sweeter as the finished atop a group containing close rivals and neighbours the Czech Republic [EPA]
Switzerland sealed their place in South Africa in the last round of qualifiers. The alpine nation are in the finals for the second time in succession [EPA]
Portugal struggled in qualifying and were forced into a play-off with Bosnia. But two 1-0 victories, achieved without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, sent the team through and they will be among the favourites to proceed to the latter stages in South Africa [AFP]
1998 world champions and 2006 runners-up France had a fraught qualifying campaign and only booked their finals place after a controversial William Gallas goal in extra time of their play-off with a spirited Republic of Ireland side. However, boasting stars such as Franck Ribery and Thierry Henry, they are sure to be threat next summer [AFP]
Despite being crowned European champions in 2004, Greece has not been to a World Cuo since 1994. But a Dimitrios Salpigidis winner away in Ukraine put the country and their inspirational coach Otto Rehhagel through [AFP]
After scoring a crucial late away goal in their play-off first leg with Russia, Slovenia upset the odds and booked a place for their second World Cup with a 1-0 victory [AFP]
Mexico have not missed a finals for nearly 20 years and are always a dangerous outside threat. They will be in South Africa but it took a change of manager and an upturn in form after a poor start to seal qualification [GALLO/GETTY]
The USA will be appearing in their sixth straight finals and if they can equal their Quarter Final place in 2002 they will have done well [EPA]
A slip-up in the final round of qualifying matches by Costa Rica allowed Honduras to sneak in and claim the final Concacaf automatic spot. With a core of quality European-based players such as Wilson Palacios they will look to cause an upset or two next summer [EPA]
Perennial qualifiers Brazil are always the team to beat on the world stage. Qualification this time around was sealed with an impressive win at arch-rivals Argentina [EPA]
With a young and attacking side Chile impressed in the qualifiers. They finished just behind Brazil and under former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa they could be an outside threat in South Africa [EPA]
Diego Maradona will be returning to the World Cup stage. But it was a struggle for the Argentina coach and his side as they came perilously close to missing out. However with an array of talent led by Lionel Messi they will surely be one of the favourites next summer [EPA]
Paraguay are becoming a model of consistency in South American qualifying and are through to their fourth straight World Cup where they will hope to make it out of the group stage - a feat they failed to manage in 2006 [EPA]
Uruguay and Diego Forlan finished fifth in qualifying and were forced into a play-off for the third tournament in a row. But a 2-1 aggregate win over Costa Rica menat they claimed the final berth for 2010 [AFP]
The 31 teams who have made it through to the finals will be joined by hosts South Africa. The Bafana Bafana have struggled in recent years, but passionate home support is sure to help them raise their game [GALLO/GETTY]
