The spaces are filling, the available slots are dropping and the fight is coming to an end. Thirty-one of thirty-two spots (South Africa get the free pass as hosts) went up for grabs at the beginning of qualification and ten have now been claimed, with basic arithmetic telling us twenty-one are still left for grabs. Some, of course, are more up for grabs than the others, but that’s no bother, because we’ll lay out the full thirty-two anyway.
Asia (AFC)
Asia has been kind enough to do the work for us already.
Already qualified: Japan, Australia, North Korea, South Korea
All that’s left is a playoff between Bahrain and New Zealand to determine the final participant from the Asia/Oceania region. New Zealand actually drew defending Asian champions Iraq in the Confederations Cup just this past summer, but Sepp Blatter would never allow a team from Oceania to partake in his World Cup.
Predicted: Bahrain
Africa (CAF)
Already qualified: Ghana
Effectively qualified: Cote d’Ivoire
CdI is 4-0-0 and in first by a margin of 6 points with 2 games to go. They’re going. Eventually.
The three remaining groups up for grabs:
Cameroon were always the favorites to go through, and after a slow start (0-1-1) have beaten Gabon back-to-back and look to be back on track. The Indomitable Lions are the likeliest of the first batch.
The second group is arguably a toss up, with both Tunisia and Nigeria against Kenya and Mozambique (one home, the other away) in the final two. Nigeria would seem to have the talent, but then Tunisia have the two point cushion. With two games against weaker opposition ahead, cushion > talent. Tunisia it is.
And finally, Algeria is going to start making noise on the int’l scene (with phrases which don’t end but born in Marseille). They’re going.
Predicted: Cameroon, Algeria, Tunisia
Europe (UEFA)
Here’s where the real predictions begin.
Already qualified: Netherlands, Spain, England
Right now two teams look to be, beyond a collapse, nearing that “effectively qualified” territory: Slovakia and Italy. The former as their qualities are just that good these days and the latter because though they may have their weaknesses, they still won’t go down to Cyprus at home on the last day - should it get that far. The classic doing just enough to win team will do just that (see: Euro 2008 qualifying).
Group 1:
Denmark’s got Nicklas Bendtner backing up his own lofty expectations these days, which bodes well for the Danes, while the clusterfuck below them should be motivation enough to see them through. Plus they’ve got Sweden at home coming up - this the same Swedish team which only beat Malta 1-0 thanks to a Maltese own goal yesterday.
Second? Portugal was always the favorite - nothing’s changed there. Sweden, despite the results, just does not look good enough these days.
Group 2:
Earlier in qualifying Switzerland lost quite embarrassingly to Luxembourg in Zurich. The Swiss get them next, and they’ll be licking their chops for some equally humiliating revenge, and 20 points should win this group.
For second…Greece and Latvia play each other next while they then finish out with home matches against Luxembourg and Moldova, respectively. This gives an incredible weight to the 2nd v 3rd battle, which takes place in Athens. Advantage: Greece.
Group 3: Penciling in Slovakia for tops, the rest….
The Czechs, despite thumping The Most Serene Republic of San Marino to the tune of 7-0 yesterday, are in a “rebuilding by hookers” phase. Slovenia are just building, and doing so quite well.
Oh, and they get TMSROSM on the final day. +3 and Slovenia it is.
Group 4:
Next game: Russia v Germany in Moscow. Delicious.
(They’ll both be going somehow, no matter the second placed team draw in the home-and-away playoff. Germany for now.)
Group 5: If Bosnia & Herzegovina beat Estonia, they go through to the playoff and Turkey is back at home watching tapes of Euro 2008.
10.9.08: B&H 7 - Estonia 0
Enjoy the holidays, Turkey.
Group 6:
Croatia: @ Kazakhstan.
Ukraine: England, @ Andorra.
Don Fabio won’t yank on the reigns in Dnepropetrovsk and they’re looking quite strong these days, so that result may mirror Scotland v Netherlands. Croatia will be the Snow Leopards regardless of location and the state of Luka Modric’s boo boo, much to Borat’s dismay. Croatia to second.
Group 7: Serbia has remaining fixtures at home with Romania and away to Lithuania, only needing three points for automatic qualification. They’ll get it, and France will get a couple extra games on the way to South Africa.
Group 8: Italy win the group, Ireland win second. Easy as pie.
Group 9: Done and dusted: Netherlands won the group, Norway took second.
Predicted group winners: Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, Serbia, Italy
Second placed playoff: There’s little reason in spending the time to predict the 6th placed teams outcomes or predicting the draws, so we’ll pick at random and pray.
Predicted playoff winners: Russia, France, Portugal, Bosnia & Herzegovina
North & Central America (CONCACAF)
Already qualified: None
The US is going and with Mexico reinvigorated under anyone not named Svennis, they look to be heading back to the WC. The question becomes 3rd/4th place, as the 3rd goes straight to the party while 4th gets a home-and-away with the 5th place in CONMEBOL for one spot.
Looming in 5th for South America right now? Argentina.
Costa Rica gets Trinidad & Tobago at home then travels to the US for a game which will likely mean nothing for the Americans. Color them the favorites for third and Honduras…well, good luck with that playoff.
Predicted: US, Mexico, Costa Rica
South America (CONMEBOL)
Already qualified: Brazil, Paraguay
That red box is the all important 5th spot, currently occupied by Diego’s massive underachievers. Right now there are six teams clamoring for three spots, with Chile a leg up on the rest and looking very, very likely. Uruguay look unlikely as they haven’t done splendidly away from home and they’ll be greeted by a trip to altitude along with a visit from Maradona’s men. Venezuela get Brazil, so they’re also done. Ecuador get Uruguay in Quito, which should seal the deal for them.
Automatic: Chile, Ecuador
5th placed playoff: Argentina
Yes, Lionel will be going to South Africa after they beat Honduras. Will Diego? That’s another question entirely.
The Final 32: South Africa, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Australia, Bahrain, Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Algeria, Netherlands, Switzerland, England, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, Serbia, Germany, Portugal, France, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Russia, USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Ecuador, Argentina.
Diego Maradona’s spell in charge of Argentina is not going well. The albiceleste are fifth in CONMEBOL qualifying right now, and could very well wind up in a playoff game vs the fourth place CONCACAF team for a World Cup 2010 spot. Or they could finish sixth and just be eliminated.
The WAG Squad which hit Baden Baden with a fury in 2006 probably got more pages than half the teams actually participating in Germany. While the tabloids loved it, the WAGs themselves loving the tabloids in kind, it was not seen to be in the best interests of the 
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