Sky Sports looks at those teams who have already qualified for the 2014 World Cup
Monday 26 June 2023 09:19, UK
Sky Sports looks at those teams who have already qualified for the 2014 World Cup.
Most teams are still battling for their place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but 10 nations have already qualified for next summer's finals.
Hosts Brazil along with the likes of Italy, Netherlands and Argentina are just some of the sides who can look forward to taking part in the greatest competition in sport after successful campaigns.
And, here, Sky Sports takes a look at those countries who are already lucky enough to know they will be competing in the World Cup.
Manager: Luiz Felipe Scolari
FIFA ranking: 9th
World Cup record: Five-time winners
The five-time world champions have qualified for the 2014 finals automatically as hosts and are under pressure to again become the best team on the planet. Brazil have experienced disappointing quarter-final exits at the previous two World Cups since they last won the competition in 2002 and earlier this summer they remarkably found themselves outside of the top 20 in FIFA's world rankings. But regardless of that slump, since his return as manager in November 2012, Luiz Felipe Scolari has added new confidence. The man who was in charge of Brazil for their success in 2002 has made some ruthless selection decisions and that has added self-belief. June's 3-0 hammering of Spain in the final of the Confederations Cup is a reflection of Brazil's growing momentum while it also sent them rocketing up the rankings.
Manager: Cesare Prandelli
FIFA ranking: 6th
World Cup record: Four-time winners
A 2-1 win over Czech Republic on 10th September ensured Italy will be at the World Cup in 2014 after winning Group B in the European zone of qualifying with two games to spare. Cesare Prandelli's side did, however, make hard work of the progress after having to come from a goal down against the Czechs, with Mario Balotelli scoring the winning penalty. It will be Italy's 18th appearance at the World Cup and the 2006 champions and Euro 2012 finalists will have high expectations. The Azzurri were unbeaten in Group B at the time they qualified after only dropping points in earlier games with the Czechs and Bulgaria. They will therefore travel to Brazil with the hope of emulating their previous World Cup wins of seven years ago and in 1934, 1938 and 1982.
Manager: Louis Van Gaal
FIFA ranking: 5th
World Cup record: Three-time runners-up
Netherlands have the chance to end their long wait for a first World Cup title after they qualified for Brazil as winners of Group D in the European zone. A 2-0 win over Andorra on 10th September courtesy of two Robin van Persie goals ensured the Dutch top spot in their group with two games still to play, like Italy. Netherlands impressively dropped just two points before they qualified after a surprise draw in Estonia at the beginning of September and they will be planning for another positive finals. But their main motivation will be to avenge their final defeat by Spain in 2010's World Cup to add to their disappointment of also losing finals in their golden era of 1974 and 1978. Manchester United's Van Persie will be a key weapon in their armoury, as the striker currently sits joint top with Bosnia and Herzegovina & Manchester City's Edin Dzeko in the European zone goalscoring charts.
Manager: Alejandro Sabella
FIFA ranking: 4th
World Cup record: Two-time winners
A Lionel Messi-inspired hammering of Paraguay on Matchday 14 meant Argentina were the first South American team to join Brazil at the 2014 World Cup. Alejandro Sabella's men were the first side from their continental qualifying zone to ensure they will be at next summer's finals after Messi scored twice to beat already-eliminated Paraguay 5-2. After their 4-0 humiliation by Germany in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup, Argentina will also be keen to make a point as they bid to end a long wait since they last won the World Cup in 1986. All eyes will also be on Messi, with it being suggested the Barcelona star and best player on the planet at club level has never truly reproduced his talents at World Cups. Argentina's qualifying campaign was far from faultless after five draws and one defeat at the time they qualified but they will still be among the favourites in 2014.
Manager: Jurgen Klinsmann
FIFA ranking: 19th
World Cup record: 1930's third place
A 2-0 win over arch-rivals Mexico in their eighth game of the North, Central America and Caribbean group qualifying zone, which is the fourth round of the qualifying process, booked USA their place at the 2014 World Cup finals. Jurgen Klinsmann's team had won five, drawn one and lost one of their qualifiers when they qualifed which proved enough to ensure progression. Landon Donovan was among the goalscorers in the decisive victory over Mexico while Clint Dempsey has also been a key man in their campaign so far after the former Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur player scored eight goals when qualification was secured. The USA will make the trip to Brazil with the hope of improving on their agonising defeat by Ghana after extra time in the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup.
Manager: Jorge Luis Pinto
FIFA ranking: 42nd
World Cup record: 1990's last 16
Costa Rica joined USA in progressing from the North, Central America and Caribbean group qualifying zone after a draw with Jamaica in September's qualifiers was enough to send them through. Colombian manager Jorge Luis Pinto had seen his side win four games, draw three and lose one in the CONCACAF group at the time of qualifying. Costa Rica had only just scraped into the fourth round after finishing second behind Mexico in the group stages of the third round of qualifying but they found their form when it mattered. Fulham's Bryan Ruiz and Arsenal's Joel Campbell, who is on loan at Olympiakos, will now be hoping to impress in Brazil next summer.
Manager: Alberto Zaccheroni
FIFA ranking: 37th
World Cup record: 2002 & 2010's last 16
Japan were the first team to secure their place at the 2014 finals through the qualification process by winning the Asian Football Confederation Group B in what is the fourth round of the AFC qualifying. A record of five wins, two draws and just one defeat saw them top the group with an impressive 16 goals in their eight matches. June's 1-1 draw with Australia in Saitama, which was secured by star man Keisuke Honda's injury-time penalty equaliser, made sure of their place in Brazil. Considered by most as Asia's best team, Japan have been at every World Cup since 1998 and they have increasingly high expectations. Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni, who won Serie A with AC Milan in 1999, has already steered his side to the 2011 Asian Cup and the 2013 East Asian Cup. But losing all three games at this summer's Confederations Cup was not a good sign.
Manager: Holger Osieck
FIFA ranking: 46th
World Cup record: 2006's last 16
Australia will be appearing at their third successive World Cup but their route to the 2014 finals was not as simple as it has been in the past. They progressed behind Japan in Asian Football Confederation Group B in what was their second campaign in the AFC since switching from Oceania. But German coach Holger Osieck saw his side suffer a shock defeat by Jordan in the group while they also lost to Oman in the earlier round. A 1-0 victory over Iraq in Sydney in June ultimately secured qualification and next summer's finals will likely be a last hurrah for several of their experienced squad members. Australia's ultimate aim would be to surpass their finest hour of reaching the last 16 at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where they were memorably knocked out by Francesco Totti's penalty deep into injury time for eventual champions Italy. However, simply progressing from the groups in Brazil would be impressive.
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