Head Coach: Jan Poulsen
Captain: Sargis Hovsepyan
Star Player: Ara Hakobyan
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Never Qualified.


Armenia has never before qualified for a World Cup finals tournament; part of the Soviet Union until 1994, Armenia has only been attempting to qualify since 1998 and as yet has been unsuccessful in its efforts. The biggest win came for the nation in 1997 with a 3-0 home victory over Albania, the nation's biggest defeat also came in 1997 however with a 7-0 away loss in Chile.

Armenia will here be hopeful of achieving a place in the World Cup finals; there's some tough competition in this group, Armenia definitely has an outside chance however and will be hoping luck is on their side as the matches are played and the group games unfold. Spain and Turkey are the teams likely to take first and second place, Belgium also could do it however and a race will of course be on for Bosnia and Armenia also. Estonia on the other hand; I see them doing very little in this group.

Head Coach: Rene Vandereycken
Captain: Timmy Simons
Star Player: Wesley Sonck
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Fourth Place (1986)


The best Belgian World Cup campaign came in 1986 when the side finished fourth; Belgium then qualified for every World Cup tournament up until 2006 when they failed to qualify. Belgium will now be hoping to put the hurt of 2006 behind them and push on to win Group Five at the expense of their rivals; it won't be easy for Belgium but there's certainly a possibility of progression here.

Belgium has twice before won by a 9 goal margin; once against Zambia in 1994, and again against San Marino in 2001; both games were played at home and Belgium will surely be hoping of bringing a super 9 goal victory into Group Five also. It's going to be a fierce race to the top in this group, there's some stiff competition and Belgium will have to play to the best of their ability if qualification is to be achieved.

Head Coach: Miroslav Blazevic
Captain: Emir Spahic
Star Player: Zvjezdan Misimovic
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Never Qualified.


Bosnia is another Group Five team never to have before qualified for a World Cup finals tournament. Bosnia was a part of Yugoslavia until 1990 though and like Armenia has only been trying for the World Cup since 1998. There's a chance that Bosnia could do well in Group Five; they're definitely one of the better teams in the group, the problem is though that there's a lot of quality in Group Five and it even contains the current European Championship holders Spain in fact.

Qualification will not come easy for Bosnia, only the team that tops the group guarantees making it to the World Cup finals whilst finishing second more or less guarantees a play-off spot (eight of the eight European Qualifying Group runners-up are entered into the play-off). Second spot is possible, first place however is really quite doubtful. Bosnia has the potential to perform, qualification won't come easy but it still could well happen.

Head Coach: Tarmo Ruutli
Captain: Mart Poom
Star Player: Andres Oper
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Never Qualified.


Estonia look set to become the whipping boys of Group Five; on paper Estonia is by far the weakest of the six teams and World Cup qualification is therefore more or less completely out of the question. A couple of points may be gained along the way, Estonia isn't likely to do too much in this group however and if points are gained its likely to be through draws rather than wins.

Estonia's biggest win came way back in 1928 with a 6-0 home win against Lithuania, between 1950 and 19990 it was a part of the USSR however and therefore did not enter the World Cup between these years. Estonia has been trying again since 1994, as yet to no avail however and Estonia currently still remains to be an absolute World Cup virgin as its own country.

Head Coach: Vicente Del Bosque
Captain: Iker Casillas
Star Player: David Villa
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Fourth Place (1950)


Fresh from a European Championship title in 2008; Spain will now be hoping to take this form into the World Cup 2010 qualification campaign and run away with Group Five. It's a quality group, the champions of Europe should have little trouble progressing however and should be able to comfortably see off the majority of the teams present in this group. Several teams are likely to chase Spain to the very end, I still see Spain winning this group however without a shadow of a doubt.

The Euro 2008 win for Spain was its first international silverware since the European Championship win of 1964; for many years Spain has been threatening to perform however and it was only a matter of time before another international tournament title was achieved. Spain has the potential not just to win Group Five but also to win the World Cup 2010 itself; France won the World Cup in 1998 and followed it up with a European Championship victory in 2000 and I see no reason whatsoever why Spain shouldn't be able to do something similar.

Head Coach: Fatih Terim
Captain: Emre Belozoglu
Star Player: Tuncay Sanli
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Third (2002)


Turkey performed well at Euro 2008, after performing so strongly there the team will therefore be hoping to do something special here in Group Five. The team has the talent and potential to perform, whether or not the potential is realised however still remains to be seen. If Turkey can beat Spain to topping this group then this really would be a massive achievement for the Turks.

Only twice before has Turkey ever qualified for the World Cup finals; once in 1954 when the team was eliminated at the first round, and again in 2002 when an impressive third position was achieved. Turkey defeated co-hosts South Korea to achieve that Third Place spot, and although qualification was not then achieved in 2006; Turkey will now be hoping to make it third time lucky in the World Cup and perhaps even this time win it; stranger things have happened.

.

Armenia

Belgium

Bosnia

Estonia

Spain

Turkey

Armenia

x

-

-

-

-

0-2

Belgium

-

x

-

3-2

-

-

Bosnia

-

-

x

7-0

-

-

Estonia

-

-

-

x

-

-

Spain

4-0

-

1-0

-

x

-

Turkey

-

1-1

-

-

-

x

Team

Pld

GD

PTS

1. Spain

2

5

6

2. Turkey

2

2

4

3. Belgium

2

1

4

4. Bosnia

2

6

3

5. Armenia

2

-6

0

6. Estonia

2

-8

0