FIFA World Cup 2010 European Qualifying : Group Nine

Head Coach: Olafur Johannesson
Captain: Hermann Hreidarsson
Star Player: Eidur Gudjohnsen
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Never Qualified


Iceland has entered a team for the World Cup qualification process every time since 1974 now, the only time the nation had entered before then was for the 1958 World Cup and the team failed to qualify; something that has been true of every single one of the nation's attempts in fact. Having never qualified for the World Cup things therefore don't look particularly good for 2010 either.

As well as having never qualified for the World Cup, the national side has never qualified for the European Championship either; Iceland is a consistent performer, sadly for the Icelandic nationals however; Iceland is a consistent failure in qualification for international football tournaments. Iceland's biggest ever win came against the Faroe Islands in 1985, Iceland won that game 9-0 on the home soil of Keflavik.

Head Coach: Srecko Katanec
Captain: Goce Sedloski
Star Player: Goran Pandev
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Never Qualified.


Having never qualified for the World Cup finals before; Macedonia face a very tough test present in a group along with Netherlands. Second place is very much up for grabs, Netherlands look almost certain to progress as group leaders however and there are therefore four Group Nine teams all chasing after the exact same thing; second place.

With Goran Pandev present in the Macedonian team there is always a chance that Macedonia could well be the team to come second; it won't be made easy for them however and I envisage there being quite a fight on for second place in this group between Macedonia, Norway, and Scotland, and to a lesser extent Iceland also.

Head Coach: Bert van Marwijk
Captain: Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Star Player: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Runners-up (1974 and 1978)


The Dutch squad is one that is absolutely jam packed full of talent at current. I've picked out Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as the star of the side, in truth any one of a number of player could have been picked however such as Robin van Persie, Rafael van der Vaart, and Arjen Robben; there are even more stars than this present in the Netherlands side in fact, all over the field there is quality and always the Dutch team is highly impressive in its supreme footballing display.

I was very impressed with the Netherlands team during Euro 2008, Van der Sar was amazing in goal for the Dutch and although he has sadly now retired from international football; long may he now be remembered as a true Dutch goalkeeping legend. The Netherlands is by far the best team in Group Nine, a team I see as certain to progress and one that I honestly believe potentially has what it takes to lift the World Cup in 2010. The Dutch only reached Round 2 in 2006, and in 2002 failed to qualify; this time round I do however see the Netherlands going incredibly far.

Head Coach: Age Hareide
Captain: Brede Hangeland
Star Player: John Arne Riise
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Round 2 (1998)


Norway has failed to qualify for the last two World Cup competitions, the last international football tournament the nation competed in was that of Euro 2000, since then however there has been no further international footballing success. Norway will no doubt be hoping to finish the group in second place and gain a place in the play-offs; with the Netherlands squad so superior to all else in Group Nine, second place is really the best that anyone can look to achieve and Norway therefore faces a real fight.

The presence of John Arne Riise in the squad will most definitely work in Norway's favour; the former Liverpool player is an excellent performer, and with him in the team it is always possible that Norway will be able to grind out results and edge wins against their Group Nine opposition.

Head Coach: George Burley
Captain: Barry Ferguson
Star Player: Darren Fletcher
Best Ever World Cup Placing: Round 1


The last time the Scottish national side qualified for a major international football tournament was 1998. Scotland has failed to qualify for the last three European Championship tournaments, and the past two World Cup's also. This is a Scottish side bereft of confidence, and a 1-0 defeat against Macedonia in the first game of qualifying more than proved this.

There is definitely the potential there for Scotland to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa; finishing in the first place is the only way to ensure qualification however and I most definitely can't see anyone finishing above the Netherlands from this group. Eight of the Nine European Qualifying Group runners-up enter into a Play-Off to battle it out for a place in the World Cup; I can see Scotland being one of the teams to make the play-off, it won't be easy for them however and the other teams in the group will certainly do all they can to defeat Scotland and finish above them in the final Group Nine table.

.

Iceland

Macedonia

Netherlands

Norway

Scotland

Iceland

x

-

-

-

1-2

Macedonia

-

x

1-2

-

1-0

Netherlands

-

-

x

-

-

Norway

2-2

-

-

x

-

Scotland

-

-

-

-

x

Team

Pld

GD

PTS

1. Netherlands

1

1

3

2. Macedonia

2

0

3

3. Scotland

2

0

3

4. Norway

1

0

1

5. Iceland

2

-1

1