The 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign has thrown up more than a few surprises and shocks - some who have qualified, some who have not, and some who are still hoping.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in qualifying involved a previous World Cup giant killer. Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough, England in 1966 saw one of most astonishing results in World Cup Final’s history when lowly North Korea beat mighty Italy 1-0. For the first time since that historic match, the North Koreans will again fly their flag in the World Cup Finals. They will be joined by South Korea with whom they are still technically at war and if they somehow find themselves facing each other at some stage, it will provide one of more interesting spectacles of the tournament.

Two-times Argentina almost caused a shock by not qualifying. Managed by legend Diego Maradona, they eventually secured their place in South Africa thanks to a late strike in a scrappy affair at the latter stage of the South American qualifying competition. However, they have not shown the type of form that has previously made them a force in World football and whilst they can never be written off the odds of Argentina lifting the FIFA World Cup this time will currently be somewhat longer than normal.

Another side who have had a reasonably good recent international record are Portugal but even a team containing Cristiano Ronaldo could not secure direct qualification and will enter what can be the lottery of the play-offs. The Portuguese were considered a safe bet to be in South Africa and must still be favourites to go through although their two-legged tie against Bosnia-Herzgovina will not be easy.

France, 1998 World Cup winners and beaten finalists in Germany, must also look to progress to the finals via the play-off’s and their tie against the Republic Of Ireland is more evenly balanced. Like the Portuguese, the French must have considered themselves almost certain qualifiers at the outset and the possibility of not making the last 32 next summer remains a nightmare scenario for the Gallics.

There are several teams who would love to be involved in the play-off’s but have already blown their chances of making South Africa. These sides include several who have had good recent runs in the tournament proper. Colombia have made a name for themselves for playing exciting football in previous tournaments but they finished well away from the qualification places in South America. Sweden have also put up a decent showing but will not be there. Romania did not make the grade in their qualifying group and neither did the Czech Republic nor Turkey, both of whom have raised eye-brows with results in the past. However, Portugal and France aside, the biggest shock in Europe was perhaps the failure of Croatia, the 1998 losing semi-finalists, the make even the play-off’s.