Who didn't make it?

Now there were 204 nations, who started their quest to reach the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, but it's pretty pointless for me to list all of those who missed out, but I'll name a few more notables, who we won't be seeing next summer.

It's always tight in Europe and I've also mentioned the ones, who got close, but here's a more detailed look.

Sweden, with Barcelona star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, came to the qualifying with high hopes. It was always going to be tough with Denmark and Portugal also aiming for qualifications, but no doubt the Scandinavians, who qualified for the last two World Cups is Germany and South Korea, hoped to continue the good run. In the end a defeat in Copenhagen cost them dear, as their Southern neighbours took the first place of the group.

Czech Republic, who made their debut in the World Cup in Germany 2006, wanted to make it two in a row, but Slovenia surprised with a great campaign and snatched the play-off spot ahead of them with "brother" Slovakia winning the group.

Turkey, who finished third in South Korea 2002, didn't manage to edge Bosnia and Herzegovina largely thanks to point losses to Estonia and Belgium.

Croatia, France 1998 3rd place, who had a wonderful EURO 2008 qualifying campaign, couldn't repeat the success and 4:1 defeat at Wembley to England pretty much summed up their form.

Russia, 12th team in the FIFA ranking, were beaten in the play-off round by Slovenia, who are placed all the way down at 49th place. A really remarkable feat by the nation with only a population of two million.

There were no real surprises in Africa, with only Egypt failing is a sudden death match with Algeria. So they won't have a chance to continue their impressive play in South Africa, which they did in this year's Confederations Cup.

In Asia, local powerhouse China, who made their debut in South Korea 2002, failed twice in a row, finishing bottom of a group containing Australia, Qatar and Iraq. Iran, who impressed during Germany 2002 fell in the last stage in a group with South Korea, Korea DPR, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

In the North, Central America/Caribbean zone Trinidad & Tobago, who made their debut at Germany 2006, finished bottom of the last stage.

No surprise in Oceania as New Zealand passed and also no shocks in South America, maybe only the good play Chile showed. They last qualified for the World Cup finals in 1998, lead by the legendary strike duo Marcelo Salas and Iván Zamorano.