Who made it from Europe?

53 teams started the FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying stage all the way back in August 2008. It was marked as the first, where the small nation of Montenegro participated.

There were 9 groups, 8 with six teams and 1 with seven teams. The group winners qualified directly, while the 8 best second-placed teams participated in a play-off round.

Tightly contested Group 1 was won by the 1992 European champions Denmark ahead of Portugal, with Sweden and two-times World Cup runners-up Hungary narrowly missing out.

Life wasn't easier in Group 2, either. 2008 European Championships co-host Switzerland, under the legendary German manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, took the spoils in the end, with Greece going to the play-off round. Latvia and Israel were left ruing their luck.

Group 3 had five out of the six teams fighting for qualification, with San Marino being the bottom side. Slovakia got through in the end as winners. Close neighbours Slovenia, who conceded only 4 goal in the entire qualifying stage, finished second with Czech Republic, Northern Ireland and Poland missing out.

Group 4 was mostly dominated by the last FIFA World Cup hosts Germany. The three-times World Champions finished the group unbeaten and were followed by Russia. Finland also had a chance to qualify to their first World Cup in their history, but missed out in the end.

Current European Champions Spain had a easy run in Group 5, winning all of their games with a goal difference of 28-5. Bosnia and Herzegovina entered the play-off round, while 2002 FIFA World Cup 3rd placed team Turkey were also third this time, only in the qualifying group.

1966 World Champions England enjoyed similar success as Spain in Group 6, only losing their last match of the campaign to Ukraine and so helping the Eastern Europe side to the play-off round ahead of Croatia.

Only one point separated first and second in Group 7, with Serbia winning the group ahead of France.

Two teams finished Group 8 unbeaten. Defending World Champions Italy won the group as Ireland finished second, with Bulgaria missing out.

Group 9 was also a one-team show. Netherlands won all of their games. Norway and Scotland finished both on 10 points, but the Scandinavian team had better goal difference, so they took 2nd place. It didn't matter much in the end though, as Norway was the worst second-placed team in the qualifying stage and thus didn't make it into the play-off round.

In the play-off round, France took on Ireland, Greece were handed Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina played Portugal, while Russia faced Slovenia.

Otta Rehhagel did his magic with Greece again, as the 2004 European Champions over came Ukraine away 1:0, after the first leg ended goalless. Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing through injury, proved they are not a one-man team and quite comfortably beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 1:0 in both matches. Slovenia got a vital away goal from Moscow and that helped them through with the aggregate score tied 2:2. France needed a handball to beat Ireland 2:1 on aggregate