Four years of waiting is almost over, the most prestigious football tournament in the World as all but here.

Thirty days, thirty two teams and ten amazing different venues. For the first time ever the African continent will host the competition, with the likes of the Ivory Coast aiming to do the continent proud.

Whilst Spain are most bookmakers’ favourites following their triumph at Euro 2008, Brazil are also widely fancied. It would take a brave man to bet against them given their previous history of five World Cup wins, as opposed to Spain who have never progressed beyond the quarter-final stage.

Then there’s Italy, the reigning champions, and an ever-improving England side led by tactical maestro Fabio Capello. Other contenders include the ageing sides of France and Germany, the flamboyant Dutch and an off-colour Argentina, who boast the world’s current best player in Lionel Messi.

Expect the likes of North Korea, Algeria and New Zealand to be among the whipping boys, but that’s not to say there won’t be a team that surprises us all – Greece-style Euro 2004.

If there’s one thing that’s certain, the World Cup will be far from predictable. There are a plethora of candidates to lift the much coveted trophy on July 11^th in Johannesburg and football fans across the world are poised for an action-packed four weeks of the beautiful game.