Denmark
Manager: Morten Olsen
Best: Quarter-finals (1998)
Best known for coming off the beach after being called up as late replacements for the suddenly defunct Yugoslavia in Euro 1992 and then winning the tournament, the Danes are once again making waves. They somewhat surprisingly surged through their qualification campaign, despite facing more strongly tipped rivals Portugal and Sweden. That may vindicate coach Morten Olsen's decision not to quit after failing to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The Danes, led by strikers Jon Dahl Tomasson and Nicklas Bendtner, supported by midfielders Christian Poulsen and Dennis Rommedahl and stylish center-backs Daniel Agger and Simon Kjaer (though Kjaer is suffering from a knee injury caused in a recent friendly match), could give anyone a tough game. If they play to their potential, the Danes won't be going anywhere near South Africa's beautiful beaches.
Player to watch: Tough-tackling Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen creates the defensive backbone that allows his teammates to express themselves. But he'll need to make sure that his proclivity for earning yellow cards for his aggressive play doesn't leave them a man short.