Speculation about likely World Cup bases

A Reuters report out today about World Cup bases makes for interesting reading, not least because some of the teams mentioned haven't yet qualified and may not even do so.

According to this report France, Sweden and Paraguay have set up coastal bases, despite the South Americans being the only one of the three to have secured qualification.

The French have apparently booked a facility on the southern Cape coast. Coach Raymond Domenech must be thinking the play offs are an inconvenient but easily surmountable barrier.

Other teams looking ahead include Sweden, who have booked in at Durban, and Argentina, Germany, Italy, Mexico and the USA, who have all booked hotels or guest lodges in Pretoria.

Japan and Switzerland are heading for Johannesburg. Japan have already qualified, but the Swiss may not make even make the play offs.

England will allegedly be based at Sun City, although Fabio Capello and his team will probab! ly wait for the draw in December before deciding on the location of their base for the tournament.