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Fantastic team, Bolivia. Must be. I woke up this morning to the news that they'd beaten Brazil 2-1 and thought: 'Here are the big danger side for South Africa in the summer'. Did a bit of research. In the last year they've also beaten Paraguay and Peru and thrashed Argentina 6-1. Logged onto my Betfair account quickly, this surely was a chance to get back what I'd lost laying Ukraine on Saturday night. What price are Bolivia for the World Cup? Not in the betting at all? And Brazil are still [5.9] favorites? How can that be?

Well, the answer lies in the fact that Bolivia haven't qualified. Even after their latest win over what many consider the world's greatest soccer nation, they are second from bottom of the South American qualifying table. And there lies one of the issues waiting for the teams when they arrive in South Africa: altitude.

It's thanks to playing at 3,637 meters into the sky at the Hernando Silas Stadium in La Paz that Bolivia have such a home record. Five of the nine host cities next summer are more than 1,000 meters above sea level. In fact, Johannesburg, venue for the final, is the highest of them all at 1,694 meters. And given that the semi-finals are both at sea level in Cape Town and Durban it's going to pose a major challenge to the two sides that make it through.

In other words, when you're looking at placing a bet on any World Cup game, whether it be this week's last round of qualifiers or once the tournament starts, you've got to take so many more factors into account than just the strength of the teams on paper.

Take England's defeat in Ukraine. With hindsight, playing Rio Ferdinand in a game that didn't matter was an accident waiting to happen. He'd shown his sloppy side by giving away an injury time goal in the Manchester derby. On Saturday, he was sleeping again when he left Robert Green exposed to a red card. England are [1.2] to wrap up their group with a win over Belarus on Wednesday but with Rio in carnival mood and Wayne Rooney injured, I'm not sure I'd trust it.

Defending is all about concentration. Perhaps Rio and Ashley Cole should have a look at the DVD of Germany's 1-0 win in Russia. They showed admirable discipline after Miroslav Klose's early goal and Joachim Loew's young side were confirmed as Group Four winners. They are coming together at the right time (as the Germans always do). At [13.5] they represent terrific value as potential World Cup winners.

England's 10-man debacle left Spain as the only country other than Holland still boasting a 100% qualifying record as Cesc Fabregas helped them to a 2-1 win in Armenia. Their trip to Group Five's second placed team Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday will tell us a good deal more about their mental strength. They are [2.2] to wrap up the group with their 10th victory, and second favorites at [6.0] to win the tournament. But here's a thought - their previous 15 match winning streak was ended last summer in the Confederations Cup when they lost to America in Bloemfontein, one of the altitude venues at 1,353 meters.

Back at sea level any thought that Cristiano Ronaldo might not make it to the World Cup has now been banished. Half fit, he did enough in 27 minutes to set up a 3-0 win over Hungary that means a home win over Malta gets Portugal through to the play-offs.

There will be some big names with them. France, Russia and either Greece or Ukraine will join the Portuguese as the seeds, bringing another challenge for the Republic of Ireland who were seconds away from the chance to qualify outright until Alberto Gilardino's last minute equalizer for Italy in a 2-2 draw in Dublin.

At least the Republic remain in control of their own destiny. Northern Ireland need to win by six goals away to the Czech Republic on Wednesday and then hope that San Marino beat Slovenia. You might say they've got a mountain to climb!