World Cup 2014: Guide To Brazil's Groups
Group A
BRAZIL (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation: The flicks and tricks remain second nature, but this Brazil side is also resilient and well organised, moulded by the pragmatism of 2002 World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.They press the opposition high up the pitch, while midfielder Luiz Gustavo acts as an auxiliary third centre-back - allowing the full-backs and the likes of centre-back David Luiz to venture forward.
Brazil usually adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation and are not afraid to be direct, often seeking out the flamboyant Neymar on the left with long balls from the back.
Strengths: Take your pick. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has the required major tournament know-how, the players are talented and well-drilled, a passionate home crowd will surely inspire the team again, as they did at the Confederations Cup in the summer, and even the iconic yellow jerseys can intimidate the opposition.
Weaknesses: There aren't many, but the paucity of centre-forward options is a potential concern. First-choice Fred was injured earlier in the season and Diego Costa opted to represent Spain, so former Manchester City and Everton striker Jo could play a part.
Key player
Believe the hype; Neymar is pivotal to Brazil. Full of energy and deft touches, and able to dribble at incredible speed, he is the player most capable of changing a game for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side.The 22-year-old World Cup poster boy - who joined Barcelona last summer for £48.6m - appears unfazed by the public expectation, scoring 13 times in his last 16 caps.
Neymar has been in prolific form for Brazil
One to watch
Luiz Felipe Scolari says that 21-year-old Bernard "has joy in his legs". Direct, quick, and a bundle of energy, the 5ft 5in winger made his full debut for Brazil in September and scored his first goal against Honduras in November.Once considered too small for professional football, Shakhtar Donetsk paid £21.5m for him last summer.
The boss
Reappointed in November 2012, World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has recovered from a poor start to his second spell in charge to shape Brazil into a side he is "100% sure… will be the champion" this summer.The 65-year-old led Portugal to the Euro 2004 final, 2006 World Cup semi-finals and last eight at Euro 2008 between his spells as Brazil boss.
How they qualified
As hosts.World Cup record
Brazil are the only nation to have played at every World Cup, winning the competition a record five times, latterly in 2002.Fifa ranking: 4 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Possible starting XI
Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma), Maxwell, Thiago Silva (both Paris St-Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli).
Midfielders: Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires, Willian, Oscar (all Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City).
Forwards: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg).
CROATIA
Prospects
Croatia lack the depth of talent associated with their golden generation of the late 1990s but they remain capable of bloodying the nose of most sides.Key player
Mario Mandzukic, 28, averaged better than a goal every other game in 2013, helping Bayern Munich win a historic treble and top scoring for Croatia with four goals in qualifying. The goals have dried up recently, though, registering just twice in his last 11 appearances.Bayern coach Pep Guardiola says "there is nobody better in the air in the world" than the striker, but his red card for a studs-up lunge in the play-off win over Iceland will limit his World Cup involvement.
The boss
Former Croatia captain Niko Kovac was appointed head coach in October after Igor Stimac resigned.He guided his country though a two-legged play-off against Iceland and will be heading to his third World Cup, having played in 2002 and 2006. Kovac had only become Croatia's Under-21 boss in January 2013.
How they qualified
Croatia were level on points with group leaders Belgium after earning five wins and a draw from six matches, but they only managed one point from the remaining four fixtures before beating Iceland in a play-off.World Cup record
Croatia memorably finished third on their World Cup debut in 1998 but they failed to progress from the group stage in 2002 and 2006.Fifa ranking: 20 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Oliver Zelenika (Dinamo Zagreb).Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos), Danijel Pranjic (Panathinaikos), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa), Igor Bubnjic (Udinese).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Niko Kranjcar (Queens Park Rangers), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan), Milan Badelj (Hamburg), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka), Mario Pasalic (Hajduk Split), Sammir (Getafe).
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina), Duje Cop (Dinamo Zagreb).
MEXICO
Prospects
Mexico used 47 players and four coaches in a turbulent qualifying campaign which left a host of questions unanswered.There is undoubtedly talent within their playing pool, but the 2012 Olympic gold medallists have little time left to find a winning formula.
Key player
Predicting their line-up is pure guesswork at this stage, but Oribe Peralta top scored in qualifying with 10 goals, including five in the play-off against New Zealand.The Santos Laguna striker was an overage player at the 2012 Olympics and scored both goals as Mexico beat Brazil to win gold.
The boss
Miguel Herrera became Mexico's fourth coach in six weeks when he was appointed in October to take charge for the play-off against New Zealand.Nicknamed "The Louse", he is also the coach of Club America, and boldly opted to call-up only domestic-based players against the All Whites.
How they qualified
By the skin of their teeth. Only a late comeback from the USA against Panama saved El Tri from elimination in the final round of Concacaf qualifiers.That set up a two-legged tie against New Zealand, which they won 9-3 on aggregate.
World Cup record
This will be their 15th appearance - a tally bettered only by Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Italy.Quarter-finalists on home soil in 1970 and 1986, they have bowed out at the last-16 stage in the last five tournaments.
Fifa ranking: 19 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Jose de Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca).Defenders: Miguel Layun (America), Carlos Salcido (Tigres), Paul Aguilar (America), Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (America), Diego Reyes (Porto), Rafael Marquez (Leon).
Midfielders: Miguel Angel Ponce (Toluca), Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon), Luis Montes (Leon), Hector Herrera (Porto), Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), Carlos Pena (Leon).
Forwards: Oribe Peralta (Santos), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal), Raul Jimenez (America), Alan Pulido (Tigres).
CAMEROON
Prospects
It is a long time since Cameroon lived up to their nickname of Indomitable Lions.They have failed to qualify for the last two Africa Cup of Nations amid player friction and discontent with Cameroon's football federation, which was briefly suspended by Fifa last July because of government interference.
The national side is top-heavy with defensive midfielders but lacking in creativity, to the extent that Barcelona's Alex Song has been deployed in an unfamiliar role as playmaker.
Key player
Samuel Eto'o is the captain and a four-time African Footballer of the Year but it is off the field that his influence could be most telling.The Chelsea forward, 33, briefly retired from international football last September in the wake of a dispute with coach Volker Finke, and in the latest fallout with team-mates he then claimed there was a "plot" among them not to pass him the ball in the World Cup play-off against Tunisia.
Samuel Eto'o is playing in his fourth World Cup after 1998, 2002 and 2010
The boss
Little-known German Volker Finke was named in May 2013 as Cameroon's seventh permanent or interim coach in four years.The 66-year-old was in charge at Freiburg for 16 years from 1991, making him the longest-serving manager in German league history.
How they qualified
They received a World Cup lifeline in June 2013 when Fifa awarded them a 3-0 win over Togo, who had fielded a suspended player. Cameroon had lost the match 2-0 but the ruling put them top of their group. They then beat Tunisia 4-1 in their play-off.World Cup record
Brazil will be their seventh World Cup - an African record - but Cameroon have only won one match in four editions since reaching the quarter-finals in 1990.The nadir came in 2010 when they lost all three group matches for the first time.
Fifa ranking: 50 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Charles Itandje (Konyaspor), Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Guingamp), Sammy Ndjock (Fethiyespor), Feudjou Loic (Coton Sport).Defenders: Allan Nyom (Granada), Nounkeu Dany (Besiktas), Cedric Djeugoue (Coton Sport), Aurelien Chedjou (Galatasaray), Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille), Jean-Armel Kana-Biyick (Rennes), Henri Bedimo (Lyon), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (QPR), Gaetang Bong (Olympiakos).
Midfielders: Enoh Eyong (Antalyaspor), Jean Makoun (Rennes), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Stephane Mbia (Sevilla, on loan from QPR), Landry Nguemo (Bordeaux), Alexandre Song (Barcelona), Cedric Loe (Osasuna), Edgar Salli (Lens).
Forwards: Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea), Eric-Maxime Choupo-Moting (Mainz 05), Benjamin Moukandjo (Nancy), Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient), Pierre Achille Webo (Fenerbahce), Mohamadou Idrissou (Kaiserslautern), Fabrice Olinga (Zulte Waregem).
Fixtures
12 June 2014Brazil v Croatia, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 21:00 (ITV)
13 June 2014
Mexico v Cameroon, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 17:00 (ITV)
17 June 2014
Brazil v Mexico, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 20:00 (BBC)
18 June 2014
Cameroon v Croatia, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 23:00 (ITV)
23 June 2014
Cameroon v Brazil, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 21:00 (ITV)
23 June 2014
Croatia v Mexico, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 21:00 (ITV)
Group B
SPAIN (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation: Spain's possession game, coupled with their determination to win the ball quickly when they don't have it, has been wearing down the opposition for over seven years.Spain typically play 4-3-3, with their full-backs attacking like wingers and centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique often joining in play beyond the halfway line. Strikers only tend to enter the box at the last minute for the element of surprise.
Strengths: Spain have a seemingly inexhaustible supply of talented midfielders: Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, Juan Mata, David Silva and Santi Cazorla.
A revitalised Pedro has added extra penetration and goals.
Weaknesses: Goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas has operated predominantly as Real Madrid's cup keeper this season, while there is a lack of quality cover at centre-back.
Then there's the issue of who plays as a striker - none of the candidates have excelled in their auditions so far and the most likely starter, Diego Costa, is struggling with a hamstring injury.
Key player
Playing at centre-back in a team bristling with stars can result in getting overlooked but Spain would truly miss enterprising yet robust defender Sergio Ramos.Capped 115 times at the age of 27, he has started 18 of their last 19 tournament matches and was ever-present during qualifying.
One to watch
Striker Diego Costa chose adopted nation Spain over Brazil, the country of his birth, and can expect a hostile reception from Brazilians if selected.The 25-year-old played twice for Brazil in March 2013 but was able to switch allegiance as neither were competitive fixtures.
The boss
Vicente Del Bosque is aiming to become the first coach in history to win successive World Cups. Add in the 2012 Euros and it makes Real Madrid's decision to sack him after two Champions League wins because they wanted "someone with more emphasis on tactics, strategy and physical preparation" seem a little foolish.How they qualified
The holders emerged unbeaten over their eight matches, with back-to-back home draws against Finland and France a mere blip. They did not trail at any stage of qualification.World Cup record
Spain finally shook off their bridesmaid tag in winning the last World Cup; their previous best had been fourth in Brazil in 1950.Fifa ranking: 1 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Possible starting XI
Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos (both Real Madrid), Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba (both Barcelona), Cesar Azplicueta (Chelsea), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Alberto Moreno (Sevilla).
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas (all Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Ander Iturraspe (Athletic Bilbao), David Silva (Manchester City), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Juan Mata (Manchester United), Jesus Navas (Manchester City).
Forwards: Diego Costa, David Villa (both Atletico Madrid), Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Juventus), Fernando Torres (Chelsea).
NETHERLANDS
Prospects
As ever with the Dutch at a major tournament, it is difficult to predict how they will fare. The 2010 World Cup finalists went unbeaten in 2013, scoring goals for fun, but that achievement is less impressive when you look at who they faced. Is a front four of Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart at its peak - or a fading force?Key player
Arjen Robben has given a series of coruscating displays for Bayern Munich over the last couple of seasons, including scoring the winner in the 2013 Champions League final. Let's not forget Robin van Persie, who scored 11 goals in nine qualifiers to overtake Patrick Kluivert as the Netherlands' all-time record scorer.
The boss
New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has won league titles with Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AZ Alkmaar. Appointed as Netherlands boss in 2012, he has Danny Blind and Patrick Kluivert, who won the Champions League at Ajax under him, on his coaching staff.How they qualified
They won nine of their 10 matches and scored 34 goals, with only a 2-2 draw against Estonia denying them a perfect record. That said, few countries had easier opposition - none of their opponents were ranked in Fifa's top 30.World Cup record
The Dutch suffered World Cup final heartbreak for a third time in 2010 when they lost to Spain, adding to the defeats their great teams suffered in 1974 and 1978. Brazil will be their 10th World Cup finals.Fifa ranking: 15 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Tim Krul (Newcastle), Michel Vorm (Swansea), Jeroen Zoet (PSV Eindhoven).Defenders: Daley Blind, Joel Veltman (both Ajax), Stefan de Vrij, Daryl Janmaat, Terence Kongolo, Bruno Martins Indi, Tonny Vilhena (all Feyenoord), Karim Rekik (PSV Eindhoven, on loan from Manchester City), Patrick van Aanholt (Vitesse Arnhem, on loan from Chelsea), Paul Verhaegh (FC Augsburg), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa).
Midfielders: Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Jonathan de Guzman (Swansea), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Leroy Fer (Norwich), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV Eindhoven).
Forwards: Jean-Paul Boetius (Feyenoord), Memphis Depay (PSV Eindhoven), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Quincy Promes (Twente), Robin van Persie (Manchester United).
CHILE
Prospects
New coach Jorge Sampaoli has brought a swagger back to Chile's football, combining aggressive pressing with a fluent passing game. Fun to watch, tough to play against, La Roja have the potential to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history - if their best 11 stay fit.Key player
Lightning quick Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez, 25, hit a rich vein of goalscoring form for club and country over the course of the season. Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal is equally indispensable, although the 27-year-old has recently had surgery on his knee.The boss
Jorge Sampaoli replaced Claudio Borghi midway through qualifying, quickly reviving Chilean fortunes. A self-confessed disciple of fellow Argentine Marcelo Bielsa (who led Chile in 2010) he is a passionate, energetic touchline presence. Early in his career he was blocked from watching his lower league team play, so climbed a nearby tree, from where he bawled instructions at his players.How they qualified
They finished third in South American qualifying despite a mid-campaign wobble which saw them lose four games in a row. A change in coach halted the slump, and they recovered to win five of their last six games.World Cup record
This is only the third time they have qualified in eight tournaments, but they did reach the last 16 in 1998 and 2010 - losing to Brazil on both occasions. They got to the semi-finals on home soil in 1962, again losing to the Brazilians.Fifa ranking: 13 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Johnny Herrera (Universidad de Chile), Cristopher Toselli (Universidad Catolica), Paulo Garces (O'Higgins).Defenders: Gary Medel (Cardiff City), Gonzalo Jara (Nottingham Forest), Marcos Gonzalez (Union Espanola), Enzo Andia (Universidad Catolica), Jose Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Eugenio Mena (Santos), Mauricio Isla (Juventus).
Midfielders: Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras), Felipe Gutierrez (Twente), Rodrigo Millar (Atlas), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Pablo Hernandez (O'Higgins), Matias Fernandez (Fiorentina), Francisco Silva (Osasuna), Arturo Vidal (Juventus), Charles Aranguiz (Internacional), Marcelo Diaz (Basel), Carlos Carmona (Atalanta), Miiko Albornoz (Malmo).
Forwards: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Eduardo Vargas (Valencia), Gustavo Canales (Union Espanola), Jean Beausejour (Wigan Athletic), Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari), Fabian Orellana (Celta).
AUSTRALIA
Prospects
Australia are the lowest ranked country to qualify, and the remit for new coach Ange Postecoglou is to bring through the youth. His predecessor Holger Osieck was sacked in October after back-to-back 6-0 defeats by Brazil and France, having been accused of staying too loyal to the Socceroos' ageing players.Key player
Australia's player of the year and newly appointed captain, Mile Jedinak, will have to play a vital role as chief midfield protector if the Socceroos are to enjoy a fruitful World Cup. In the prime of his career, the Crystal Palace skipper can also play in defence.The boss
Ange Postecoglou stated "when your country calls, you answer" after signing a five-year deal. As a player, Greek-born Postecoglou won four Australia caps. He is a former national youth-team coach and led Brisbane Roar to two A-League titles. He has forged a reputation for starting and reviving numerous careers.How they qualified
Now firmly established as an Asian Football Federation member, the Socceroos qualified automatically behind Japan but their passage to Brazil was not easy. Winless in their first three matches, they went unbeaten over the last five and secured their place seven minutes from time in the final game against Iraq.World Cup record
They have reached their third successive finals, and their fourth in total. Under Guus Hiddink, they reached the last 16 in 2006 but lost in stoppage time to eventual winners Italy.Fifa ranking: 59 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Mark Birighitti (Newcastle Jets), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge).Defenders: Jason Davidson (Heracles Almelo), Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Curtis Good (Dundee United, on loan from Newcastle), Ryan McGowan (Shandong Luneng Taishan), Matthew Spiranovic (Western Sydney Wanderers), Alex Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow), Bailey Wright (Preston North End).
Midfielders: Oliver Bozanic (Luzern), Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), Joshua Brillante (Newcastle Jets), James Holland (Austria Vienna), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Massimo Luongo (Swindon Town), Matthew McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Tommy Oar (Utrecht), Tommy Rogic (Melbourne Victory), Adam Sarota (Utrecht), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory), Dario Vidosic (Sion).
Forwards: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus 8), Matthew Leckie (FSV Frankfurt 1899), Adam Taggart (Newcastle Jets).
Fixtures
13 June 2014Spain v Netherlands, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 20:00 (BBC)
13 June 2014
Chile v Australia, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 23:00 (ITV)
18 June 2014
Spain v Chile, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 20:00 (BBC)
18 June 2014
Australia v Netherlands, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 17:00 (ITV)
23 June 2014
Australia v Spain, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 17:00 (ITV)
23 June 2014
Netherlands v Chile, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 17:00 (ITV)
Group C
COLOMBIA (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation: Coach Jose Pekerman is a tactical chameleon who favours attack-minded variations on 4-4-2, 4-2-2-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations.Napoli pair Juan Zuniga and Pablo Armero, who ended the season on loan at West Ham, provide width as adventurous full-backs, with Fiorentina's Juan Cuadrado and Monaco's James Rodriguez the key creative influences. Rodriguez plays his club football alongside striker Radamel Falcao, and the duo have a deadly understanding.
Strengths: The squad is top-heavy with attacking talent playing for leading European clubs - so much so that Porto's Jackson Martinez and Inter Milan's Fredy Guarin struggle to get a game.
Conditions in Brazil may also suit them. They played qualifiers in the sweltering Caribbean port of Barranquilla, opting for mid-afternoon kick-offs in the belief rivals would wilt in the heat.
Weaknesses: The potential absence through injury of Radamel Falcao would be a huge blow - he scored a third of their qualifying goals. Falcao's usual partner, River Plate's Teofilo Gutierrez, has questionable pedigree, so Jackson Martinez is the best alternative to lead the line.
And while Colombia conceded fewer goals than anyone else in South American qualifying, there is a dilemma at centre-back. Mario Yepes, 38, lacks any pace, but is the captain.
AC Milan's Cristian Zapata, 27, deputised in the 2-0 win in Belgium and 0-0 draw with the Netherlands in November. He may be a better bet in Brazil.
Key player
Radamel Falcao, 28, scored nine times in qualifying and has scored more than 150 goals in five seasons since coming to Europe. He can drift out of games when starved of service, but his predatory instincts are undeniable.The fourth best player in the world, according to FourFourTwo, "El Tigre" made a surprising move to Monaco last summer for a £51m fee, but tore his anterior cruciate ligament in January and is a major doubt for the World Cup.
One to watch
While Radamel Falcao invariably grabs the headlines, it is James Rodriguez, 22, who makes Colombia tick. He has seamlessly adapted to international football since making his debut in 2011. The gifted attacking midfielder cost Monaco £37.5m but was ordered to work harder defensively by boss Claudio Ranieri, before the Italian left the club at the end of the season.The boss
Carlos Valderrama says Jose Pekerman, the Cafeteros' first foreign coach for over 30 years, has given Colombian football its identity back - a sense of adventure, fun and source of national pride.The Argentine replaced Leonel Alvarez after Colombia made a stuttering start to qualifying for Brazil. He led his native country to the last eight of the 2006 World Cup.
How they qualified
Fairly comfortably, finishing a close second to Argentina. Their haul of 30 points from 16 games represents their best ever return. Outstanding performances included a 4-0 win at home to Uruguay and a 3-1 win in Chile, plus a gritty goalless draw in Argentina.World Cup record
In four campaigns they've reached the last 16 only once, losing to Cameroon in 1990.Painful memories still linger from USA 94; defender Andres Escobar was murdered in his hometown of Medellin after scoring a crucial own goal at the tournament.
Fifa ranking: 5 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Possible starting XI
Defenders: Mario Yepes (AC Milan), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), Pablo Armero (West Ham, on loan from Napoli), Camilo Zuniga (Napoli), Aquivaldo Mosquera (Club America), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Luis Amaranto Perea (Cruz Azul), Eder Alvarez Balanta (River Plate), Carlos Valdes (San Lorenzo).
Midfielders: Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan), Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina), Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari), James Rodriguez (Monaco), Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto), Carlos Sanchez (Elche), Macnelly Torres (Al Shabab), Aldo Leao Ramirez (Morelia), Edwin Valencia (Fluminense), Alexander Mejia (Atletico Nacional), Elkin Soto (Mainz).
Forwards: Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Luis Fernando Muriel (Udinese), Jackson Martinez (Porto), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate).
IVORY COAST
Prospects
The Ivorians' golden generation now has a distinctly greyish tinge, and this tournament is set to be the last of Didier Drogba's international career. Their talented squad has flattered to deceive, with their failure to win at least one Africa Cup of Nations particularly mystifying.Key player
Manchester City powerhouse Yaya Toure scored four times in six qualifiers, a tally bettered only by Lille forward Salomon Kalou.
Yaya Toure and Kalou were the Ivorians' top scorers in qualifying
The boss
The appointment of Sabri Lamouchi in May 2012 was hugely controversial. A France international who played at Euro 1996, he had no previous coaching experience. He dropped Didier Drogba after a disappointing 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, but recalled the veteran striker last August.How they qualified
Along with Nigeria, they were the only African side to end unbeaten. They easily topped their preliminary group ahead of Morocco before winning a play-off against Senegal 4-2 on aggregate. There were some nervy moments when they trailed 1-0 in the second leg in Casablanca, but Salomon Kalou's injury-time equaliser booked their place in Brazil.World Cup record
They were drawn in the "Group of Death" in their two previous tournaments. On both occasions they ended third, trailing Argentina and the Netherlands in 2006 and Brazil and Portugal in 2010.Fifa ranking: 21 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Sylvain Gbohouo (Sewe Sport), Ali Sangare Badra (Asec Mimosas), Sayouba Sande (Stabaek).Defenders: Kolo Toure (Liverpool), Sol Bamba (Trabzonspor), Didier Zokora (Trabzonspor), Serge Aurier (Toulouse), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes), Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba (Caykur Rizespor), Constant Djakpa (Frankfurt), Brice Dja Djedje (Marseille), Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro (Toulouse).
Midfielders: Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Cheick Tiote (Newcastle), Serey Die (Basel), Max Gradel (Saint Etienne), Diomande Ismael (Saint Etienne), Didier Ya Konan (Hannover), Mathis Bolly (Dusseldorf).
Forwards: Gervinho (Roma), Didier Drogba (Galatasaray), Salomon Kalou (Lille), Wilfried Bony (Swansea), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow), Lacina Traore (Everton, on loan from Monaco), Giovanni Sio (Basel).
GREECE
Prospects
Greece conceded four times in their qualifying group, a record bettered only by Spain. They are not the most thrilling team, but they do get the most out of limited resources. The bookies rate them as Europe's weakest side in Brazil but it is worth recalling they upset Russia to reach the quarter-finals at Euro 2012.Key player
Target man Konstantinos Mitroglou has endured a miserable second half to the season at Fulham after a stunning run prior to Christmas. A persistent knee injury has limited the striker to only one Premier League start since joining the Cottagers in January. Before that, he scored three goals in two play-off matches against Romania and a hat-trick for Olympiakos at Anderlecht, making him the first Greek to score a Champions League treble.The boss
Portuguese coach Fernando Santos took over in 2010, but admits the legacy of predecessor Otto Rehhagel, under whom Greece won Euro 2004, remains "an identity that is not easy to change. We've tried to play a different way [but] then we slipped back into our comfort zone, our defensive strength".How they qualified
Greece finished as runners-up to Bosnia-Hercegovina in Group G but were seeded for the play-offs, and beat Romania 4-2 on aggregate, thanks largely to Mitroglou.World Cup record
Their two previous campaigns (1994 and 2010) ended at the group stage.They did at least claim their first victory in South Africa, beating Nigeria, but bowed out following defeat by Argentina in Rehhagel's final game in charge.
Fifa ranking: 10 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Orestis Karnezis (Granada), Panagiotis Glykos (PAOK), Stefanos Kapino (Panathinaikos).Defenders: Kostas Manolas, Giannis Maniatis, Jose Holebas (all Olympiakos), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Borussia Dortmund), Giorgios Tzavellas (PAOK), Loukas Vyntra (Levante), Vasilis Torosidis (Roma), Vangelis Moras (Verona).
Midfielders: Alexandros Tziolis (Kayserispor), Andreas Samaris (Olympiakos), Kostas Katsouranis (PAOK), Giorgos Karagounis (Fulham), Panagiotis Tachtsidis (Torino), Ioannis Fetfatzidis (Genoa), Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Bologna), Panagiotis Kone (Bologna).
Forwards: Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK), Giorgios Samaras (Celtic), Kostas Mitroglou (Fulham), Theofanis Gekas (Konyaspor).
JAPAN
Prospects
Expect the unexpected from the technically gifted yet defensively susceptible Asian champions. They breezed through qualifying but exited the Confederations Cup with three defeats. Losses to Serbia and Belarus then led to calls to sack coach Alberto Zaccheroni. November's draw in the Netherlands and a win in Belgium have revived hopes that Japan could yet be a surprise package.Key player
Keisuke Honda, 27, is Japan's talisman, with Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki the rising stars. Attacking midfielder Honda, who joined AC Milan from CSKA Moscow in January, can drag his team-mates to another level if in the mood.The boss
Alberto Zaccheroni is Japan's sixth foreign head coach. The Italian, appointed in August 2010, has set about garnering a closer relationship between the Japanese national team and European football to further the Blue Samurai's footballing education. He led AC Milan to the Serie A title in 1999.How they qualified
Japan were the first country to qualify for the 2014 finals, doing so in early June 2013. They achieved the most points (17) and top scored (16 goals) in Asia's final qualifying group stage.World Cup record
Japan made their debut in 1998 and will be appearing at their fifth straight World Cup finals. They have twice reached the last 16, first doing so on home soil in 2002 when beaten by eventual third-placed team Turkey.Fifa ranking: 47 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo).Defenders: Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo), Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04), Hiroki Sakai (Hannover 96), Gotoku Sakai (VfB Stuttgart).
Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Keisuke Honda (AC Milan), Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United), Makoto Hasebe (FC Nuremberg), Hiroshi Kiyotake (FC Nuremberg), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Manabu Saito (Yokohama F. Marinos).
Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Mainz), Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka), Yuya Osako (TSV Munich 1860), Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale).
Fixtures
14 June 2014Colombia v Greece, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00 (BBC)
15 June 2014
Ivory Coast v Japan, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 02:00 (ITV)
19 June 2014
Colombia v Ivory Coast, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00 (BBC)
19 June 2014
Japan v Greece, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 23:00 (BBC)
24 June 2014
Japan v Colombia, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 21:00 (BBC)
24 June 2014
Greece v Ivory Coast, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 21:00 (BBC)
Group D
URUGUAY (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation: As qualifying went on, coach Oscar Tabarez settled on a pragmatic 4-4-2. The industrious Edinson Cavani leads the line, with Luis Suarez given licence to roam.Tabarez, however, is not afraid to switch formations, doing so in away matches and during the Confederations Cup to counteract the opposition, including playing 3-5-2 and 4-3-3. Expect him to vary it up in Brazil.
Strengths: In Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and the evergreen Diego Forlan, Uruguay possess magnificent striking options.
Oscar Tabarez has also reintroduced the Uruguayan characteristic 'garra' - an inner belief that they are tougher than their opponent, both technically and mentally.
Weaknesses: An ageing Uruguay defence conceded 25 goals in qualifying (16 away). Experienced centre-back pairing Diego Godin and captain Diego Lugano can have their lack of pace exposed and are prone to committing fouls once beaten.
Uruguay could do with Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates to return fit and well from his anterior cruciate injury and recapture the excellent form he showed at the 2011 Copa America.
Key player
Luis Suarez, 26, is Uruguay's all-time leading scorer with 39 goals in 76 caps; he beat Diego Forlan's previous record during last year's Confederations Cup. The Liverpool forward's pace, fleet-footedness, power and control make him one of the game's most potent strikers. He may have scored three goals at the 2010 World Cup but his handball on the line in the quarter-final against Ghana is the abiding memory of him from South Africa.He is a doubt to start the World Cup after picking up a knee injury.
One to watch
Attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, 25, has been reinvigorated at Brazilian club Botafogo and is back in the international fold. The youngest member of Uruguay's 2010 World Cup squad was sent off just 18 minutes into a substitute appearance in Le Celeste's group opener and later fractured his foot against Ghana.The boss
Oscar Tabarez demands more respect than most in Uruguay. The former teacher has revamped the youth set-up, led them to fourth at the World Cup and won a Copa America during his second spell.World Cup record
Winners of the inaugural World Cup on home soil in 1930, they also lifted the trophy in 1950 - the only other time Brazil have hosted the tournament. Uruguay have also finished fourth on three occasions: 1954, 1970 and 2010.Record v England
They have never lost to England at a World Cup, winning 4-2 in a 1954 quarter-final and drawing 0-0 in the group stage of England's successful 1966 campaign. Overall, they have won four and drawn three of 10 meetings but lost the most recent encounter 2-1 at Anfield in a 2006 friendly.Fifa ranking: 6 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Possible starting XI
Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Diego Lugano (West Bromwich Albion), Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez (both Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Liverpool), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Jorge Fucile (Porto).
Midfielders: Alejandro Silva (Lanus), Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio), Alvaro Pereira (Sao Paulo), Walter Gargano (Parma), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Morelia), Diego Perez (Bologna), Sebastian Eguren (Palmeiras), Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Gaston Ramirez (Southampton), Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo).
Forwards: Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Abel Hernandez (Palermo), Diego Forlan (Cerezo Osaka), Christian Stuani (Espanyol).
COSTA RICA
Prospects
Arguably the most talented Costa Rica squad ever assembled for a World Cup, they can consider themselves unlucky to have been drawn in Group D. There's a smattering of talent within a squad that will battle for each other but heads could drop if they go a goal down.The loss of Everton full-back Bryan Oviedo to a broken leg is a huge blow to their chances.
Key player
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas has already reached a half century of caps at the age of 26 and he kept seven clean sheets in 14 qualifying matches. He is now first choice for Levante in Spain's top flight, with bigger clubs taking an interest.The boss
It is a second spell in charge for Colombian Jorge Luis Pinto, who was fired during qualifying for the 2006 World Cup. He has given Costa Rica an identity, given them confidence and made them difficult to break down. He has worked hard to make it to a World Cup finals and despite being drawn in a group of death will be optimistic of enhancing his reputation, particularly in Latin America.How they qualified
They finished comfortably as runners-up in the final group stage, with their five wins all coming at home. They only conceded seven goals in the final phase, fewer than any other team.World Cup record
They made a winning World Cup debut against Scotland in 1990, going on to reach the last 16. Group exits have followed in 2002 and 2006.Record v England
The two national teams have never previously met.Fifa ranking: 34 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Levante), Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense) Daniel Cambronero (Herediano), Esteban Alvarado (AZ Alkmaar).Defenders: Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Columbus Crew), Michael Umana (Saprissa), Oscar Duarte (Bruges), Waylon Francis (Columbus Crew), Heiner Mora (Saprissa), Junior Diaz (Mainz 05), Christian Gamboa (Rosenborg), Roy Miller (New York Red Bulls), Kendall Waston (Saprissa).
Midfielders: Celso Borges (AIK), Christian Bolanos (Copenhagen), Esteban Granados (Herediano), Michael Barrantes (Aalesund), Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa), Diego Calvo (Valerenga), Jose Miguel Cubero (Herediano) Carlos Hernandez (Wellington Phoenix), Ariel Rodriguez (Alajuelense), Hansell Arauz (Saprissa).
Forwards: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake), Bryan Ruiz (PSV Eindhoven, on loan from Fulham), Joel Campbell (Olympiakos, on loan from Arsenal), Randall Brenes (Cartagines), Marco Urena (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew).
ENGLAND
Prospects
For once England arrive at a major tournament with little expectation. The ride has been uncomfortable at times, a little out of control and the engine prone to overheating. Then again it might just be a decent run-out, with more fuel in the tank than expected because of low mileage and plenty of scenery to enjoy along the way.Led by Roy Hodgson, the first English coach to lead England in a World Cup for 16 years, there is pressure on the Three Lions to at least continue proud traditions. Only twice before have they failed to make it out the group stage of a World Cup, in 1950 and 1958, the former of which was held in Brazil.
Wayne Rooney has scored just one goal for England in a tournament since his breakthrough Euro 2004 campaign
Key player
This will be Wayne Rooney's third World Cup and he admits the previous two have been far from successful. Nonetheless, seven goals in six qualifiers helped him nudge ever closer to Sir Bobby Charlton's England record of 49. England will need him at the top of his game - and to keep his cool - in Brazil.The boss
Roy Hodgson, 66, lost just one of his first 22 matches in charge prior to friendly defeats by Chile and Germany. This is the fourth national side he has managed after Switzerland, who he took to the last 16 at the 1994 World Cup, Finland and the United Arab Emirates. England's 13th permanent manager was appointed in May 2012.How they qualified
England finished their qualifying campaign unbeaten and conceded just four goals. However, they left it to the last game to secure their ticket to Brazil, despite their opposition not being the strongest. Laboured draws against Ukraine, Poland and Montenegro were a tough watch.World Cup record
Since victory in 1966, England have reached just one semi-final - in 1990. Their capitulation against Germany in 2010 was symptomatic of their struggles when pitted against top-class teams. And don't talk about penalties…Fifa ranking: 11 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson (both Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).
ITALY
Prospects
Cesare Prandelli's Italy know how to make it to the latter stages of tournaments; runners-up at Euro 2012, third-place at the Confederations Cup. They may not be seeded but they are in all but name.A possession-based team, Prandelli has selected an array of strikers to win games for him off the bench. The Azzurri's defence is based around Juventus's mean back-line, with the majestic pass-master Andrea Pirlo pulling the strings just in front of them. There is also a smattering of youth for the future.
Key player
AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli, 23, heads to the World Cup as a maturing performer. He inspired Italy to the Euro 2012 final, scoring twice in the semi-final against Germany, and top scored in qualifying with five goals. Balotelli has managed 12 goals in 29 appearances - and Italy have never lost when he has scored.
The boss
Cesare Prandelli is well respected by all in Italian football. Tactically astute, he has hard-line views on behaviour, both on and off the pitch, and has spoken about banning social media in the camp. Despite this, even Balotelli is on his side.He signed a new two-year contract in March and if he sees out the contract would become the longest-serving Italian coach since Enzo Bearzot (1975-86), the man who led the Azzurri to 1982 World Cup glory. The Italian Football Federation hasfaith that Prandelli can repeat the feat.
How they qualified
Arguably too easily. Italy qualified with two matches to spare, along with the Netherlands becoming the first European nation to book their place. Prandelli experimented for the final two matches - both games were drawn, crucial ranking points were dropped, and Italy's seeding hopes dashed.World Cup record
Italy are four-time world champions (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006); only Brazil (five wins) have won more. The two-time runners up have reached eight semi-finals in 19 previous World Cups. However, the Azzurri went home without a win to their name when defending champions four years ago.Record v England
Italy have taken the spoils when it's mattered most in tournament football, winning their Euro 2012 quarter-final on penalties and the third-place play-off at the 1990 World Cup. The overall record is tight, with Italy ahead by nine wins to eight, with seven draws.Fifa ranking: 9 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St-Germain), Mattia Perin (Genoa).Defenders : Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorigo Chiellini (all Juventus), Gabriel Paletta (Parma), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan), Ignazio Abate, Mattia De Sciglio (both AC Milan), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina).
Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio (both Juventus), Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti (both Paris St-Germain), Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Marco Parolo (Parma), Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Romulo (Verona).
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina), Mattia Destro (AS Roma), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli).
Fixtures
14 June 2014Uruguay v Costa Rica, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 20:00 (ITV)
14 June 2014
England v Italy, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 23:00 (BBC)
19 June 2014
Uruguay v England , Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 20:00 (ITV)
20 June 2014
Italy v Costa Rica, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 17:00 (BBC)
24 June 2014
Italy v Uruguay, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 17:00 (ITV)
24 June 2014
Costa Rica v England, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00 (ITV)
Group E
SWITZERLAND (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation: Switzerland's perfectly-timed rise to become one of the seeded nations for the World Cup is founded on a resilient defence, with two central midfielders shielding the back four.Nonetheless, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has responded to previous criticism of his defensive tactics and rigid 4-4-2 formation by integrating creative young players into a 4-2-3-1 line-up well suited to a counter-attacking approach.
"This is a team that doesn't hide," says Hitzfeld. "We are willing to take risks."
The Swiss also have several talented youngsters coming through from the sides that won the Under-17 World Cup in 2007 and reached the final at the 2011 European Under-21 Championship.
Weaknesses: Ottmar Hitzfeld admits his side are profligate in front of goal. Retired all-time top scorer Alexander Frei has not been adequately replaced, with defender Fabian Schar scoring the most goals in qualifying (three).
Key player
Kosovo-born midfielders Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri followed a similar path from Basel to the Bundesliga in 2012 but it is Xhaka, 21, who has made the breakthrough this season as a regular with Borussia Monchengladbach. Formerly a winger, he now plays in central midfield and has been compared in style and talent to Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger by Ottmar Hitzfeld, who has coached them both.One to watch
Striker Haris Seferovic, 22, scored the goal that won the Under-17 World Cup for Switzerland four years ago. He graduated to the senior national side in March 2013, came off the bench to score a last-minute winner against Cyprus in June of that year and started the last four World Cup qualifiers. He joined Real Sociedad last summer, hoping to kickstart his club career after a largely lean time in Italy.The boss
Ottmar Hitzfeld will retire following the World Cup, six years after taking charge. The 65-year-old German has infused the team with youth since the failure to qualify for Euro 2012. He is one of only four coaches to win the European Cup with two clubs: Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Bayern Munich in 2001.How they qualified
Switzerland qualified with a match to spare for the first time, finishing unbeaten in a relatively weak group and keeping clean sheets in seven of their 10 matches.World Cup record
The Swiss have reached three quarter-finals, but none since hosting the tournament in 1954.In 2010, they failed to get out of their group despite an opening 1-0 win over champions Spain.
Fifa ranking: 8 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Possible starting XI
Defenders: Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Michael Lang (Grasshopper), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schaer (Basel), Philippe Senderos (Valencia), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys), Reto Ziegler (Sassuolo).
Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Eintracht Frankfurt), Valon Behrami (Napoli), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Gelson Fernandes (Freiburg), Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich), Valentin Stocker (Basel).
Forwards: Josip Drmic (Nuremberg), Mario Gavranovic (Zurich), Admir Mehmedi (Freiburg), Haris Seferovic (Real Sociedad), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach).
ECUADOR
Prospects
There's no doubting Ecuador have talented attacking players but there is a paucity of top-class defenders. Their results away from Quito, the altitude sickness-inducing capital, do not bode well either. They only dropped two points at home, against Argentina, but failed to win a single away qualifier, taking just three points from those eight games.Key player
Mexico-based left winger Jefferson Montero can be unplayable. He scored three goals during the qualifying campaign and attracted interest last summer from a host of Premier League clubs, with Cardiff making a failed bid.The boss
Colombian Reinaldo Rueda only played at amateur level but he has the Midas touch as an international coach. He built an excellent reputation with Colombia's youth teams and senior side before guiding unheralded Honduras to the 2010 World Cup, for which he was granted citizenship of the Central American country. Ecuador's Sports Minister has recently suggested a similar honour.How they qualified
Ecuador were second in the South American standings after 10 matches but only won one of their last six matches. Crucially, that victory in the penultimate fixture was against nearest rivals Uruguay to all but secure the last automatic qualifying spot. Coach Reinaldo Rueda dedicated the achievement to key forward Christian Benitez, who died suddenly last July from heart failure.World Cup record
Ecuador's first World Cup was 2002, when they finished bottom of their group. Four years later, they won two group games but lost to England in the last 16.Fifa ranking: 28 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Maximo Banguera (Barcelona SC), Alexander Dominguez (LDU Quito), Adrian Bone (El Nacional).Defenders: Frickson Erazo (Flamengo), Jorge Guagua, Jhon Narvaez, Oscar Bagui, Gabriel Achilier (all Emelec), Walter Ayovi (Pachuca), Juan Carlos Paredes (Barcelona SC), Cristian Ramirez (Fortuna Duesseldorf).
Midfielders: Segundo Castillo (Al-Hilal), Carlos Gruezo (Stuttgart), Renato Ibarra (Vitesse Arnhem), Cristian Noboa (Dynamo Moscow), Pedro Quinonez (Emelec), Luis Saritama (Barcelona SC), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United), Edison Mendez (Independiente Santa Fe), Fidel Martinez (Tijuana), Oswaldo Minda (Chivas USA), Michael Arroyo (Atlante).
Forwards: Felipe Caicedo (Al-Jazira), Jefferson Montero (Morelia), Joao Rojas (Cruz Azul), Armando Wila (Universidad Catolica, Ecuador), Jaime Ayovi (Tijuana), Enner Valencia (Pachuca), Cristian Penilla (Barcelona SC), Angel Mena (Emelec).
FRANCE
Prospects
At the last four World Cups they've either failed to win a game (2002, 2010) or reached the final (1998, 2006). That Jekyll and Hyde streak remains. Daily sports newspaper L'Equipe asked "is this the worst French team in history?" after a first leg defeat in their play-off with Ukraine. The headline which then followed a rousing second-leg comeback read simply: "Respect."Key player
Paul Pogba, 21, has established himself as one of Europe's finest midfielders since joining Juventus, combining athleticism, skill and goal threat. Quite why former manager Sir Alex Ferguson gave him so few chances at Manchester United is increasingly a mystery.
The boss
Ex-Monaco, Juventus and Marseille boss Didier Deschamps took over in 2012, and recently extended his contract until 2016. Dubbed "the water carrier" during his playing days, he captained France to victory at the 1998 World Cup.How they qualified
They became the first European side to overturn a two-goal deficit in the play-offs, beating Ukraine with an impressive 3-0 home win - albeit benefiting from an offside goal from striker Karim Benzema. Prior to that second leg, 84% of French fans had predicted failure. France went into the play-offs after finishing three points behind Spain in their group.World Cup record
Winners in 1998, runners-up in 2006 and semi-finalists in 1958, 1982 and 1986, their best performances have tended to come close to home. Only once have they reached the knockout stage outside of Europe - that was at Mexico 86.Fifa ranking: 16 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Mickael Landreau (Bastia).Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle), Lucas Digne (Paris St-Germain) Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna (both Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi (both Paris St-Germain), Clement Grenier (Lyon), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).
Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Loic Remy (Newcastle, on loan from QPR), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich).
HONDURAS
Prospects
The Hondurans have qualified for back-to-back World Cups for the first time in their history but it would be a major shock if they avoid an early exit. The squad lacks real pedigree, and they are one of the tournament's outsiders. Their lack of technical ability could be partly compensated for by familiarity with the hot and humid conditions expected in parts of Brazil.Key player
Strike duo Carlo Costly and Jerry Bengtson netted a combined total of 16 qualifying goals, but the former is the most likely starter if Honduras opt for a lone centre-forward.The boss
Colombian coach Luis Fernando Suarez took charge in 2011. As well as overseeing World Cup qualification, he took the Hondurans to the semi-finals of the two most recent Gold Cups and led their Under-23 squad to the quarter-finals of the 2012 Olympics. The 54-year-old has previous World Cup experience, having helped Ecuador reach the last 16 in 2006.How they qualified
They finished third in the final round of qualifying despite keeping just two clean sheets in 10 games. Highlights included 2-1 wins at home to the USA and away to Mexico, before a 2-2 draw in Jamaica sealed qualification.World Cup record
They failed to win a game (D3, L3) in their two previous campaigns (1982 and 2010). While they did not score a goal in South Africa they were not embarrassed in losses to Chile and Spain, and salvaged pride with a draw against Switzerland.Fifa ranking: 30 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares, Donis Escober (both Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real Espana).Defenders: Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), Juan Carlos Garcia (Wigan), Maynor Figueroa (Hull), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes), Osman Chavez (Qingdao Janoon), Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua).
Midfielders: Arnold Peralta (Rangers), Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Roger Espinoza (Wigan), Jorge Claros (Motagua), Wilson Palacios (Stoke), Oscar Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Andy Najar (Anderlecht), Mario Martinez (Real Espana), Marvin Chavez (Chivas USA).
Forwards: Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution), Jerry Palacios (Alajuelense), Carlo Costly (Real Espana), Rony Martinez (Real Sociedad).
Fixtures
15 June 2014Switzerland v Ecuador, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00 (ITV)
15 June 2014
France v Honduras, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 20:00 (BBC)
20 June 2014
Switzerland v France, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 20:00 (ITV)
20 June 2014
Honduras v Ecuador, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 23:00 (ITV)
25 June 2014
Honduras v Switzerland, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 21:00 (BBC)
25 June 2014
Ecuador v France, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 21:00 (BBC)
Group F
ARGENTINA (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation: Argentina often fielded a bold 4-3-3 formation in qualifying, although a more conservative 5-3-2 was deployed for tricky away fixtures.The former system allows Lionel Messi to play as a classic number 10 behind two strikers - typically Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain - who stretch play.
But with Angel Di Maria deployed as part of a midfield three, the formation offers little defensive protection.
Strengths: Los Cuatro Fantasticos - the Fantastic Four of Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi, who would walk into practically any team in the world.
Messi's improved international form suggests that he is ready to make this tournament his own - and strengthen his credentials as the best player of all time.
Weaknesses: Critics feel the team is unbalanced and defensively vulnerable.
Goalkeeper Sergio Romero struggled to get a game for Monaco and had to move to Sampdoria, while left-back Marcos Rojo, of Sporting, and Napoli centre-back Federico Fernandez are inexperienced at the top level.
Key player
Often accused of failing to reproduce his Barcelona form at international level, Lionel Messi had gone 16 competitive matches without scoring prior to the appointment of Alejandro Sabella in 2011. However, the coach's decision to hand Messi, 26, the captaincy has proved inspired - he scored 20 goals in 21 Argentina games between October 2011 and March's 0-0 draw with Romania.One to watch
Angel Di Maria's work-rate and tactical discipline persuaded Real Madrid to sacrifice Mesut Ozil, rather than him, following Gareth Bale's acquisition this summer. The 26-year-old will need those same qualities to give balance to Argentina's left flank.The boss
Alejandro Sabella earned his chance after guiding Estudiantes to victory in the Copa Libertadores. The ex-Sheffield United player was part of Argentina's backroom staff at France 98, and spent much of his coaching career as assistant to Daniel Passarella.How they qualified
Easily. They were the only side to win in Colombia, beat Chile twice, and impressed in home victories against Uruguay (3-0) and Ecuador (4-0). A first ever defeat by Venezuela, home draw with Bolivia and meaningless final-game loss to Uruguay were rare blips.World Cup record
They have twice won the tournament (1978 and 1986) and have finished runners-up on two other occasions.Fifa ranking: 7 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Possible starting XI
Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Jose Basanta (Monterrey), Nicolas Otamendi (Atletico Mineiro).
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Ever Banega (Newell's Old Boys), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Jose Sosa (Atletico Madrid), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys), Enzo Perez (Benfica).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris St-Germain).
BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA
Prospects
It's almost 20 years since the Dayton Agreement brought an end to the three-year war that displaced half the population of Bosnia-Hercegovina. The country remains blighted by ethnic divisions and unemployment of over 25%, yet World Cup qualification offers some hope: "A few years ago you couldn't imagine Bosnian Serbs or Croats supporting the team but that's changed," says coach Safet Susic.Despite being the only World Cup debutants, Bosnia are odds-on with most bookies to reach the last 16 thanks to their attacking firepower and technical ability. Their cavalier tactics in qualifying - a 4-4-2 diamond - yielded 30 goals, 18 from strike duo Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic. While the squad is overflowing with playmakers, it lacks effective ball-winners to screen the defence. Expect them to change formation against Argentina but go for the jugular against Nigeria and Iran.
Edin Dzeko ended the season in fine form for Premier League champions Manchester City
Key player
One of the best players in Serie A this season, Roma's Miralem Pjanic turned down Luxembourg and France to represent the country he left just before war broke out. He's a technically gifted dead-ball specialist capable of spectacular goals, but with veteran Zvjezdan Misimovic in favour as Bosnia's 'number 10', Pjanic operates from deep.The boss
Voted the best player in Paris St-Germain's history, Safet Susic represented Yugoslavia at the 1982 and 1990 World Cups. He says of his cavalier approach: "We know that we expose ourselves too much and that there is a huge risk in the way we play - but that is the price we are willing to pay. In the end, we play to score more goals than the opposition, and it has paid off so far."How they qualified
Beaten in the play-offs by Portugal in their previous two qualifying campaigns, the Bosnians were determined to top their group this time round. They edged out Greece on goal difference following a final-game win in Lithuania.World Cup record
They will be the only debutants at the 2014 World Cup.Fifa ranking: 25 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Asmir Begovic (Stoke City), Asmir Avdukic (Borac Banja Luka), Jasmin Fejzic (VFR Aalen).Defenders: Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen), Toni Sunjic (Zorya Lugansk), Sead Kolasinac (Schalke), Ognjen Vranjes (Elazigspor), Ervin Zukanovic (Gent), Ermin Bicakcic (Eintracht Braunschweig), Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros).
Midfielders: Miralem Pjanic (Roma), Izet Hajrovic (Galatasaray), Mensur Mujdza (Freiburg), Haris Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor), Senad Lulic (Lazio), Anel Hadzic (Sturm), Tino Susic (Hajduk), Sejad Salihovic (Hoffenheim), Zvjezdan Misimovic (Guizhour Renhe), Senijad Ibricic (Erciyesspor), Avdija Vrsaljevic (Hajduk).
Forwards: Vedad Ibisevic (VfB Stuttgart), Edin Dzeko (Manchester City), Edin Visca (Istanbul BB).
IRAN
Prospects
A predominantly domestic-based squad will do well to improve on Iran's World Cup record of one win in nine attempts. They only conceded twice in eight matches during the final qualifying phase but stronger opponents lie ahead.Key player
Midfielder Javad Nekounam, 33, is captain and talisman, but the new golden boy is Reza Ghoochannejhad - Charlton's Iran-born, Dutch-raised forward.The 26-year-old made his international debut last year and scored six goals in as many games in 2013.
The boss
Former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz was sacked as head coach of his native Portugal in 2010, taking charge of Iran the following year. His reward for securing World Cup qualification was a contract extension until after the finals.How they qualified
Having made serene progress in the early stages, Iran's qualifying hopes were in jeopardy after managing just two goals and two wins in their opening five matches of the final group stage. But they ended the campaign with three successive victories, latterly beating South Korea away to top the group.World Cup record
Iran have failed to progress from the group stage in their three appearances (1978, 1998, 2006), with their only win coming against the USA in 1998.Fifa ranking
37 (correct to 6 June)Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Daniel Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig), Alireza Haghighi (Sporting Covilha, on loan from Rubin Kazan), Rahman Ahmadi (Sepahan), Sousha Makani (Foolad Khuzestan).Defenders: Khosro Heidari (Esteghlal), Hossein Mahini (Persepolis), Steven Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps), Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal), Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), Amir Sadeghi (Esteghlal), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Zob Ahan), Ahmad Alenemeh (Naft), Hashem Beikzadeh (Esteghlal), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Mehrdad Pooladi (Persepolis).
Midfielders : Javad Nekounam (Al Kuwait), Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal), Reza Haghighi (Persepolis), Ghasem Hadadifar (Zob Ahan), Bakhtiyar Rahmani (Foolad), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC Nijmegen), Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham).
Forwards: Masoud Shojaei (Las Palmas), Mohammad Reza Khalatbari (Persepolis), Mehdi Sharifi (Sepahan), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton), Karim Ansarifard (Persepolis, on loan at Tractor Sazi), Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan).
NIGERIA
Prospects
After failing to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles have undergone a radical transformation under Steven Keshi, who has sought to lower the average age of the squad. His selection policy, at times controversial, has paid off - this year the Super Eagles won their first African title since 1994. They produced a competent showing at the Confederations Cup, but improvement is needed to reach the knockout stages in 2014.
Key player
Victor Moses has quickly become an integral figure since making his debut in 2012. He provided real cutting edge at this year's Africa Cup of Nations and was sorely missed at the Confederations Cup, for which he was injured.The boss
Stephen Keshi may be reluctant to pack his bags for Brazil just yet. He led Togo to their first World Cup but was sacked a few months before the 2006 tournament. Four years earlier the same fate befell him as Nigeria assistant coach. While he does not fear the sack this time he concedes: "We are talking about Nigeria here, so you never know what may happen."How they qualified
Easily. One of two unbeaten African sides (along with Ivory Coast), they ended five points clear in their group, then beat Ethiopia 4-1 in a play-off.World Cup record
The Super Eagles reached the last 16 in 1994 and 1998 but fell at the first hurdle in their two subsequent tournament appearances (2002 and 2010).Fifa ranking: 44 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United).Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco), Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough, on loan from Chelsea), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod), Joseph Yobo (Norwich, on loan from Fenerbahce), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Ramon Azeez (Almeria), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Joel Obi (Parma), Nnamdi Oduamadi (Varese), Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis), Sunday Mba (Bastia), Reuben Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren), Michael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce); Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona), Peter Odemwingie (Stoke), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge), Victor Moses (Liverpool, on loan from Chelsea), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen).
Fixtures
15 June 2014Argentina v Bosnia-Hercegovina, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 23:00 (BBC)
16 June 2014
Iran v Nigeria, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 20:00 (BBC)
21 June 2014
Argentina v Iran, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00 (ITV)
21 June 2014
Nigeria v Bosnia-Hercegovina, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 23:00 (BBC)
25 June 2014
Nigeria v Argentina, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 17:00 (ITV)
25 June 2014
Bosnia-Hercegovina v Iran, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 17:00 (ITV)
Group G
GERMANY (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation: Blessed with far more flair than many Germany sides of the past, their fluid 4-2-3-1 is underpinned by Bastian Schweinsteiger and the currently injured Sami Khedira anchoring the side from the base of midfield.Ahead of them lies creative fulcrum Mesut Ozil, who is usually flanked by the dangerous Marco Reus and Thomas Muller.
Strengths: They have cover in virtually every position and an extraordinary variety of forward-thinking midfielders. Try picking three from Mesut Ozil, Marco Reus, Thomas Muller, Andre Schurrle, Mario Gotze, Julian Draxler, Toni Kroos and Lukas Podolski.
Weaknesses: German teams traditionally have a reliable defence but the current one has creaked of late and they conceded seven goals in two qualifiers against Sweden. Per Mertesacker is approaching 100 caps but he has a perceived lack of pace and can be vulnerable to balls over the top.
The evergreen Miroslav Klose is just one goal shy of Ronaldo's all-time World Cup finals tally of 15, but he will be 36 by the time the tournament starts and a reliable replacement has yet to be found.
Key player
Philipp Lahm was described by Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola this season as "the most intelligent player I've ever coached". The best right-back in Europe over the last decade has made a seamless transition this season under the Bayern boss into the Sechser (sixer) position in midfield and may well do the same for Germany.One to watch
Earmarked for greatness, Julian Draxler became Schalke's youngest-ever player when he made his debut aged 17 back in 2011. Just over a year later, the gifted playmaker was called up to the preliminary senior squad for Euro 2012. Arsenal are reportedly interested.The boss
At the helm since 2006, Joachim Low signed a new contract until 2016 earlier this year but the pressure is on to win a trophy after some agonising near-misses. His win percentage of 68% is the highest of any Germany manager.How they qualified
Germany breezed through their qualifying group, only dropping points in a bizarre 4-4 draw with Sweden - having led 4-0. They scored 36 times in 10 matches, with seven of their attacking players totalling three goals or more.World Cup record
Germany have reached the final seven times, winning for the third time in 1990.Runners-up in 2002, they were third in 2006 and 2010.
Fifa ranking: 2 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Possible starting XI
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund).
Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).
Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal).
PORTUGAL
Prospects
With Cristiano Ronaldo in your team, the sky's the limit. However, getting out of a very tricky group will be their primary objective before they can start thinking of a potential quarter-final against Argentina. The likes of Pepe and Joao Moutinho give them a strong spine, but they remain without a world-class striker, meaning the goalscoring burden rests with Ronaldo.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo finally bring his club form to the World Cup stage in Brazil?
Key player
Who else but CR7? Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo scored 50 goals in 46 club appearances this season (before the Champions League final) and already has a museum dedicated to him. Debate rages about who is better out of him and Lionel Messi, but in Portugal they now argue over who wins out of Ronaldo and Eusebio.Ronaldo has been poor at previous World Cups, but matching Eusebio's nine-goal haul in 1966 would see those debates go on even longer into the night.
The boss
Paulo Bento was banned for six months after he manhandled officials during a controversial Euro 2000 semi-final with France but he has matured into a top-class coach. Capped 35 times, he has the respect of his players and his greatest triumph has arguably been getting Cristiano Ronaldo, his former team-mate at Sporting Lisbon, to replicate his extraordinary club form on the international stage.Derided in some quarters for so-called negative tactics, he recently had his contract extended to the end of Euro 2016.
How they qualified
They progressed via the play-offs for the second successive World Cup, with Ronaldo's hat-trick against Sweden equalling Pauleta's national record 47-goal tally.They only lost to Russia in their group but finished second after drawing with Northern Ireland and Israel, twice.
World Cup record
Portugal are heading to their sixth World Cup. They came third on their debut in 1966 and were also semi-finalists in 2006. Three years ago, they lost to eventual champions Spain in the last 16.Fifa ranking: 3 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting).Defenders: Andre Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Fabio Coentreo (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valencia).
Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Miguel Veloso (Dinamo Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting).
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Eder (SC Braga), Helder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Nani (Manchester United), Rafa (Braga), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg).
GHANA
Prospects
The Black Stars were fancied to repeat, or even improve on, their run to the quarter-finals in 2010 in Brazil. That was until the draw was made and they were pitted with the world's second and third-ranked sides.
However, confidence is not an issue in the Ghana camp and why should it be? Their team, offensively at least, is packed with experience and world-class talent. Michael Essien's return has been crucial, while Asamoah Gyan's time in the Middle East hasn't blunted his goalscoring touch.
Key player
Michael Essien's return from international exile came just at the right time for Ghana. 'The Bison', who says he sleeps for "up to 12 hours a day" was certainly wide awake during the epic play-off thrashing of Egypt where he reminded everyone just how an effective and tactically adept midfielder he is. He has a special bond with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who says he would play him in any position bar "goalkeeper or striker".The boss
Former Ghana captain James Kwesi Appiah spent four years as assistant with the national side before his promotion. Softly spoken and unassuming, "I'm a coach who doesn't talk that much", the Ghana players have nicknamed him the 'Silent Killer' and he certainly isn't afraid to take on the big names in his dressing room if they step out of line.He wasn't a popular appointment originally, as he wasn't deemed to be high profile enough. He is the first Ghanaian to lead his nation at a World Cup.
How they qualified
Having won their group with five wins out of six, Ghana thrashed Egypt 6-1 in the home leg of their play-off to ensure a 2-1 loss in the return leg was academic.They ended as the top scorers in African qualifying with 25 goals.
World Cup record
In 2010, Ghana seemed certain to become the first African semi-finalists after Uruguay's Luis Suarez was sent off for handling on the line in the dying seconds of extra-time. However, Asamoah Gyan missed the spot-kick and Ghana then lost the penalty shootout.Brazil will be their third successive finals, having first qualified in 2006 when they went on to reach the last 16.
Fifa ranking: 38 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers : Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars).Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege), Harrison Afful (Esperance), Jeffrey Schlupp (Leicester), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian), Jerry Akaminko (Kisehirspor), Rashid Sumalia (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Midfielders: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese), Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Christian Atsu (Vitesse), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan).
Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke 04), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux), David Accam (Helsingborg).
UNITED STATES
Prospects
Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann says the minimum aim is to reach the knockout stage, and a national record 16 wins in 2013 - including against an admittedly depleted Germany - gives cause for confidence.Defence is a concern and then there's the lack of continuity - 37 players were used in qualifying.
Key player
US coach Jurgen Klinsmann scored 11 goals in three World Cups for Germany in the 1990s.
The boss
Since taking over three years ago former Germany player and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has led the US to a series of notable results. These include their first victories away in Italy and in Mexico, a debut win in Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier and a victory over his native Germany.This, plus a record-breaking 12-game winning sequence in 2013, led to his contract being extended to end of the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia. His new deal, signed in December 2013, also gives him the extra title of the US Soccer Federation's technical director.
How they qualified
They recovered from an opening 2-1 defeat by Honduras to finish four points clear at the top of the six-team final group phase, winning all five home matches.World Cup record
The USA will be playing in their 10th World Cup, and seventh in succession.
They were third in 1930 and quarter-finalists in 2002, losing 1-0 to Germany.
Fifa ranking: 14 (correct to 6 June)
Squad
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake).Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders).
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes).
Fixtures
16 June 2014Germany v Portugal, Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 17:00 (ITV)
16 June 2014
Ghana v United States, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 23:00 (BBC)
21 June 2014
Germany v Ghana, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 20:00 (BBC)
22 June 2014
United States v Portugal, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 23:00 (BBC)
26 June 2014
United States v Germany, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 17:00 (BBC)
26 June 2014
Portugal v Ghana, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00 (BBC)
Group H
BELGIUM (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation: Belgium gave a series of controlled and powerful displays throughout qualifying. Disciplined defensively, they are prepared to be patient but look to break with pace.
Manchester United's Marouane
Fellaini and Manchester City's Vincent Kompany are two of 12 (CHECK)
Premier League players in the Belgium squad
Strengths: Their, er, strength for one thing; Belgium are a physically imposing side and seldom outmuscled.
They also have an abundance of versatile attacking players and, crucially, a tight-knit team spirit instilled by coach Marc Wilmots.
Weaknesses: Marc Wilmots has expressed concern that regular starters such as Thomas Vermaelen, Kevin De Bruyne, Nacer Chadli and Marouane Fellaini are suffering from a lack of playing time at club level.
Vincent Kompany's commanding presence in central defence was sorely missed in recent back-to-back friendly defeats at home, while the wide players like to drift infield and do not routinely help out with defensive duties - which can leave the full-backs exposed.
Key player
Chelsea's Eden Hazard, 23, has generally flourished under Marc Wilmots after a previously underwhelming contribution to the national side. A superb technician with an explosive turn of pace, the playmaker is Belgium's key creator.The boss
A celebrated player, and then a less successful politician, Marc Wilmots became national coach in June 2012 after three years as an assistant. His managerial CV was restricted to undistinguished spells at Schalke and Belgian side St Truiden, but he did guide Belgium from 54th to a best-ever fifth in the Fifa rankings.How they qualified
In emphatic fashion, registering a national record seven successive qualifying wins during an unbeaten campaign.World Cup record
Belgium qualified for six straight World Cups from 1982 to 2002, reaching the knockout phase five times and coming fourth in 1986.Fifa ranking: 12 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Possible starting XI
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St Petersburg), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham).
Midfielders: Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele (both Tottenham), Steven Defour (Porto), Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg), Marouane Fellaini, Adnan Januzaj (both Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Divock Origi (Lille), Axel Witsel (Zenit St Petersburg).
Forwards: Romelu Lukaku (Everton, on loan from Chelsea), Dries Mertens (Napoli).
Standby: Sebastien Pocognoli (Hannover), Radia Nainggolan (Roma), Thorgan Hazard (Zulte Waregem, on loan from Chelsea), Guillaume Gillet (Anderlecht), Michy Batshuayi, Jelle Van Damme (both Standard Liege).
ALGERIA
Prospects
Write off Algeria at your peril. No longer World Cup whipping boys, the Desert Foxes are boosted by a stronger professional league, improving standards at grassroots level and an influx of emigre players with Algerian parents or ancestry.Zinedine Zidane, Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri have all previously slipped through Algeria's net. The Greens will be hoping they have turned off that particular tap that has been flowing in the direction of France, and with it enhanced their own standing in world football.
World Cup stars of yesteryear Diego Maradona and Rivaldo, as well as Javier Zanetti, have been queuing up to sing the virtues of the Greens' class of 2014 - the only Arab nation present in Brazil. Maradona predicts Algeria "will cause a surprise", while Rivaldo says "the possibilities of reaching the second round are abundant".
Key player
France-born Sofiane Feghouli, 24, is an attacking midfielder or winger for Valencia who was described by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a year ago as "exceptional" and "a physical beast".The boss
Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic, 61, took charge in July 2011 and the disciplinarian has cast aside several established players in favour of a new generation, many of whom represented France at youth level. Brazil will be his World Cup bow as a coach, having been sacked by Ivory Coast three months before the 2010 finals.How they qualified
Algeria were the last African qualifiers, beating Cup of Nations finalists Burkina Faso 1-0 in the second leg of their play-off to advance on away goals after a 3-2 first-leg defeat. They won all but one game in the previous group stage.
World Cup record
In 1982, Algeria became the first African nation to win two matches in the same finals, but they failed to qualify from the group on goal difference after Germany and Austria contrived a result that allowed them both to progress.Algeria have not won a game in their subsequent two finals (1986 and 2010).
Fifa ranking: 25 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Izzedine Doukha (USM El-Harrach), Rais M'bolhi (CSKA Sofia), Cedric Si Mohamed (CS Constantine), Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (USM Alger).Defenders: Essaid Belkalem (Watford, on loan from Granada), Madjid Bougherra (Lekhwya Club), Liassine Cadamuro (Mallorca), Faouzi Ghoualm (Napoli), Rafik Halliche (Academica Coimbra), Nacereddine Khoualed (USM Alger), Aissa Mandi (Stade Reims), Carl Medjani (Valenciennes), Djamel Mesbah (Livorno), Mehdi Mostefa (AC Ajaccio).
Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham), Ryad Boudebouz (Bastia), Yasine Brahimi (Granada), Adlene Guedioura (Crystal Palace), Amir Karaoui (Entente de Setif), Medhi Lacen (Getafe), Saphir Taider (Inter Milan), Hassan Yebda (Udinese).
Forwards: Abdelmoumene Djabou (Club Africain), Rafik Djebbour (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Olympiakos), Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia), Nabil Ghilas (Porto), Foued Kadir (Rennes), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester), Islam Slimani (Sporting Lisbon), Hilal Soudani (Dinamo Zagreb).
RUSSIA
Prospects
Fabio Capello and Russia work to each other's strengths. Of their potential starters at the World Cup, nine boast 40 caps or more. The miserly back-line predominantly come from CSKA Moscow, while perennial Champions League dark horses Zenit St Petersburg provide the rest of the spine.For the most part, Capello only calls up Russian-based players so he has got to know his squad and their strengths quickly. The midfield is key of them, playing high-tempo, pressing football. Yet their Achilles heel can be when they are subjected to it themselves.
Key player
Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev recently set a national team record by going 12 hours without conceding a goal. Once tipped as a future world star, his career with CSKA Moscow has been held back by two serious knee injuries.
Fabio Capello will face Algeria for a second World Cup in a row, after steering England through a dire 0-0 draw in 2010.
The boss
Former England boss Fabio Capello inherited a side that had been meekly eliminated from Euro 2012. He quickly instilled a greater mental fortitude into the team and dropped fading force Andrey Arshavin. The Italian's authoritarian style divided opinion in England, but has earned approval in Russia - he has been given an extended contract until 2018.
How they qualified
Despite back-to-back defeats by Portugal and Northern Ireland, they edged the former to win Group F by a point. They conceded just five times in 10 games.World Cup record
The USSR were semi-finalists in 1966 and quarter-finalists in 1958, 1962 and 1970. But their achievements since the fall of the Berlin Wall - tame group-stage exits in 1990, 1994 and 2002 - show a footballing superpower in decline.Fifa ranking: 18 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Yury Lodygin (Zenit St Petersburg), Sergey Ryzhikov (Rubin Kazan).Defenders: Alexander Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexey Berezutski (CSKA Moscow), Vasili Berezutski (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Granat (Dynamo Moscow), Andrey Eshchenko (Anzhi Makhachkala), Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Alexey Kozlov (Dynamo Moscow), Dmitry Kombarov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semenov (Terek Grozny), Georgi Schennikov (CSKA Moscow).
Midfielders: Vladimir Bystrov (Anzhi Makhachkala, on loan from Zenit St Petersburg), Yury Gazinskiy (Krasnodar), Denis Glushakov (Spartak Moscow), Igor Denisov (Dynamo Moscow), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Yury Zhirkov (Dynamo Moscow), Alexey Ionov (Dynamo Moscow), Pavel Mogilevets (Rubin Kazan), Alexander Samedov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Victor Faizulin (Zenit St Petersburg), Oleg Shatov (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (Krasnodar).
Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Rostov), Maxim Kanunnikov (Amkar Perm), Alexander Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexander Kokorin (Dynamo Moscow), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading).
SOUTH KOREA
Prospects
When South Korea and Japan were awarded the 2002 World Cup as co-hosts it was with a view to spreading the football gospel. To provide better coaching, facilities and infrastructure not only for both countries but for Asian football as a whole.South Korea certainly embraced the gift given to them by Fifa. Their coach Hong Myung-bo was part of Dutchman Guus Hiddink's fourth-placed finishers at that tournament. Two further Dutch coaches followed, as did several South Korean playing exports to western European club sides.
Once seen as whipping boys, the Taeguk Warriors are anything but these days and are seen as genuine challengers to qualify. This is their eighth consecutive World Cup finals appearance and they have progressed past the group stage in two of the last three editions.
Key player
Playmaker Son Heung-min joined Bayer Leverkusen from Hamburg last summer for a club-record £8.5m fee. He has found goals hard to come by at the BayArena but is still only 21.The boss
Hong Myung-bo is a South Korea hero; captain of their 2002 World Cup squad that finished fourth, he was named by Pele in 2003 as one of the greatest 125 living footballers. He led South Korea to a bronze medal at the London Olympics and was the natural choice to take over a country looking for leadership last summer.He has done so confidently, with a new direction and without fanfare.
How they qualified
They edged Uzbekistan on goal difference to claim the second qualification spot in Asian Group A, ending two points behind Iran. However, laboured performances, including defeat at home to Iran and away to Lebanon, prompted coach Choi Kang-hee to quit at the end of the campaign.World Cup record
They have made group stage exits in six of eight tournaments. They rode their luck to reach the semi-finals on home soil in 2002, and lost to Uruguay in the last 16 in 2010.Fifa ranking: 55 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-ryeong (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-gyu (Ulsan Horang-i), Lee Bum-young (Busan I'Park)Defenders: Kim Jin-soo (Albirex Niigata), Yun Suk-young (QPR), Kim Young-kwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Hwang Seok-ho (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hong Jeong-ho (Augsburg), Kwak Tae-hwi (Al Hilal), Lee Yong (Ulsan Horang-i), Kim Chang-soo (Kashiwa Reysol).
Midfielders: Ki Seung-yueng (Sunderland, on loan from Swansea), Ha Dae-sung (Beijing Guoan), Han Kook-young (Kashiwa Reysol), Park Jung-woo (Guangzhou R&F), Son Heung-min (Bayer Leverkusen), Kim Bo-kyung (Cardiff City), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanderers), Ji Dong-won (Augsburg).
Forwards: Koo Ja-cheol (Mainz), Lee Keun-ho (Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-young (Arsenal), Kim Shin-wook (Ulsan Horang-i).
Fixtures
17 June 2014Belgium v Algeria, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00 (ITV)
17 June 2014
Russia v South Korea, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 23:00 (BBC)
22 June 2014
Belgium v Russia, Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, 17:00 (BBC)
22 June 2014
South Korea v Algeria, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 20:00 (ITV)
26 June 2014
South Korea v Belgium, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 21:00 (ITV)
26 June 2014
Algeria v Russia, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 21:00 (ITV)
Source:bbc.co.uk
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