GROUP A
SOUTH AFRICA
FIFA ranking: 85
Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira
Best: Group Stages (1998, 2002)
Key player: Steven Pienaar (Everton)
A poor side, but their home advantage will lift them, and the loud Vuvuzela trumpets could unnerve their opponents. Benni McCarthy though has been left out of the squad, which is surprising. Consequently, I can't see them sticking around along.
PREDICTION: Group Stages
MEXICO
FIFA ranking: 18
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Best: Quarter-Finals (1970, 1986)
Key player: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona)
Javier Aguirre rescued a team heading for disaster under Sven Goran Eriksson by showing them how to win away from the Azteca. The Mexicans are talented on the ball and could surprise a few people, maybe even themselves.
PREDICTION: Quarter-Finalists
URUGUAY
FIFA ranking: 25
Coach: Oscar Tabarez
Best: Winners (1930, 1950)
Key player: Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid).
They are previous two-time winners, but the last was 80 years ago. They have some quality like Diego Forlan, but not enough to escape the group.
PREDICTION: Group Stages
FRANCE
FIFA ranking: 9
Coach: Raymond Domenech
Best: Winners (1998)
Key player: Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)
People have their opinions on whether they should be at the finals or not, but they are in South Africa, so we have to just get on with it. Under Domenech, the squad has its major divisions, but France reached the 2006 final in similar circumstances. They don't lack talent and look to have solved the goalkeeping issue, with Hugo Lloris very reliable beyond the sticks. Apart from Ribery though, there are no other world class players, and the unrest in the camp, could well be Les Bleus downfall.
PREDICTION: Second Round
GROUP C
ENGLAND
FIFA ranking: 7
Coach: Fabio Capello
Best: Winners (1966)
Key player: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Shrewdly managed with a coterie of quality players led by Rooney, but lacking in-depth and not a settled No,1 goalkeeper between the sticks. The climatic conditions will suit, and should have plenty of support. Just short of a final tilt however.
FIFA ranking: 7
Coach: Fabio Capello
Best: Winners (1966)
Key player: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Shrewdly managed with a coterie of quality players led by Rooney, but lacking in-depth and not a settled No,1 goalkeeper between the sticks. The climatic conditions will suit, and should have plenty of support. Just short of a final tilt however.
PREDICTION: Semi-Finalists (3rd-placed playoff winners)
USA
FIFA ranking: 11
Coach: Bob Bradley
Best: 3rd (1930)
Key player: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
The US are now expected to make the quarter-finals in World Cups and will be lifted by last year's Confederations Cup showing, when they beat Spain and worried Brazil. Always athletic, with good 'keepers, although there are doubts about creativity.
FIFA ranking: 11
Coach: Bob Bradley
Best: 3rd (1930)
Key player: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
The US are now expected to make the quarter-finals in World Cups and will be lifted by last year's Confederations Cup showing, when they beat Spain and worried Brazil. Always athletic, with good 'keepers, although there are doubts about creativity.
PREDICTION: 2nd Round
ALGERIA
FIFA ranking: 29
Coach: Rabah Saadane
Best: Group Stages (1982, 1986)
Key player: Mourad Meghni (Lazio)
Algeria showed enough quality in dispatching their fierce rivals, the African Nations Cup holders Egypt, in the play-off to suggest they could be one of the outsiders to avoid, but they are unlikely to reach heights of defeating West Germany in 1982.
ALGERIA
FIFA ranking: 29
Coach: Rabah Saadane
Best: Group Stages (1982, 1986)
Key player: Mourad Meghni (Lazio)
Algeria showed enough quality in dispatching their fierce rivals, the African Nations Cup holders Egypt, in the play-off to suggest they could be one of the outsiders to avoid, but they are unlikely to reach heights of defeating West Germany in 1982.
PREDICTION: Group Stages
SLOVENIA
FIFA ranking: 49
Coach: Matjaž Kek
Best: Group Stage (2002)
Key player: Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne)
Slovenia are rank outsiders, but they were good enough to surprise Guus Hiddink's Russia over a two-legged play-off and knocked out Poland and the Czech Republic in qualifying. If the US lack confidence, Slovenia could be a wise outside bet for the last sixteen.
FIFA ranking: 49
Coach: Matjaž Kek
Best: Group Stage (2002)
Key player: Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne)
Slovenia are rank outsiders, but they were good enough to surprise Guus Hiddink's Russia over a two-legged play-off and knocked out Poland and the Czech Republic in qualifying. If the US lack confidence, Slovenia could be a wise outside bet for the last sixteen.
PREDICTION: Group Stages
GROUP F
ITALY
FIFA ranking: 4
Coach: Marcello Lippi
Best: Winners (1934, 1938, 1982)
Key player: Andrea Pirlo (Milan)
The last successful defence was by Brazil, in 1962, and the Azzurri look weaker than in they were four years ago in Berlin. But Lippi knows how to win, and he has not been afraid to introduce fresh blood in search of a repeat.
FIFA ranking: 4
Coach: Marcello Lippi
Best: Winners (1934, 1938, 1982)
Key player: Andrea Pirlo (Milan)
The last successful defence was by Brazil, in 1962, and the Azzurri look weaker than in they were four years ago in Berlin. But Lippi knows how to win, and he has not been afraid to introduce fresh blood in search of a repeat.
PREDICTION: Quarter-Finalists
NEW ZEALAND
FIFA ranking: 83
Coach: Ricki Herbert
Best: Group Stages (1982)
Key player: Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn)
Australia's move to the Asian region opened qualifying door for New Zealand, but the All Whites could be embarrassed. It is just an achievement for them to be in South Africa, but they are here to make up the numbers.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
PARAGUAY
FIFA ranking: 21
Coach: Gerardo Martino (Argentinian)
Best: Round 2 (1986, 1998, 2002)
Key player: Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul)
Paraguay eased through the arduous South American qualifying programme with a team built on defence and counter-attacking instinct to reach their fourth successive finals. They could well be a surprise package to look out for.
PREDICTION: Second Round
SLOVAKIA
FIFA ranking: 33
Coach: Vladimír Weiss
Best: Debutants
Key player: Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
Whatever they do in Africa, it will not eclipse beating the Czechs in Prague to qualify for their inaugural tournament.
FIFA ranking: 33
Coach: Vladimír Weiss
Best: Debutants
Key player: Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
Whatever they do in Africa, it will not eclipse beating the Czechs in Prague to qualify for their inaugural tournament.
PREDICTION: Group Stages
GROUP G
BRAZIL
FIFA ranking: 1
Coach: Dunga
Best: Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).
Key player: Kaka (Real Madrid)
Always favoured, but justifiably so this time. Dunga's philosophy may not please the purists but he has built an effective counter-attacking team with plenty of experience - and a sprinkling of magic.
FIFA ranking: 1
Coach: Dunga
Best: Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).
Key player: Kaka (Real Madrid)
Always favoured, but justifiably so this time. Dunga's philosophy may not please the purists but he has built an effective counter-attacking team with plenty of experience - and a sprinkling of magic.
PREDICTION: Runners-Up
NORTH KOREA
FIFA ranking: 91
Coach: Kim Jong-Hun
Best: Quarter-Finals (1966)
Key player: Ahn Young-Hak (Suwon Bluewings)
Political pariah for whom qualifying is a coup. They will not repeat the heroics or popularity of beating Italy in 1966.
PREDICTION: Group Stages
IVORY COAST
FIFA ranking: 19
Coach: Vahid Halihodzic
FIFA ranking: 19
Coach: Vahid Halihodzic
Best: Group Stages (2006)
Key player: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Africa's best team, which will count for something at the continent's first finals. Plenty of European experience and though the focus will be on Drogba, who can worry any defence, they are by no means a one-man team.
PREDICTION: Group Stages
PORTUGAL
FIFA ranking: 10
Coach: Carlos Quieroz
Best: 3rd (1966)
Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Another poorly coached team but scraped though when it mattered. Experienced, quality in most areas, and the adopted Brazilian, Liedson, may solve the perennial goalscoring problem. However their lack of depth will hurt them, come the knockout stages.
PORTUGAL
FIFA ranking: 10
Coach: Carlos Quieroz
Best: 3rd (1966)
Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Another poorly coached team but scraped though when it mattered. Experienced, quality in most areas, and the adopted Brazilian, Liedson, may solve the perennial goalscoring problem. However their lack of depth will hurt them, come the knockout stages.
PREDICTION: Second Round
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