You can’t rule out Germany, and Poland gave England a run for their money in qualifying. Sweden are solid at the back, and Trinidad and Tobago could be the joke side of the tournament. The Netherlands had the best qualification record in Europe this time. Neal Collins looks at the chances of all 32 teams in the Soccer World Cup.
![]()
 Germany
At home, you can’t just rule them out. They were rubbish four years ago and still reached the final! Best player: Chelsea’s new signing and skipper Michael Ballack. If he gets over a troublesome calf, he should prove the dominant force behind the home side’s quest. Fifa ranking: 19.
![]()
 Poland
They gave England a run for their money in qualifying and, after the disappointment of 2002, where they lost to Korea and failed to emerge from an apparently straightforward group, they’re promising sterner stuff closer to home. They will have the loudest, nastiest following of all. Best player: Celtic striker Maciej Zurawski will trouble most defences. Ranking: 29.
![]()
 Costa Rica
Reached the second round in 1990 and were edged out on goal difference four years ago. They get to qualify through the fairly straightforward Caribbean and North and Central America (Concacaf) region, so they make regular appearances. Best player: Rubbery-legged Paulo Wanchope, beloved by fans at Manchester City, West Ham and Derby, is still limping along, despite a wounded knee. Ranking: 26.
![]()
 Ecuador
Their second tilt at the finals comes courtesy of a historic 1-0 win over Brazil in qualifying, but beating Germany or Poland in European conditions may prove an even bigger step. Best player: Ivan Hurtado has a record 128 caps and holds the defence together. Ranking: 39.
![]()
 England
So much hype, so little hope when it comes to penalty shoot-outs. But they do have two 20-goal midfielders in Stevie Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Solid in defence and have the talent of David Beckham and Joe Cole out wide. Best player: John Terry, perhaps the strongest centre-half in the world right now. Ranking: 10.
![]()
 Sweden
Sweden are solid at the back and have Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrick Larsson up front. Best player: Larsson, probably, given his cameo for Barcelona in the Champions League final. This is probably his last hurrah. Ranking: 16.
![]()
 Paraguay
Their seventh World Cup finals, but they’ve never got beyond round two. Don’t expect too much this time around. Best player: Roque Santa Cruz did well for Bayern Munich, but has knee problems. Ranking: 33.
![]()
 Trinidad and Tobago
Could be the joke side of the tournament with their collection of has-beens and minor-league English-based players. The Soca Warriors will struggle. Best player: Stern John, the Fulham striker, who scored 10 goals in their first successful qualifying campaign. Ranking: 47.
![]()
 Argentina
Hot favourites to win the toughest group of all, the Argies reached the final at Italia 90 and have lots of top-notch European-based players. They’ve got the worst disciplinary record of any nation, though, and just look at the opposition. Best player: Lionel Messi, the new Maradona, though you could also look at Riquelme and Hernan Crespo. Ranking: 9.
![]()
 The Netherlands
The Netherlands had the best qualification record in Europe this time and have plenty of talent and experience to call on. Famous for internal wrangling, this side looks more cohesive than the Dutch have in the past. Best player: Ruud van Nistelrooy remains the most dangerous striker in the world — as long as he’s inside the box. Ranking: 3.
![]()
 Côte d’Ivoire
It’s just not fair to see the Elephants stuck in a group like this. Keep an eye on Chelsea’s Didier Drogba up front and remember what Senegal did to holders France four years ago. Best player(s): Touré. Kolo of Arsenal or his brother Yaya. Both are real talents who will be around for years to come. Fifa ranking: 9.
![]()
 Serbia and Montenegro
The draw has been unfair to the former Yugoslavs, competing as one nation for the last time. Their 23-man squad can be found playing in 10 different nations. Could easily shock the big two here. Best player: Nemanja Vidic has quietly made a huge impression with Manchester United. Ranking: 44.
![]()
 Mexico
Nobody scored more goals in qualifying than the Mexicans — 67 in 18 games. But then it was Concacaf. Jareg Borgetti got 14 of those and you can expect more here against hopeless Angola and Iran. Best player: Rafael Marquez, the Barcelona central defender. Fifa ranking: 4 (but only because they play in Concacaf!).
![]()
 Portugal
Luiz Felipe Scolari will be back in the public eye when Portugal qualify and — possibly — meet England in the quarterfinals. They have the talent of Ronaldo and experience of Luiz Figo on top of Big Phil’s motivational techniques. Best player: Deco; Barcelona’s Brazilian-born midfielder tends to hold it all together. Ranking: 7.
![]()
 Iran
As long as they don’t get invaded by the United States halfway through the tournament, the Iranians should enjoy their time in Germany. Last March, 110 000 turned up to watch them play Japan in Tehran, the biggest qualifying crowd anywhere in the world. Best player: Ali Karimi is set to take over from Ballack at Bayern. Ranking: 23.
![]()
 Angola
Everyone’s looking forward to the game against old colonial masters Portugal, but they can expect little joy there. Best player: Fabrice Akwa, their top scorer. Ranking: 57.
![]()
 Italy
They’ll be fighting this one out under the shadow of the refereeing scandal, but that kind of thing tends to draw squads together — and this is some squad. In March they beat Germany 4-1 and declared themselves world champions. They might be right. Best player: Luca Toni, the Serie A top scorer this season. Ranking: 13.
![]()
 Czech Republic
Ranked behind only Brazil in the Fifa system, the Czechs are serious contenders this time with big Jan Koller up front, Arsenal’s latest signing, Tomas Rosicky, in midfield and ever-present defender Tomas Ulfalusi (he didn’t miss a minute of the 14 qualifiers) shoring up the defence. Best player: Pavel Nedved of Juventus has long been considered one of the world’s best playmakers. Ranking: 2.
![]()
 Ghana
Disappointing at the African Nations Cup, but manager Ratomir Dujkovic survived and hopes Asamoah Gyan can score the vital goals. Best player: Michael Essien is certainly the best-known. Ranking: 48.
![]()
 United States
I used to root for the Yanks but their path to the finals is now so smooth, I hope they get more hidings than Iran. Look at that Fifa ranking! And for what? Best Player: Landon Donovan, though he’s hardly torn them apart in the Bundesliga since his move to Bayer Leverkusen. Ranking: Joint 5.
![]()
 Brazil
As always, the Brazilians expect success. Anything short of the final would be a disappointment. Ronaldo’s carrying weight though and Roberto Carlos is no longer a spring chicken. Best player: Ronaldinho is officially the World Player of the Year. And we all know why. World ranking: 1.
![]()
 Australia
Their first successful qualification since 1974. They’re tough and uncompromising, with plenty of talent up front in Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Tim Cahill. Best player: Mark Schwarzer. The Boro ‘keeper got them through the penalty shoot-out against Uruguay. Ranking: 42.
![]()
 Croatia
In the 1990s, they were the European Brazil. Now they’re a much more steely-eyed bunch, determined to outdo the Serbs here, with coach Zlatko Kranjar and his son Niko (21) the driving forces. Best player: Dado Prso, the former Scottish top-scorer. Ranking: 23.
![]()
 Japan
The rise and rise of Japanese football has come to a bit of a stuttering halt with coach Zico struggling to understand the lack of motivation in his squad. Best player: The enigmatic, experienced Hidetoshi Nakata. Ranking: 18.
![]()
 France
Can’t possibly do as badly as last time when they failed to score a goal; can’t possibly do as well as 1998, when they won it at home. Best player: Thierry Henry, though he rarely produces the Arsenal magic for his country. Ranking: 8.
![]()
 Switzerland
The Swiss are picking up surprising support as one of the shock teams of the tournament. You know they’ll be tidy. But not shocking, not the Swiss. Best player: Alexander Frei, their free-scoring striker, got seven in the qualifiers. Ranking: 35.
![]()
 South Korea
They’ve swapped coach Guus Hiddink for another Dutchman, Dick Advocaat, and reached a sixth successive tournament, but, without home advantage, don’t expect a repeat of 2002. Best player: Ji-Sung Park has done okay with Manchester United. Ranking: 29.
![]()
 Togo
Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor is all we know about this lot. And no, they don’t wear togas. Lost every game in the African Nations Cup, when everybody fell out with Adebayor. Best player: Adebayor. Ranking: 61.
![]()
 Spain
The Spaniards are long overdue a decent run and are in a fairly straightforward group. This might just be their time, with the experience of Raul and the youth of Cesc Fabregas dovetailing nicely. Best player: Jose Reyes, the Arsenal winger/striker, has all the ability to shine. Ranking: Joint 5.
![]()
 Ukraine
Call me crazy, but I think the Ukrainians might be a decent long-odds bet for the whole thing. Goalkeeper Aledsandr Shovkoskiy went 636 minutes without conceding a goal in qualifying. Best player: Andrij Shevchenko. If he stays fit, he’ll prove he’s still one of the world’s top strikers. Ranking: 45.
![]()
 Tunisia
They might upset the Saudis, but nobody else. Best player: Francileudo dos Santos, another one of those Brazilian-born foreigners, scored six in qualifying. Ranking: 21.
![]()
 Saudi Arabia
They were unbeaten in qualifying, conceding only one goal, but still sacked Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon. Best player: Asian player of the year Al Montashari, regarded as the best Middle Eastern defender ever. Ranking: 34.