Teams:
Argentina (top)
Ivory Coast
Netherlands (second)
Serbia & Montenegro
ARGENTINA
Main Player: Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal)
Personal Fave: Gabriel Heinze (Man United), Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
One of the teams to watch, and the best bets on who will win the big one on 9 July. They'll want to avenge their disappointing campaign 4 years ago, and Jose Pekerman has thrown out the old guard such as Veron and Zanetti from the team this time.
The attacking force of Argentina is, frankly, very scary. You have Tevez, a marauding young lightweight striker that plays in the hole and hones great skills. You have Julio Cruz, who had a good season at Inter. You have Palachio, Boca Juniors hotshot. You have Saviola, a deadly finisher and quick on the mark. You have Crespo, towering centre-forward, an Argentinian legend in his own right. Last but not least, you have Lionel Messi, the mercurial 18-year-old who's destined to be the next Deigo Maradona.
The return of Gabriel Heinze has helped Argentina bolster a formidable defence alongside such colossals like Burdisso, Ayala and Coloccini. In other words, expect Argentina to go far this time round.
NETHERLANDS
Main Player: Arjen Robben (Chelsea)
Personal Fave: -
If you think Argentina had a disappointing 2002, Holland didn't even feature at that tournament, which was very alarming for such a strong and legendary side.
However, this time around, Van Basten picked a defensive 23, but their attacking players are very acute and feared. Van Nistelrooy is one of the best strikers in Europe, Kuyt is a rising star, Vennegoor of Hesselink has a strike rate as plentiful as his name and Ryan Babel is fast and tricky.
However, its wide players are its main threat as players like Robben, van der Vaart and Van Persie are more than capable of outrunning and unlocking other defenses in the World Cup - and they're all left-footed.
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO
Main Player: Mateja Kezman (Atletico Madrid)
Personal Fave: Zvonimir Vukic (Partizan Belgrade)
One of the last entities of the old union of the recently-divided two Balkan states, S&M boasts an impressive defence in qualifying and will hope to do the same in this year's World Cup. Gavrancic and Vidic are towering central defenders, the latter playing in teh ENglish Premiership with Man United.
At about 2 metres tall, Nicola Zigic is the tallest player in the World Cup behind Czech's Jan Koller. Besides him, Kezman and Milosevic are proven elite goalscorers, and they will cause fear in any defence at their best day.
IVORY COAST
Main Player: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Personal Fave: Yaya Toure (Olympiakos)
It's Cote D'Ivoire's first time at the World Cup, and they're taking nothing for granted. A superspeed side with players outside the country, some of them established first-teams in their clubs, the Elephants' game will be a good attraction.
Drogba, Bonaventure Kalou, Arouna Kone, Bakary Kone and Dindane are star strikers, each with their own repertoire of skills and technique. They have fine players in the Toure brothers, the "African Roberto Carlos" Boka and their charismatic keeper Tizie.
