GROUP A BRAZIL + CROATIA + MEXICO + CAMEROON
| Fixtures | Venue | ||
| ITV | 9pm Thu 12 June | BRAZIL v CROATIA | Sao Paulo |
| ITV | 5pm Fri 13 June | MEXICO v CAMEROON | Natal |
| BBC | 8pm Tue 17 June | BRAZIL v MEXICO | Fortaleza |
| ITV | 11pm Wed 18 June | CAMEROON v CROATIA | Manaus |
| ITV | 9pm Mon 23 June | CAMEROON v BRAZIL | Brasilia |
| ITV | 9pm Mon 23 June | CROATIA v MEXICO | Recife |
BRAZIL FIFA World ranking 3 - Odds 3/1 fav - Squad
Coach: Luis Felipe Scolari (since November 2012)
World Cup best: Winners 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
Last appearance: Quarter finals in 2010
How they qualified: Host nation status
Recent form: W4-0 v Panama, W1-0 v Serbia
Favourites, hosts, record five-time winners - but Brazil will need to take a deep breath ahead of this summer. After all, potentially the Brazilians' biggest opponents will be the pressure which they put themselves under - although they should be able to ease into this tournament, given this kindly group draw. Straightaway in the knockout stages, though, the difficulty will step up a notch with defending champions Spain or the runners-up from four years ago, Netherlands, lying in wait as early as the Last 16. Not that Brazil need to fear the former after an easy 3-0 victory over the Spanish in the final of the Confederations Cup last year in which, hearteningly for the hosts, two of the expected front three - Fred and Neymar - grabbed the goals. Against that, Brazil must overturn the fact no previous Confederations Cup winners have gone on to win the following World Cup - although it is likely to be earlier past history, and the shadow of the Maracanazo, which looms largest. Scolari, of course, has been here before, winning the World Cup with A Seleção in 2002 - and, if his strikers start confidently and twinkle-toes Oscar contributes from midfield, a sixth title amid a carnival atmosphere will be there for the taking.
Prediction: Winners
CROATIA FIFA World ranking 18 - Odds 150/1 - Squad
Coach: Niko Kovac (since October 2013)
World Cup best: Semi finals 1998
Last appearance: Group stage 2006
How they qualified: Won 2-0 on agg v Iceland (0-0a, 2-0h) after finishing runners-up in UEFA Group A (W5 D2 L3 F12 A9)
Recent form: W2-1 v Mali, W1-0 v Australia
In danger of missing out on a second successive World Cup after falling off the Belgians' hot pace in qualifying, something had to give - and the decision was made to dismiss the former Derby County and West Ham defender Igor Stimac and replace him with Niko Kovac. Immediately, the change in coach paid dividends as Hrvatski comfortably beat surprise package Iceland in the playoffs - and then came a largely positive reaction to the finals draw. Despite featuring Brazil in the opening game just as it did in 2006, this group gives Croatia a real opportunity of making it to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time since their extraordinary run to the semi finals on debut in 1998. Little will be expected from the opener - but, if Croatia can get better of Cameroon as expected, the third game against Mexico could be set up to be a decider.
Prediction: Last 16
MEXICO FIFA World ranking 20 - Odds 150/1 - Squad
Coach: Miguel Herrera (since October 2013 )
World Cup best: Quarter finals 1970, 1986
Last appearance: Last 16 in 2010
How they qualified: Won 9-3 on agg v New Zealand (5-1h, 4-2a) after finishing fourth in North-Central American qualifying (W2 D5 L3 F7 A9)
Recent form: W3-0 v Israel, W3-1 v Ecuador, L0-1 v Bosnia-Herzegovina, L0-1 v Portugal
All the talk in football-mad Mexico is of El Tri playing an elusive fifth game at the World Cup finals following five successive exits at the Last 16 stage. Indeed, outside of their two home World Cups in 1970 and 1986, Mexico have never reached the quarter finals. The truth is, however, that this Mexican team will do well even just to get through the group having been forced into a playoff against New Zealand after finishing fourth out of six in qualifying. The campaign was a complete mess, featuring just two wins and seven goals in 10 games, and with just one win out five at the fortress Azteca coming against Panama. Essentially playing for one spot in the knockout stages behind Brazil, Mexico's chances of a top-two place have already been halved - and, rather than a place in the last eight, the passionate Mexican support may have to come to terms with a first group stage exit since 1978.
Prediction: Group stage
CAMEROON FIFA World ranking 56 - Odds 1000/1 - Squad
Coach: Volker Finke (since May 2013)
World Cup best: Quarter finals 1990
Last appearance: Group stage in 2010
How they qualified: Won 4-1 on agg v Tunisia (0-0a, 4-1h) after winning African Group I (W4 D1 L1 F8 A3)
Recent form: W2-0 v FYR Macedonia, L1-2 v Paraguay, D2-2 v Germany, W1-0 v Moldova
Cameroon are making a record seventh appearance at the World Cup for an African side - but the Indomitable Lions' best days at the finals are now fully a generation ago. It was 1990 when a Roger Milla-inspired team went out in extra time to England in the quarter finals - and, though still a joint record for the furthest an African team has progressed at the World Cup along with Senegal and Ghana, the latter two countries both enjoyed their success within the last 12 years. In the meantime, Cameroon have won just a single game in failing to get out of the group in their last four appearances, and it would be a surprise if they did any better this time. In fact, it has already started to fall apart with the players threatening not to travel to Brazil in a row over bonuses and their best player, Samuel Eto'o accusing his team-mates of not passing to him. Good luck, Volker Finke.
Prediction: Group stage
GROUP B SPAIN + NETHERLANDS + CHILE + AUSTRALIA
| Fixtures | Venue | ||
| BBC | 8pm Fri 13 June | SPAIN v NETHERLANDS | Salvador |
| ITV | 11pm Fri 13 June | CHILE v AUSTRALIA | Cuiaba |
| BBC | 8pm Wed 18 June | SPAIN v CHILE | Rio de Janeiro |
| ITV | 5pm Wed 18 June | NETHERLANDS v AUSTRALIA | Porto Alegre |
| ITV | 5pm Mon 23 June | AUSTRALIA v SPAIN | Curitiba |
| ITV | 5pm Mon 23 June | NETHERLANDS v CHILE | Sao Paulo |
SPAIN FIFA World ranking 1 - Odds 13/2 - Squad
Coach: Vicente del Bosque (since July 2008)
World Cup best: Winners 2010
Last appearance: Winners in 2010
How they qualified: Winners of UEFA Group I (W6 D2 L0 F14 A3)
Recent form: W2-0 v Bolivia, W2-0 v El Salvador
Is the golden age of Spanish football coming to an end? Maybe not, if the results of European club football this season is anything to go by, but it would still be a phenomenal achievement if Spain pulled off a fourth successive major tournament win, especially with this one being on South American soil. After all, La Roja have relied on tight margins to keep their success going - and, while they thoroughly deserved a first World Cup win four years ago, it was notable that all four of their knockout games finished 1-0. Similarly, though they eventually won 4-0 in the final against Italy, Vicente del Bosque's men were given a scare in the group phase of Euro 2012 by Croatia before winning, again just by a single, late goal. Of course, the 1-0 occurrence is far too common for it to be a fluke and Spain's tiki-taka game is entirely set up to suffocate the opposition with possession once a lead is achieved. But so regularly playing for single goal leads leaves Spain simply too vulnerable to misfortune - or an inspired opposition performance.
Prediction: Quarter finals
NETHERLANDS FIFA World ranking 15 - Odds 25/1 - Squad
Coach: Louis van Gaal (since July 2012)
World Cup best: Runners-up 1974, 1978, 2010
Last appearance: Runners-up in 2010
How they qualified: Winners of UEFA Group D (W9 D1 L0 F34 A5)
Recent form: D1-1 v Ecuador, W1-0 v Ghana, W2-0 v Wales
Plenty of Dutch courage will be required for the Netherlands to match their World Cup run four years ago when they finished runners-up for a third time, the most by any team never to have won football's ultimate prize. Strong though they were in qualifying, the draw has severely dented Dutch expectations with a young, mainly home-based squad facing an immediate rematch with Spain and then a tricky Chile side in the final round of matches. Of course, there are still some wise old heads in the squad but the best of them - Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie - are both rather injury-prone while Wesley Sneijder's form is nowhere what it was in 2010. Already subject to reports of a training ground scuffle after a few heavy tackles, the clichéd prospect of Dutch infighting never actually seems far away. But, whatever happens in Brazil, coach Louis van Gaal know he will be soon escaping it all anyway having already sealed a new role linking up again with van Persie at Manchester United.
Prediction: Group stage
CHILE FIFA World ranking 14 - Odds 40/1 - Squad
Coach: Jorge Sampaoli (since December 2012)
World Cup best: Semi finals 1962
Last appearance: Last 16 in 2010
How they qualified: Third in South American qualifying (W9 D1 L6 F29 A25)
Recent form: W3-2 v Egypt, W2-0 v Northern Ireland
Chile only know one way to play - and, to the delight of the neutral, it is pretty much all-out attack. As a consequence, the Chileans finished behind only Argentina in the scoring charts in South American qualifying but, worryingly, they also conceded 25 and needed a win in their last qualifier against Ecuador to guarantee a place in the finals. Argentine Jorge Sampaoli is the current head coach but he is very much a disciple of one of his predecessors, compatriot Marco Biesla, who introduced a greater emphasis on the high-tempo pressing game which promises to make La Roja such a good watch this summer. Indeed, optimism in Santiago is high - and, even though the group features the two World Cup finalists from four years ago, progress from the group is achievable. Perhaps a bigger problem being that the runners-up in Group B will most likely face Brazil in the Last 16, a team which the Chileans even more than most will want to avoid, having been eliminated by them previously in 1962, 1998 and 2010.
Prediction: Last 16
AUSTRALIA FIFA World ranking 62 - Odds 1500/1 - Squad
Coach: Ange Postecoglou (since October 2013)
World Cup best: Last 16 in 2006
Last appearance: Group stage in 2010
How they qualified: Runners-up of Asian Group B (W3 D4 L1 F12 A7)
Recent form: D1-1 v South Africa, L0-1 v Croatia
Pity poor Australia. Already the lowest ranked team in a World Cup finals without a genuine minnow, the last thing the Socceroos needed was to be drawn against the two finalists from the last World Cup, Spain and Netherlands, as well as a highly talented Chile team. It could well end up that the Aussies finishing without a single point - but at least there is more hope in the long-term than it appeared four years ago when an ageing Aussie outfit were beaten 4-0 in the opening game against Germany, and just never got going. By contrast, this squad had been given more than a bit of a refresh and the new boss Ange Postecoglou - a former national youth team coach - is happy to put his faith in the players which he has developed. There is still an over-reliance on 34-year-old Tim Cahill for goals, however, and there remains the distinct possibility that no team will look more out of their depth this summer.
Prediction: Group stage
GROUP C COLOMBIA + GREECE + IVORY COAST + JAPAN
| Fixtures | Venue | ||
| BBC | 5pm Sat 14 June | COLOMBIA v GREECE | Belo Horizonte |
| ITV | 2am Sun 15 June | IVORY COAST v JAPAN | Recife |
| BBC | 5pm Thu 19 June | COLOMBIA v IVORY COAST | Brasilia |
| BBC | 11pm Thu 19 June | JAPAN v GREECE | Natal |
| BBC | 9pm Tue 24 June | JAPAN v COLOMBIA | Cuiaba |
| BBC | 9pm Tue 24 June | GREECE v IVORY COAST | Fortaleza |
COLOMBIA FIFA World ranking 8 - Odds 28/1 - Squad
Coach: Jose Pekerman (since January 2012)
World Cup best: Last 16 in 1990
Last appearance: Group stage in 1998
How they qualified: Runners-up in South American qualifying (W9 D3 L4 F27 A13)
Recent form: D2-2 v Senegal, W3-0 v Jordan
Colombia have qualified for their first World Cup finals since being knocked out by England in 1998 - and they have done it in some style, with a runners-up place in South American qualifying good enough to elevate their ranking so that they have actually been seeded. Consequently, Los Cafeteros should expect to play more than three games this summer despite their long absence from the world stage and despite an injury which has ruled out their main striker Radamel Falcao. The absence of Falcao probably puts an end to Colombian hopes of a run deep into the latter stages of the tournament but Jose Pekerman's squad should still have enough about them not to flop out in the first round. Carlos Bacca will replace Falcao up front and he arrives in good spirits having helped Sevilla win the Europa League.
Prediction: Last 16
GREECE FIFA World ranking 12 - Odds 300/1 - Squad
Coach: Fernando Santos (since July 2010)
World Cup best: Group stage 1994, 2010
Last appearance: Group stage in 2010
How they qualified: Won 4-2 on agg v Romania (3-1h, 1-1a) after finishing runners-up in UEFA Group G (W8 D1 L1 F12 A4)
Recent form: D0-0 v Portugal, D0-0 v Nigeria, W2-1 v Bolivia
Athens is getting quite used to the big occasion with Greece having now qualified for their fourth successive major finals. But, since their stunning European Championship title a decade ago, the Greeks' tournament performances and results have not been too impressive. Their failure to progress out of the group stage in South Africa four years ago was a direct result of them being far too cautious in the two 2-0 defeats to South Korea and Argentina. And, although that spelled the end for 'King' Otto Rehhagel, with only 12 goals in qualifying, his Portuguese replacement Fernando Santos has clearly adhered to the same philosophy of keeping it tight and seeing what happens. Once again, that might not be good enough for Greece at the finals.
Prediction: Group stage
IVORY COAST FIFA World ranking 23 - Odds 150/1 - Squad
Coach: Sabri Lamouchi (since May 2012)
World Cup best: Group stage 2006, 2010
Last appearance: Group stage in 2010
How they qualified: Won 4-2 on agg v Senegal (3-1h, 1-1a) after winning African Group B (W4 D2 L0 F15 A5)
Recent form: L1-2 v Bosnia-Herzegovina, W2-1 v El Salvador
Ivory Coast sense that, at last, their chance has come to make a big impression at a World Cup finals. Now appearing for the third successive time, the Elephants have landed a draw which gives them a real good chance of making it to the Last 16 for the first time, having previously come up against Argentina and Netherlands in 2006, and Brazil and Portugal in 2010. A failure to compensate for their early World Cup exits with success in the African Cup of Nations has grated - but all of that would be forgotten if the Ivorians could make it through this time. Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure was in excellent form during his club side's title-winning season while success at the World Cup would be an appropriate send-off for 36-year-old striker Didier Drogba.
Prediction: Last 16
JAPAN FIFA World ranking 46 - Odds 150/1 - Squad
Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni (since August 2010)
World Cup best: Last 16 in 2002, 2010
Last appearance: Last 16 in 2010
How they qualified: Winners of Asian Group B (W5 D2 L1 F16 A5)
Recent form: W1-0 v Cyprus, W3-1 v Costa Rica, W4-3 v Zambia
Japan were the first team outside of hosts Brazil to qualify for the World Cup as easy winners of Asian qualifying Group B, finishing four points clear of runners-up Australia. Having said that, their other opponents - Jordan, Oman and Iraq - were no great shakes and, now qualified for a fifth successive World Cup, expectancy levels in Japan are now raised above being satisfied with just getting there. In that regard, the Blue Samurai made a big stride in South Africa four years ago where they won their first finals matches outside of Japan and also made it through the group stages for the first time in an abroad World Cup. A similar result will be expected this time in what is an open group and the Land of the Rising Sun will have plenty of support in Brazil where there is the largest largest Japanese population outside of Japan, numbering 1.5 million people. A weak defence is likely to lead to their downfall, however.
Prediction: Group stage
GROUP D URUGUAY + COSTA RICA + ENGLAND + ITALY
| Fixtures | Venue | ||
| ITV | 8pm Sat 14 June | URUGUAY v COSTA RICA | Fortaleza |
| BBC | 11pm Sat 14 June | ENGLAND v ITALY | Manaus |
| ITV | 8pm Thu 19 June | URUGUAY v ENGLAND | Sao Paulo |
| BBC | 5pm Fri 20 June | ITALY v COSTA RICA | Recife |
| ITV | 5pm Tue 24 June | ITALY v URUGUAY | Natal |
| ITV | 5pm Tue 24 June | COSTA RICA v ENGLAND | Belo Horizonte |
URUGUAY FIFA World ranking 7 - Odds 28/1 - Squad
Coach: Oscar Tabarez (since May 2006)
World Cup best: Winners 1930, 1950
Last appearance: Semi finals in 2010
How they qualified: Won 5-0 on agg v Jordan (5-0a, 0-0h) after finishing fifth in South American qualifying (W7 D4 L5 F25 A25)
Recent form: W1-0 v Northern Ireland, W2-0 v Slovenia
Still enjoying the riches of a modern golden era under coach Oscar Tabarez, Uruguay followed up their place in the World Cup semi finals four years ago with victory in the Copa America across the Rio Plata a year later. A struggle through qualifying ended ultimately with an easy victory against Jordan in an intercontinental playoff - and now, having made it, La Celeste are aiming to gatecrash their other big neighbours with a repeat of the Maracanazo which brought them their second World Cup the last time the tournament was in Brazil in 1950. To do so, the Uruguayans will first have to navigate their way through a tough group - although they can give themselves a head-start by beating Costa Rica in their opening match. But, much from then on will depend on whether the two forwards, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani - both of whom are in their prime at the age of 27 - can create enough between themselves to cover for an ageing defence and a rather one-paced midfield.
Prediction: Group stage
COSTA RICA FIFA World ranking 28 - Odds 4000/1 - Squad
Coach: Jorge Luis Pinto (since September 2011)
World Cup best: Last 16 in 1990
Last appearance: Group stage in 2006
How they qualified: Runners-up in North-Central American qualifying (W5 D3 L2 F13 A7)
Recent form: L1-3 v Japan, D1-1 v Republic of Ireland
Now in their fourth World Cup finals altogether, Costa Rica would have hoped for a kinder draw after their last appearance eight years ago saw them finishing bottom with three defeats out of three. Given that they find themselves in a group with three former champions, another trio of defeats is a distinct possibility again - but only a fool would write off Los Ticos completely. After all, the Central Americans enjoyed some impressive results in qualifying including a clean sweep of five wins out of five at home, beating Mexico (2-1) and the United States (3-1). But, on the road, the form was less impressive with just three points taken out of a possible 15 - and, while Jorge Pinto's men have the talent to trouble one of the big three sides in the group on their day, it would count as a massive surprise if they repeated their fine achievement from 1990 when they reached the Last 16 by beating Scotland and Sweden.
Prediction: Group stage
ENGLAND FIFA World ranking 10 - Odds 28/1 - Squad
Coach: Roy Hodgson (since May 2012)
World Cup best: Winners 1966
Last appearance: Last 16 in 2010
How they qualified: Winners of UEFA Group H (W6 D4 L0 F31 A4)
Recent form: W3-0 v Peru, D2-2 v Ecuador, D0-0 v Honduras
The cut-throat gesture made by FA chairman Greg Dyke at the draw in December was a clear demonstration of England's lack of expectations heading into this World Cup. Still haunted by the 4-1 humiliation against Germany at Bloemfontein four years ago, England had also only just struggled through a much easier group than what they have been landed with this time. Nevertheless, there are actually some signs of encouragement - despite his hasty appointment following the resignation of Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson achieved a creditable quarter final placing at Euro 2012 and then led the Three Lions unbeaten through the qualifiers for Brazil. The former Switzerland coach has also freshened up the squad following the emergence of Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana at Southampton, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling at Liverpool, Ross Barkley at Everton, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Arsenal. And these new options may also ease the pressure on Wayne Rooney who has often appeared to be England's sole out-and-out attacker - but who has never scored at a World Cup finals. The concern, then, remains the defence - the back-four of Johnson-Cahill-Jagielka-Baines almost picks itself - but, in the absence of Ashley Cole and John Terry, this is more down to lack of alternatives than anything else.
Prediction: Quarter finals
ITALY FIFA World ranking 9 - Odds 25/1 - Squad
Coach: Cesare Prandelli (since May 2010)
World Cup best: Winners 1934, 1938, 1982, 2010
Last appearance: Group stage in 2010
How they qualified: Winners of UEFA Group B (W6 D4 L0 F19 A9)
Recent form: D0-0 v Republic of Ireland, D1-1 v Luxembourg
Four-time winners Italy made a complete mess of the defence of their 2006 title four years ago, somehow finishing bottom of an almost hand-picked group which also featured Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand. Under new coach Cesare Prandelli, though, the Azzurri immediately did their best to make amends by reaching the final of Euro 2012. Although they were eventually beaten 4-0 by Spain in Kiev, the full-time scoreline was harsh - nevertheless, the defeat did not seem to knock the Italians' confidence as they strode through qualification for this World Cup with ease. Since securing their place in October, Italy have actually failed to win in seven matches, the latest of which was an embarrassing 1-1 draw against Luxembourg - but it would be wrong to judge the Italians on what are essentially meaningless matches. Indeed, if Andrea Pirlo can control the midfield in the opener against England as he did two years ago, Prandelli knows that - with Costa Rica up in their second game - Italy could actually make light work of what is a very tough section.
Prediction: Semi finals
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