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FRANCE
Strength: A transformed team. After a controversial campaign in 2010, where Le Bleus protested against coach Raymond Domenech, new manager Didier Deschamps seems to have got a perfect fit in his squad. His team finally seems to be playing like the France of old — their midfield being the strongest aspect.
Achilles’ heel: Uncertain attack. Of all the strikers available to France, Karim Benzema seems their best bet. Loic Remy is a close second. The inability to convert chances into goals could hamper its ambitions.
The one to mark: Paul Pogba. The midfielder who performed excellently for his club in Italy in the recent domestic season is an astonishing talent. At 21, he marshals the midfield with a sense of authority and has an imposing physical frame.
Lionel Messi
Strength: Sharp attack. In Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Ezequiel Lavezzi, Argentina have a deadly forward line. If they manage to click, then the team will suffer no shortage of goals.
Achilles’ heel: Uncertain defence. Centre back Ezequiel Garay and right back Pablo Zabaleta seem the only definite contenders for Argentina’s back four. Martin Demichelis is also there, but he can be error prone.
The one to mark: Messi. Argentina’s campaign in South Africa 2010 was almost forgettable, particularly the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Germany. That year's coach, Diego Maradona, is gone, but Messi, 26, remains. The striker has been in fine form this year, scoring 28 goals and notching up 11 assists for Barcelona, his club. He recently signed a contract extension with the club. Perhaps winning the World Cup would be a fitting way to celebrate, right Leo?
Eden Hazard
Strength: A young, fearless squad. Belgium has a huge pool of young talent. With the average squad age of 25, they are one of the tournament’s genuine dark horses. With Thibaut Courtois in goal, Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen in defence, and Axel Witsel and Moussa Dembele marshalling the midfield, this is a team full of stars.
Achilles heel: Experience counts. A young squad can be prone to errors as well. Decision-making will play a key role for Belgium in Brazil. They will also miss the excellent Christian Benteke, who will miss the tournment because of a serious injury.
The one to mark: Caution, Eden Hazard ahead. Hazard was Chelsea's player of the year, and will be looking to carry that form to Brazil. The midfielder can be unplayable in one-on-one situations and drifts past defenders with ease. His finishing ability is also remarkable.
Robin Van Persie
THE NETHERLANDS
Strength: Encouragement from the last campaign. Runners-up in South Africa 2010, the Dutch will be looking to go all the way this time. They have a strong squad with Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart spearheading the midfield. Coach Louis Van Gaal has also brought in a number of fresh young faces and his direct approach to the game could help the team massively.
Achilles’ heel: A tough group. Spain, Chile and Australia are in the same group as the Netherlands. And the Oranje’s first match of the tournament is against Spain. It will be like the 2010 final all over again. The Dutch will have to put in a massive shift if they want to qualify from the group unscathed.
The one to mark: Robin Van Persie. The flying Dutchman will lead the attack for the Oranje, even though he had an injury-hit season with his club. But his class showed in the amazing goal against Ecuador in a recent friendly. His finishing and set-piece skills will be a huge bonus.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Strength: Attacking prowess. Portugal can be deadly on the counter attack. Joao Moutinho and Raul Meireles pull the strings in the middle, while William Carvalho has been excellent as a defensive midfielder this whole season. With Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani up front, Portugal could cause some serious damage on the break.
Achilles’ heel: One-man show. As always, Portugal will depend on their talismanic captain to put in another miraculous performance in Brazil. Sometimes, Ronaldo is the team’s only creative spark. They’ll need to play as a cohesive unit.
The one to mark: Ronaldo: captain, Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, reigning Ballon d’Or winner. His virtuoso performance against Sweden in the play-offs justified his billing as the world’s best player. Ronaldo himself said winning the World Cup would “crown a great career”.
Wayne Rooney
Strength: The right mix of experience and youth. England will rely heavily on seasoned players such as Steven Gerrard (33) and Frank Lampard (35). The midfield duo will be expected to guide the likes of Ross Barkley (20), Jordan Henderson (23), Raheem Sterling (19), Jack Wilshere (22) and Adam Lallana (26).
Achilles’ heel: Bleak defence. Opponents will be out to exploit England’s back four. Right-back Glen Johnson is the only defender from the 2010 squad to retain his place. Despite industrious full-backs in Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw, a lot will depend on experienced players such as Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka.
The one to mark: Wayne Rooney. After a disappointing World Cup in 2010, a lot is expected from the striker.Rooney, 28, is capable of not only leading the line for the Four Lions but also being a key player in the middle of the park. His range of passing and an eye for goal from anywhere on the pitch will be England’s potent weapons going forward.
Andrea Pirlo
Strength: Old is gold. Italy has gone with experience this time. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been consistently in good form, while the likes of Danielle De Rossi, Ricardo Montolivo and Andrea Pirlo can be relied on in the midfield.
Achilles’ heel: Player temperament. Italy will have to keep their cool if they intend to qualify from a group that also has England, Uruguay and Costa Rica. The player’s often tend to let rip, the controversy-loving Mario Balotelli being a case in point. Coach Cesare Prandelli will have to make sure his team stays sensible both on and off the pitch.
The one to mark: Andrea Pirlo. At 35, the midfielder is still the Azzurri’s most creative asset. He comes to Brazil on the back of a remarkable domestic season. Italy will rely on his calm and composed playing style coupled with impeccable dead-ball skills.
Manuel Neuer
Strength: A complete team. Most of Germany’s players play for two of Bundesliga’s biggest teams: Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. This could be a huge plus point for “Die Mannschaft” (The Team) because this means the players know each other well and could help Germany play smooth, cohesive football.
Achilles’ heel: Injury prone. Despite players such as Toni Kroos, Mario Goetze, Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil and Andre Schuerrle in the midfield, Germany are sweating over the fitness of midfield engines Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira.
The one to mark: Manuel Neuer. We are going with the goalkeeper here. Neuer is one of the world’s best goalkeepers. At 6ft 4in, he is an imposing figure and commands his penalty area with authority. He was in fine form this season and will play a key role in the campaign in Brazil.
Neymar
Strength: Excellent defence. Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Dani Alves and Marcelo form Brazil’s defensive wall. Throw in the experience of right back Maicon and Julio Cesar in goal, and you have a solid backline.
Achilles ‘heel: The burden of expectations. Being the host, Brazil are the out-and-out favourite to win the World Cup. But could this expectation have a reverse effect? The players will be under immense pressure. Their every touch, pass and move will be scrutinised by home fans.
The one to mark: Neymar — one man, one nation and a million hopes. The striker is fast, dribbles effortlessly and is two-footed. He was instrumental in guiding Brazil to a win in the 2013 Confederations Cup on home soil. The 22-year-old scored the first goal of the tournament and was awarded the Golden Ball, or the best player award. Entire Brazil will be hoping that the #10 guides them to the biggest gong of them all this year.
Diego Costa
Strength: Depth of squad. The defending champions have a wealth of talent: three top-class goalkeepers, a decent line of defenders, a midfield full of creativity and forwards that could walk into any top club. Coach Vicente Del Bosque guided La Roja to their first ever World Cup trophy in 2010 and will be looking to retain the title.
Achilles’ heel: The superstar syndrome. The “wealth of talent” could give Del Bosque some selection headaches. The likes of Iker Casillas, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta have been the team’s mainstay for years but their recent club form has been erratic.
The one to mark: Diego Costa. The striker has been in tremendous form this year. Costa turned his back on Brazil — he represented them twice in 2013 — and opted for Spain, so some fans are wont to jeer him, but it will only take a moment of brilliance to silence his critics.
