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Italy

Only Brazil have won more World Cups than the Italians, whose victory in 2006 was a perfect example of a team coming into form just as the tournament was reaching a climax. Just as their triumph in 1982 was a perfect riposte to the bribery allegations surrounding Paolo Rossi, so the victory in Germany came when Italian football was being torn apart by the calciopoli corruption scandal. They have nothing similar to drive them forward this time but with Marcello Lippi back at the helm, they would want to atone for a dismal performance in Euro 2008.

Results & Fixtures Team Analysis

Paraguay

Their superbly spirited qualification for their eighth World Cup finals was overshadowed dramatically by the shooting of their striker Salvador Cabanas in a Mexico City nightclub in January. The forward still has the bullet in his head which doctors thought too dangerous to remove, although he is making a good recovery. Paraguay made the most of their home games, where they finished third in the South American group behind Brazil and Chile. Paraguay have never progressed beyond the round of 16 but they should reach at least that stage this time.

Results & Fixtures Team Analysis

The Outsiders

Slovakia

Nothing that Slovakia achieve in their first World Cup as an independent nation will match the satisfaction of eliminating the Czech Republic, the side that had taken on the mantle of the old Czechoslovakia in the qualifiers. Their expectations do not extend much beyond reaching the knockout stages but in topping a group that contained both their neighbours and Poland, Slovakia have already achieved plenty. One of coach, Vladimir Weiss's chief concerns is whether Martin Skrtel, who broke a metatarsal during Liverpool's Europa League campaign, will be fit for the opening fixture against New Zealand. But this is a hard-working side without major stars, who have overachieved before and perhaps can do so again.

Results & Fixtures Team Analysis

New Zealand

As far as underdogs go, New Zealand are Chihuahuas. With North Korea they are the side least likely to get through their group, although this will hardly matter. New Zealand are pleased just to be at their first World Cup since 1982 when they failed to pick up a point. Nicknamed the All Whites, to distinguish themselves from New Zealand's celebrated rugby machine, qualification is an enormous achievement, especially since four years ago they had been eliminated by the Solomon Islands. Their coach, Ricki Herbert, was part of the 1982 squad and by taking the All Whites to South Africa has completed a very worthwhile double.

Results & Fixtures Team Analysis

Star Players

Gianluigi Buffon (ITA/Juventus) Still probably the best goalkeeper in the world. Despite being named in the calciopoli betting scandal - charges of which he was cleared - Buffon not only remained loyal to Juventus but conceded only two goals in the 2006 World Cup (an own-goal and a Zidane penalty). Italy would not have won without him.

Roque Santa Cruz (PAR/Manchester City) Paraguay's most famous footballer and this will be his third World Cup, although he would hope for better results than in 2002 or 2006. The highlight of his career was winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2001, but he has spent the last four seasons in England.

Martin Skrtel (SVK/Liverpool) A tough, aggressive and uncompromising defender who made his name with Zenit St Petersburg before signing for Liverpool in January 2008. He is good enough to have forced the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, to break up his first choice pairing of Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher.

Ryan Nelsen (NZ/Blackburn) Captaining the All Whites carries a different degree of expectation than skippering the All Blacks but Nelsen has acquitted himself admirably. A rugged central defender, he made his name in the United States, before signing for Blackburn in 2005, where he was quickly handed the captain's armband.

Andrea Pirlo (ITA/AC Milan) One of the great playmakers in world football and his ability with a dead ball and with a long pass are at least the equal of anything done by David Beckham. His partnership with Gennaro Gattuso in central midfield has been the cornerstone of success for both Milan and Italy.

Nelson Valdez (PAR/Borussia Dortmund) Like his strike partner, Roque Santa Cruz, Valdez made his name in Germany. However, although he was part of the Werder Bremen squad that won the double in 2004, he was never able to win a regular place and moved to Dortmund in 2006.