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Spain

The home to arguably the biggest clubs in the world, Real Madrid and Barcelona, had gone 44 years without winning anything at international level but after the triumph of Euro 2008, the expectations are that they could add a first World Cup to a second European Championship. No European side has quite the array of attacking options while in midfield and defence this is a finely honed side. In Vicente del Bosque, they are led by a man who oversaw Real Madrid to their greatest achievements of the modern era and anything less than a semi-final would count as a disappointment.

Results & Fixtures Team Analysis

Chile

Like Paraguay, Chile are considered one of the South American sides who make up the numbers at a World Cup. This time, however, they represent a formidable force and like Paraguay they have done so under Argentinian management with Marcelo Bielsa guiding Chile to more victories than Brazil in qualification. This will be their first appearance in a World Cup since 1998 when they managed to reach the round of 16 despite not winning a single game. They were then torn apart by Brazil in Paris. But, if they meet again, the Selecao will discover a rather more formidable opponent.

Results & Fixtures Team Analysis

The Outsiders

Switzerland

The Swiss were one of the early mainstays of the World Cup, reaching the quarter finals in three tournaments out of four between 1934 and 1954. However it was not until the turn of the century that Swiss football came to be regarded as a force once more. They were eliminated on penalties the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup and thus exited the tournament without conceding a goal. Although the Swiss failed to qualify from the group stages when hosting the European Championship, by no means did they disgrace themselves. And under the eye of Hitzfeld, one the great club managers, they will be targeting the game with Chile in Port Elizabeth.

Results & Fixtures Team Analysis

Honduras

They may be minnows but they possess a powerful bite to the unwary. Honduras have only made it to one World Cup before, in 1982, when they found themselves pitted against Spain and they performed with real credit before going under. This is a better team, with a powerful midfield and defence and a somewhat ageing attack. They lost home and away to the United States in qualification but won the games that mattered - especially a home win over Mexico. Led by the Colombian, Reinaldo Rueda, Honduras have a tough baptism, against Chile and Spain but if there is something riding on their final fixture, against Switzerland in Bloemfontein, they may be dangerous.

Results & Fixtures Team Analysis

Star Players

Fernando Torres (ESP/Liverpool) His winning goal in the European Championship final against Germany demonstrated the qualities of vision and touch that have made him one of the world's finest strikers. His move from Atletico Madrid gave Torres Champions League football but it may not be enough to keep him at Anfield.

Matias Fernandez (CHI/Sporting Lisbon) Born in Buenos Aires, Fernandez grew up in Chile and by the time he had joined the large South American contingent at Villarreal he was South American footballer of the year. He made little impact as an attacking midfielder at El Madrigal and moved to Portugal.

Alexander Frei (SUI/Basel) It may not be coincidence that the revival of Swiss football coincided with the career of the man who has scored more international goals for them than any other. He is not quick, he is not tall but Frei, who has returned to his first club, Basel, after a spell in the Bundesliga, has an instinctive positional sense.

Wilson Palacios (HON/Tottenham) The £1m fee Birmingham paid Olimpia to take this wonderfully combative holding midfielder to the Premier League seems a bargain. He followed his manager Steve Bruce to Wigan and then signed for Tottenham for £16m. His football last year was completely overshadowed by the murder of his brother, Edwin.

Xavi Hernandez (ESP/Barcelona) Having grown up in the Barcelona academy, he is steeped in the traditions of Camp Nou and has become the true successor to Pep Guardiola, the man who is now his coach. He lacks height, he lacks real pace but what he has in an instinctive ability to control a football and pick out a pass.

Humberto Suazo (CHI/Real Zaragoza) Nobody scored more goals in the South American qualifying group than Suazo's 10. Because of injuries and a poor attitude, he broke late into the big time - at 22 he was scoring a goal a game but in the Chilean Third Division. A transfer to Monterrey in Mexico was troubled and he moved to La Liga in January.