Al-Ahram Weekly takes a close look at the nations vying for football's greatest prize Click to view caption Group A Denmark, France, Senegal, Uruguay Tournament favourite France, the defending world and European champion, is at its peak. Manager Roger Lemerre has it all at his disposal: a solid defence, an inspirational midfield and an efficient attack. There is an abundance of talent on the team, which has dominated the football world for the last three years. Although Zizou is the magician, it is Patrick Vieira who casts the spells, the man who dictates the rhythm of the French team. If the Arsenal maestro keeps his cool, he can take over a match by himself and inspire all those around him. France has risen to No 1 in the FIFA rankings, and there is a reason for that. If at the top of their game, "Les Bleus" will be hard to beat. Definitely the favourite to win it all. First-time finalist Senegal will not have to wait long to see how good it really is; it faces France in the opener. Can the Senegalese do to France what Cameroon did to Argentina in the 1990 opener? Perhaps, seeing they did qualify from an African group that included two sides with World Cup experience, Morocco and Egypt. Since Bruno Metsu took over two games into Senegal's final qualifying campaign, he gave the players what they had been missing in previous qualifying efforts: direction. Metsu adopted a 5-3-2 formation that quickly paid dividends. Using two wing-backs who provided plenty of crosses for strikers El Hadj Diouf and Moussa Ndiaye, the team scored goals at will in its final games. Senegal is a well- organised team and has great spirit of sacrifice, two qualities needed to succeed at the highest level. Uruguay has an impressive footballing history, winning two World Cups, in 1930 and 1950, 14 Copa Americas and two Olympic titles. But football fans in the small nation have not celebrated a trophy since their last continental success in 1995. Denmark has no real World Cup tradition to speak of. It qualified for the first time in 1986 and made another appearance in 1998. But it does have a strong reputation for entertaining football with former players like Elkjaer Larsen and the Laudrup brothers who dazzled the world with their skills. These stars may be gone, but the new crop of internationals should not let the country down. Group B Paraguay, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain Not a particularly strong group and Spain seems the best. It has the skills and the experience but time and again it has failed to deliver the goods at crunch time. Spain has largely depended on the same group of players for the last four years: Raul, Fernando Hierro, Luis Enrique, Josep Guardiola, Miguel Nadal, Sergi and Santiago Canizares. They were there in 1998 and that can be an advantage and a disadvantage. The players have built a relationship on and off the field which has created a certain stability, but lack of competition for places and old habits can come back to haunt them. Spain largely depends on the solidity of the back line and the creativity of its midfield quartet. Up front, Raul and Tristan can dominate, doing so both at home and in Europe for their clubs this season. If all goes right, the Spaniards can reach the semis. Paraguay means irascible goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert who can win matches with his saves and his free kicks, but his one-game Cup suspension -- after he spit in the face of Brazil's Roberto Carlos last year -- will keep his country from advancing. The Paraguayan federation hopes not, which is why it hired Cesare Maldini to take over as coach. The Italian will be tested as he takes on a new team at a crucial time. His first mission is to shore up the team's defence. South Africa's preparations were rocked by a weak showing in the African Cup of Nations and the firing of manager Carlos Queiroz just three months before the finals. The sacking was a surprise considering how easily the team qualified for the World Cup, winning five of six final- phase games. New boss Jomo Sono has stepped in looking to boost team morale and design a successful gameplan. In the last 10 years, the country has emerged as a strong power on the African continent and has already enjoyed time as the top-rated African nation on the FIFA world rankings. Slovenia may be the smallest and least populated country to make an appearance at the World Cup finals, but it does have some of the tournament's most dedicated players. Coach Srecko Katanec may not have any world- renowned stars at his disposal, but he has managed to optimally fit players who are able to run and fight for the whole 90 minutes. Every player knows his job and is willing to sacrifice personal glory for team success. Group C Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Turkey Brazil may be known as the Samba Kings but it has struggled to dance to the rhythm on the pitch over the past two years. Playing through three coaches and six qualifying defeats, it finally managed to reach the finals. More than 25 players took part in Brazil's qualifiers. That spells instability. Luiz Felipe Scolari has tried to cement a starting 11, but it is hard to do so when your big-name stars do not perform. A team normally known for its creativity and artistry, Brazil has instead looked mediocre, struggling to create goalscoring opportunities. Still, the team is top-laden with talent. Rivaldo is magical when inspired, Ronaldo is the best player in the world when fit and Roberto Carlos has the speed and guile to break down any defence. It can never be said that Brazil, the only country to appear in every World Cup finals, is not a contender. But football is different these days and talent alone no longer wins you titles. Costa Rica qualified for its second World Cup by winning its CONCACAF qualifying group with a record 23 points. In 1990, it became the first Central American country to advance past the first round. Despite such successes, it does not look like getting far. China may be the world's most populous country, but this nation of 1.3 billion people has never produced a lot of football talent. Thanks to the astute management of Bora Milutinovic, however, the nation can now look forward to taking part in the world's largest sporting event. The World Cup debutants will rely on a hard work ethic and Bora who has taken four countries to the finals. The Chinese should try to enjoy the experience, whatever happens. It has taken a while for Turkey to make a second trip to the World Cup -- 1954 was the last year it made the finals. The ever-present Hakan Sukur is whom the coach is counting on to shoot his team into the second round. Flair, determination and passion are three qualities the Turkish team possesses. Group D Poland, Portugal, South Korea, United States A group that features three teams from three continents and a host nation. The last time Poland made the World Cup, in 1986, stars like Zbiginiew Boniek and Jacki Dziekanowski were still terrorising opposing defences. It took the eastern European nation a while to find a new group of players who could replace the former stars but manager Wladyslaw Engel has built a well-balanced side. With a solid goalkeeper in Jerzy Dudek, and a flat back four, Poland likes to attack in waves. The Poles are strong in the air, and disciplined tactically, two qualities that will serve them well in the finals. Portugal is the strongest in the group and the golden generation of Portuguese footballers will finally get a chance to showcase their skills to the world. Great things were expected of the group of players which won the 1989 and 1991 World Youth Championships, but so far they have not lived up to expectations. They have been called the "Brazil of Europe" because of the brand of football they play: artistic, creative, exciting. But ball possession and skill do not necessarily translate into wins, so it will be up to the front line to make the creativity of Luis Figo and Rui Costa count. The reigning World Footballer of the Year, Figo is the key to Portugal's success. When he recently missed a friendly against Finland, his colleagues looked dumfounded and promptly lost 4-1 at home. The Portuguese may be obsessed with football, but their nation has only qualified for the World Cup twice before. They finished third in 1966, led by the goalscoring of the "Black Panther" Eusebio, and in 1986 failed to advance past the first phase. For a nation that sees football (or soccer) as its sixth or seventh most important sport, the United States has done extremely well in qualifying for the finals for the fourth straight time and seventh overall. But it was among the lowest-scoring qualifiers from all regions. South Korea is a diamond in the rough. Soccer officials in that nation can only hope that Dutch strategist Guus Hiddink can polish it in time for the World Cup. Although the national team has never won a World Cup match, expectations are high for a team that will be playing at home in front of its demanding fans. Speed is the Korean's key to unlocking opponent's defences, and Hiddink is well aware of it. Which is why he has implemented a long-ball style that gives his quick strikers a chance to attack backtracking defenders. Group E Cameroon, Germany, Ireland, Saudi Arabia Who can forget Cameroon's magical run at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where it beat Argentina, Romania and Colombia before falling to England in the quarter-finals? There is no Roger Milla in the side anymore, but the African giants have given indications that they can put a similar streak together in Asia after becoming the first nation to qualify for the World Cup, outside of the co-hosts and defending champion France. Cameroon has made its fourth straight World Cup -- the fifth overall -- unprecedented for an African nation. The year 2000 was formidable for the national squad after it won the African Cup of Nations and the Sydney Olympic gold. So expectations for the World Cup are high in a country that lives and dies with its side's international results. Maybe that is why there is so much instability on the sidelines, with coaches hired and fired incessantly. The new man in charge, German Winfried Schafer, is expected to lead Cameroon to at least the second round. The pieces are in place for the western African nation. They are strong physically and have most of their players enjoying their football in the world's top leagues. The question is whether Schafer will be able to organise his side and unify them with one common goal. African nations are tired of dropping out early, and Cameroon has the best chance of breaking the status quo if stability is maintained on the sidelines and behind the scenes. Germany has always been known for simple football and tactical discipline. Rudi Voeller has struggled to apply that philosophy, but was hampered by injuries, missing midfield maestro Mehmet Scholl at the end of their campaign. As far as defence is concerned, the team is in good hands. Oliver Kahn is the world's best keeper and Jens Nowotny is as solid as a centre- back gets. The midfield is hardworking with Dietmar Hamann pulling the strings. The problem is in attack, as Oliver Bierhoff seems to have lost his goalscoring touch. For once, Germany is not one of the top five favourites to win the title. It is expected to make the second round, but will struggle to make the quarter-finals. They had great strikers in the past with Muller, Klinsmann, Rummenigge and Voeller, but do not have forwards at the top of their game at the moment. Not many people expected the Irish to be making a trip to the finals. They were drawn in the same qualifying group as Portugal and Holland. But not only did they qualify, they did it in impressive fashion, going unbeaten in group play. But they still had another test to pass -- a playoff with Iran. They proved their mettle again and moved on. Saudi Arabia must be doing something right, having qualified for a third World Cup in a row. With seasoned veteran Sami Al-Jaber leading the way, the Saudis managed to negotiate a tricky qualifying campaign. In 1994, they beat Belgium to become the first Asian nation in 28 years to make it to the second round, but do not expect them to make much of an impact in the finals this time. Group F Argentina, England, Nigeria, Sweden Don't miss watching this group. Argentina is in good hands with a handful of players who can hand the nation its first cup since Diego Maradona retired. After losing to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup, the Argentines will stop no shorter than the final this time around. They cruised through the qualifying section, and now are ready to show the world what they can do. Marcelo Bielsa must be envied by most managers because of what he has at his disposal. There is an abundance of talent and skill in the squad, so much so that they could probably put two teams together that would challenge for the title. The boss normally deploys a 4-4-1-1 formation and likes to use a mobile attacking midfielder (Claudio Lopez or Ariel Ortega) right behind his striker (Hernan Crespo or Gabriel Batistuta). There is also plenty of creativity behind the front men, with Juan Sebastian Veron, Kily Gonzalez, Javier Zanetti, Marcelo Gallardo or Pablo Aimar all able to turn the game on its head at any given time. Veron, one of the best midfielders in the world, is Argentina's engine, working on overdrive to create chances for the front line. Argentina is everyone's pick to win it all. If Bielsa does not commit the mistake of rotating his squad too much, it should have what it takes to win the cup for the third time. Nigeria as well has emerged as a football superpower in the last 10 years, having now qualified for its third straight World Cup. The African nation also won the Olympic gold medal in Atlanta in 1996, beating Brazil and Argentina on the way. The potential is there, with speed, athleticism and skill amply present. With players like Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Agali around, the green and white army can be deadly coming forward. But it can be equally tame and that is Nigeria's problem -- inconsistency. On paper, Nigeria has what it takes to make the quarter-finals, and it would not be shocking if it did. But whether it can make such a run remains a mystery. The Super Eagles should have no problem scoring goals with the calibre of their attack, but their defence will struggle to hold up against he world's top strikers. The lack of experience will be exploited by world class opponents; it's only a matter of when. But as usual, they will be fun to watch. After an inspirational revival under Sven-Goran Eriksson, England is now seen as a challenger for the World Cup title. David Beckham has finally matured into a true leader, and if Michael Owen stays healthy, he will certainly get on the scoresheet early and often. But will their back line be able to deal with the world's top strikers? Previous manager Kevin Keegan was a great motivator but did not have enough international experience for the job. Eriksson arrived and did what he had to do: gave English players a tactical lesson. The majority of English players already have plenty of motivation and energy; what they needed was direction. Eriksson has given them that and established a balanced 4-4-2 system that has produced results. England has all the pieces in place to put together a strong run but there may be too many holes for it to go all the way. After missing out on the finals in 1998, Sweden is back on the world stage with a young and dynamic team. Unfortunately, it is not as talented as the one that finished third in 1994 and it faces the tournament's toughest draw in Group F. Group G Croatia, Ecuador, Italy, Mexico After being only seconds away from winning the European Championship title in 2000, Italy can't wait to start its quest for a fourth World Cup crown in Asia. Touted for having one of the world's best defences, its key for succeeding in the tournament will be in attack. The Italians have averaged just over a goal a game in their last three finals appearances. With veteran Paolo Maldini leading a back line that also features stars Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro and Marco Materazzi, coach Trapattoni should not have to worry about conceding a lot of goals. But questions start arising in midfield. Ask any Italian football fan to name one player who could lead them to World Cup glory and most would probably say AS Roma's golden boy Francesco Totti. At 25, the Roma captain is approaching his peak and playing some of the best football of his career as he heads to his first-ever World Cup. If Italy does not make the semi-finals, its campaign will be deemed as a failure back home. Croatia wowed the world in 1998 when it came out of virtually nowhere to claim a bronze medal in its first finals appearance ever. There has been a lot of debate recently on whether the nation still has the quality to contend with the best in the globe. Most of the stars from the past World Cup may be past their prime, but you can never ignore what the international experience of players like Robert Prosinecki and Alen Boksic can do at the game's highest level. Croatia may not be among the favourites, but it could surprise a few people again. The Ecuadorians, in their first final, beat Brazil and Paraguay in the qualifiers. Not many people expect much from them, but then again, no one expected them to be in Japan and South Korea in the first place. After Mexico earned just four points from its first five games in the final qualifying phase, few expected them to be making the finals. But new coach Javier Aguirre came in with his cape and became a super hero, turning the team's fortunes around and taking them to the finals. Mexico is now playing in a World Cup for the 12th time, the most of any country in the CONCACAF region. Group H Japan, Belgium, Russia, Tunisia Japan launched its J-League in 1993 in the hope of becoming an international soccer power in the 21st century. It has already made headway with several of the nation's stars signing for big clubs across Europe. A well-organised unit, Japan's strength is in its tactical discipline and Frenchman Philippe Troussier has managed to create a side that has earned the respect of the football community. The talented midfielders create plenty of chances; the problem is that there is no one to finish them off. Japan lacks a true centre forward, something that will always hurt their ambitions in major tournaments. After missing out on the 1998 finals, Russia is back on football's world stage. Although far from being as strong as the Soviet teams of the 1980s, this Russian side has a good mix of experience and young talent that could cause opponents trouble. Few talk about Russia being a factor in the World Cup but the truth is that it has what it takes to make it into the quarter-finals. They have a well-oiled engine that worked wonders in qualifying and can put together a good run in the finals. A great deal depends on Beschastnykh, who has to be at his best if Russia is to go anywhere. Belgium is the first nation ever to actually qualify for six consecutive World Cups (discounting hosts and defending champions). That says a lot about the stability of its squad over the last three decades. Again, the Belgians enter the finals with the tag of "outsiders," but again they have the kind of experience needed to make it into the knockout stages. Expected to become the World Cup whipping boys, the Tunisians arrive in Asia in complete disarray. Former manager Henri Michel quit a couple of months before the finals, saying the players were not disciplined enough to make an impact in the competition. Players are desperately trying to regain self- confidence. Back in 1978, Tunisia became the first African country to win a game on soccer's biggest stage by beating Mexico, but do not expect it to set any records this time around. Tunisia is probably the lowest-rated team heading into the World Cup after constant management changes and a dodgy buildup to the championship.
