BELGIUM
How they qualified: Eastern European nations Croatia and Serbia are traditionally tough teams to overhaul when it comes to qualifying for a major tournament, but the Belgians made a mockery of that viewpoint. Among their eight victories, two came away from home against both of those nations, while 10 points were collected from the four encounters against British outfits Wales and Scotland. It all meant that the Red Devils qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2002 with a nine-point margin between themselves and Croatia in second spot.
Manager: Marc Wilmots: Having turned out in three World Cups as a player with Belgium, Wilmots was entrusted with the managerial responsibility in 2012. Not only has the 45-year-old been lauded for the results that the team have recorded since that point, he's also be highly credited with giving an opportunity to the youngsters that are fast becoming known as Belgium's 'Golden Generation'.
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Previous World Cup best: Semi-finals: 1986
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid, on loan from Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (Hoffenheim), Silvio Proto (Anderlecht)
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St Petersburg), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele (both Tottenham), Steven Defour (Porto), Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg), Marouane Fellaini, Adnan Januzaj (both Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Divock Origi (Lille), Axel Witsel (Zenit St Petersburg)
Strikers: Romelu Lukaku (Everton, on loan from Chelsea), Dries Mertens (Napoli)
Three Key Players:
Vincent Kompany: A leader of men, since arriving at Manchester City in 2008 Kompany has earned himself a reputation as one of the world's best defenders. The 28-year-old centre-back will head for Brazil having recently captained the Citizens to their second Premier League title in three seasons. He will also take on the skippering duties for Belgium and is seen as an imposing and solid influence in what is considered to be a fluid attacking side.
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Eden Hazard: After featuring in nine of Belgium's 10 World Cup qualifiers, Hazard played a key role in helping his nation reach Brazil. His personal highlights came in both of the matches against Macedonia, which he ended with a goal in each. He also shone for Chelsea last term, having been named the PFA Young Player of the Year, as well as being included in the Premier League Team of the Year for the second season in succession. What's more, an injury kept the playmaker out of action in the closing weeks of the campaign, meaning that he should be physically fresh this summer.
Romelu Lukaku: While Chelsea's Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba were ridiculed for their struggles in front of goal in the Premier League, their cause was not helped by Lukaku's free-scoring exploits with Everton. It came as a bit of a surprise when Jose Mourinho sanctioned the 21-year-old's loan departure last summer, and he would go on to prove that school of thought to be correct as he found the net 16 times. The tall centre-forward has also shown positive form for Belgium of late, having scored four goals in friendly wins over Luxembourg and Sweden.
ALGERIA
How they qualified: The Algerians romped through a group that included Mali, collecting 15 points from a possible 18. It meant that a two-legged contest against Burkina Faso stood between The Foxes and their place in Brazil. Many felt that it would be a routine win for Algeria, but after a 3-2 defeat in the away fixture, it would prove to be a nervy return meeting. The Algerians won 1-0 and progressed on the away goals rule, but it was a little too close for comfort.
Manager: Vahid Halilhodzic: The 61-year-old is bound to be extremely excited ahead of this World Cup, particularly because he missed out on the tournament four years ago. He guided Ivory Coast to South Africa in 2010, but following a quarter-final exit in that year's Africa Cup of Nations, he was fired four months before the start of football's biggest competition. At club level, Halilhodzic has managed a host of clubs, including Paris Saint-German, whom he guided to Coupe de France success in 2004.
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Previous World Cup best: Group stages: 1982, 1986, 2010
Squad (provisional):
Goalkeepers: Rais M'bolhi (CSKA Sofia), Mohamed Zemmamouche (USM Alger), Ezzedine Doukha (USM El Harrach), Mohamed Cedric (CS Constantine)
Defenders: Essaid Belkalem (no club), Madjid Bougherra (no club), Lyassine Cadamuro (Mallorca), Faouzi Ghoulam (Napoli), Rafik Halliche (Academica Coimbra), Nacereddine Khoualed (USM Alger), Aissa Mandi (Reims), Mehdi Mostefa (Ajaccio), Carl Medjani (Valenciennes), Djamel Mesbah (Livorno)
Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham), Ryad Boudebouz (Bastia), Yacine Brahimi (Granada), Adlene Guedioura (Crystal Palace), Amir Karaoui (ES Setif), Medhi Lacen (Getafe), Saphir Taider (Inter Milan), Hassen Yebda (Udinese)
Strikers: Rafik Djebbour (Nottingham Forest), Abdelmoumen Djabou (Club Africain), Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia), Ryad Mahrez (Leicester), Islam Slimani (Sporting Lisbon), Hilal Soudani (Dinamo Zagreb), Foued Kadir (Rennes), Nabil Ghilas (FC Porto)
Three Key Players:
Madjid Bougherra: The former Rangers centre-back is a no thrills type of defender, who appears to enjoy nothing more than being involved in physical tussles with a striker. His organisational skills were there for all to see in 2010 when the Algerian backline caused a shock by keeping a clean sheet during a 0-0 draw with England. It was also his goal that proved to be the winning one against Burkina Faso. As well as Rangers, the unattached defender has played for Crewe Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic.
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Sofiane Feghouli: A former French youth international, Feghouli changed his allegiance in 2011 to represent Algeria. The energetic midfielder soon proved his worth at international level by scoring three goals during the World Cup qualifying campaign. He's also been a regular member of the Valencia starting lineup since 2010 and last season the four goals that he scored was his best return in Spain.
Hassan Yebda: Like a number of his international colleagues, Yebda represented France at youth level. He committed himself to Algeria in 2009, though, and has since taken up a role in the heart of the midfield. His experience of having played at the previous World Cup may well prove crucial. Portsmouth fans are likely to remember the 30-year-old, who spent a season on loan at Fratton Park earlier in his career.
RUSSIA
How they qualified: There would have been a collective groan in Russia when they were informed that they had been drawn in the same qualifying group as a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal. Yet, a 1-0 victory over the Iberian nation in Moscow back in October 2012 would prove to be crucial come the end of the campaign when the Russians finished a point better off than their nearest challengers to automatically book their place in Brazil.
Manager: Fabio Capello: Following England's largely forgettable campaign in South Africa, Capello will view the tournament in Brazil as a second chance to prove his credentials at the World Cup. The 67-year-old certainly has an impressive track record to fall back on where his club managerial career is concerned, having taken charge of the likes of AC Milan, Real Madrid and Juventus. He won league titles in Italy and Spain, as well as the Champions League with Milan in 1994.
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Previous World Cup best: Group stage: 1994, 2002
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Yury Lodygin (Zenit St. Petersburg), Sergey Ryzhikov (Rubin Kazan)
Defenders: Vasili Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Granat (Dynamo Moscow), Andrey Eshchenko (Anzhi Makhachkala), Sergey Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Alexey Kozlov (Dynamo Moscow), Dmitry Kombarov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semenov (Terek Grozny), Georgi Schennikov (CSKA Moscow)
Midfielders: Denis Glushakov (Spartak Moscow), Igor Denisov (Dynamo Moscow), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Yury Zhirkov (Dynamo Moscow), Alexey Ionov (Dynamo Moscow), Pavel Mogilevets (Rubin Kazan), Alexander Samedov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Victor Faizulin (Zenit St Petersburg), Oleg Shatov (Zenit St. Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (Krasnodar)
Strikers: Maxim Kanunnikov (Amkar Perm), Alexander Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexander Kokorin (Dynamo Moscow)
Three Key Players:
Igor Akinfeev: It's widely accepted that Russia's revival under Capello's management has been built upon solid foundations, which has made Akinfeev a prominent figure. With the 28-year-old regularly between the posts, the Russians shipped just five goals in 10 qualifiers. Having spent his entire career in his homeland with CSKA Moscow, further positive performances in Brazil may result in other clubs making a move for a keeper that is regarded to be one of the best in Europe.
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Vasili Berezutski: Versatility is a valuable commodity when it comes to a major tournament and Berezutskiy fits that bill. The experienced 31-year-old can play as either a full-back or centre-back and even at a push can operate further up the pitch in a wide position. At 6'2", his commanding figure means that he is a key player when it comes to clearing crosses into the penalty area, as well as being a threat at the other end of the pitch.
Alan Dzagoev: In what is a largely unspectacular and functional Russia team, 23-year-old Dzagoev is the player to provide the flair and unpredictability that can win matches. He announced himself on the international scene at Euro 2012 by finding the net on three separate occasions, which earned the award as the tournament's joint-leading goalscorer. Injuries limited the number of performances that he could make for CSKA Moscow last season, but he still weighed in with four goals as the capital-based outfit won the Russian Premier League.
SOUTH KOREA
How they qualified: The Asian World Cup qualifying process is a long one, with nations made to contest two separate group campaigns. The South Koreans eased through the first one as winners thanks to four wins from their six outings, but the second stage proved to be much more difficult. Iran advanced to Brazil as winners, as did South Korea in second place, but only on goal difference from Uzbekistan.
Manager: Hong Myung-Bo: Nobody has represented South Korea on more occasions than Hong, who wore the famous red jersey 136 times. It was that experience that went a long way to earning him the manager's job in 2013, with the nation having already qualified for the World Cup. He inherited the position from Choi Kang-Hee, who stepped down after South Korea - as mentioned earlier - failed to qualify for the competition with the previously anticipated flying colours.
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Previous World Cup best: Semi-finals: 2002
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-ryong (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-gyu (Ulsan Hyundai), Lee Bum-young (Busan IPark)
Defenders: Kim Jin-su (Albirex Niigata), Kim Young-kwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Yoon Suk-young (QPR), Hwang Seok-ho (Hiroshima Sanfrecce), Hong Jeong-ho (Augsburg) Kwak Tae-hwi (Al Hilal), Lee Yong (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Chang-su (Kashiwa Reysol)
Midfielders: Ki Sung-yueng (Sunderland), Ha Dae-sung (Beijing Guoan), Han Kook-young (Kashiwa Reysol), Park Jong-woo (Guangzhou R&F), Kim Bo-kyung (Cardiff City), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanderers), Son Heung-min (Bayer Leverkusen)
Strikers: Koo Ja-cheol (FSV Mainz 05), Lee Keun-ho (Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-young (Watford), Kim Shin-wook (Ulsan Hyundai), Ji Dong-won (Augsburg
Three Key Players:
Son Heung-Min: The 21-year-old is arguably the most exciting youngster to have come out of Asia in recent memory. He moved to Germany at a young age and has since seen his stock rise in the Bundesliga with Hamburg and more recently Bayer Leverkusen. The pacey and creative playmaker has an eye for goal, as he highlighted by finding the net during the friendly win over Greece back in March.
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Ki Sung-Yueng: An elegant midfielder, Ki's role in whichever team that he has turned out for has been to keep possession ticking over. The 25-year-old, who spent last season on loan with Sunderland from Swansea City, rarely wastes a pass. With the heat that is expected to greet the players in Brazil, Ki's ball retention will be an invaluable asset for his teammates.
Ji Dong-Won: Sunderland supporters may be a bit confused as to why Ji finds himself in this selection following his disappointing stint in the Premier League. However, he did enough during his time in Germany with Augsburg to convince Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp to sign him ahead of the start of next season. The 23-year-old has not always been a regular starter for his country, although recent reports have suggested that he could lead the Korea attack in Brazil.
Group H fixtures (KO UK time)
Tuesday, June 17
Belgium vs. Algeria, 5pm
Russia vs. South Korea, 11pm
Sunday, June 22
Belgium vs. Russia, 5pm
South Korea vs. Algeria, 8pm
Thursday, June 26
Algeria vs. Russia, 9pm
South Korea vs. Belgium 9pm
Sports Mole says: 1. Belgium 2. Russia 3. South Korea 4. Algeria
Liam Apicella
