FIFA WORLD RANKING: 2 (As at April 2006)

QUALIFICATION: 2nd in UEFA Group 1, Beat Norway 2-0 on aggregate in playoff

BEST RESULT: Runners Up 1934, 1962 (As Czechoslovakia)

JAPAN/KOREA 2002: Failed to Qualify for finals

COACH: Karel BRUCKNER (Czech)

SQUAD:
KEEPERS: Petr CECH (Chelsea), Jaromir BLAZEK (Sparta Prague, Czech Republic), Antonin KINSKY (Ramenskoye, Russia)

DEFENDERS: Zdenek GRYGERA (Ajax, Netherlands), Marek JANKULOVSKI (AC Milan, Italy), Martin JIRANEK (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Pavel MARES (St Petersburg, Russia), Radoslav KOVAC (Spartak Moscow, Russia), David ROZEHNAL (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Tomas UJFALUSI (Fiorentina, Italy)

MIDFIELDERS: Tomas GALASEK (Ajax, Netherlands), David JAROLIM (Hamburg, Germany), Pavel NEDVED (Juventus, Italy), Karel POBORSKY (Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic), Jan POLAK (Nuremberg, Germany), Jaroslav PLASIL (Monaco, France), Tomas ROSICKY (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Vladimir SMICER (Bordeaux, France)

FORWARDS: Milan BAROS (Aston Villa), Marek HEINZ (Galatasaray, Turkey), Jan KOLLER (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Vratislav LOKVENC (Salzbourg, Austria), Jiri STAJNER (Hanover, Germany)

PRESENT STAR MAN: Pavel Nedved came out of retirement to help them qualify and the country is hopeful the all-action Juventus playmaker can inspire them to success in Germany.

STRENGTHS: In the likes of Nedved, Jan Koller, Poborsky, Baros, Petr Cech and Rosicky they have enough talent to cause problems for anybody. Nobody scored more goals than the Czechs in European qualifying.

WEAKNESSES: Struggle for consistency. At both Euro 2004 and in
qualifying for Germany they looked unbeatable, but at other times they fail to shine.

ODDS TO WIN (All prices courtesy of TAB Sportsbet Australia, current as of 31/5/2006):
TOURNAMENT: $2.85
GROUP: $31

FIFA WORLD RANKING: 48 (As at April 2006)

QUALIFICATION: Won Africa Group 2

BEST RESULT: 1st Appearance in Finals

JAPAN/KOREA 2002: Failed to Qualify for Finals

COACH: Ratomir DUJKOVIC (Serbian)

SQUAD: 
KEEPERS: Sammy ADJEI (Moadan Sport Ashdod, Israel), Richard KINGSTON (Ankaraspor, Turkey), George OWU (AsantiGold, Ghana)

DEFENDERS: Eric ADDO (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Issah AHMED (Randers, Denmark), Sheila ILLIASU (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Samuel Osei KUFFOUR (AS Roma, Italy), John MENSAH (Stade Rennes, France), Habib MOHAMMAD (King Faisal Babes, Ghana), John PAINSTIL (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Emmanuel PAPPOE (Hapoel Kfar Saba, Israel), Daniel QUAYE (Hearts of Oak, Ghana), Hans SARPEI (VfL Wolfsburg, Germany)

MIDFIELDERS: Otto ADDO (FSV Mainz, Germany), Stephen APPIAH (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Derek BOATENG (AIK Stockholm, Sweden), Haminu DRAMANI (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro), Michael ESSIEN (Chelsea), Sulley Ali MUNTARI (Udinese, Italy)

FORWARDS: Matthew AMOAH (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Asamoah GYAN (Modena, Italy), Razak PIMPONG (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Alex TACHIE-MENSAH (St. Gallen, Switzerland)

PRESENT STAR MAN: Essien will need no introduction at the World Cup. The 22-year-old became the most expensive African when he moved from Lyon to Chelsea for £24.4m.

STRENGTHS: The unfancied team has been gelled under Dujkovic, and they showed in their qualifying group they are capable of upsets.

WEAKNESSES: Reliance on a few star players, lack of consistency in
defence and poor finishing could cost them, while the team may lack confidence against the more experienced international nations.

ODDS TO WIN (All prices courtesy of TAB Sportsbet Australia, current as of 31/5/2006):
TOURNAMENT: $351
GROUP: $11

FIFA WORLD RANKING: 5 (As at April 2006)

QUALIFICATION: Won CONCACAF Stage 3

BEST RESULT: Semi Finals 1930

JAPAN/KOREA 2002: Quarter Finals

COACH: Bruce ARENA (American)

SQUAD:
KEEPERS: Kasey KELLER (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Tim HOWARD (Manchester United), Marcus HAHNEMANN (Reading)

DEFENDERS: Carlos BOCANEGRA (Fulham), Steve CHERUNDOLO (Hannover 96, Germany), Jimmy CONRAD (Kansas City Wizards, USA), Cory GIBBS (ADO Den Haag, Netherlandsd), Chris ALLBRIGHT (Los Angeles Galaxy, USA), Eddie LEWIS (Leeds United), Oguchi ONYEWU (Standard Liege, Belgium), Eddie POPE (Real Salt Lake, USA)

MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus BEASLEY (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Bobby CONVEY (Reading), Clint DEMPSEY (New England Revolution, USA), Landon DONOVAN (Los Angeles Galaxy, USA), Pablo MASTROENI (Colorado Rapids, USA), John O'BRIEN (Chivas, USA), Bebn OLSEN (DC United, USA), Claudio REYNA (Manchester City)

FORWARDS:  Eddie JOHNSON (Kansas City Wizards, USA), Brian McBRIDE (Fulham), Brian CHING (Houston Dynamo, USA), Josh WOLFF (Kansas City Wizards, USA)

PRESENT STAR MAN: Landon Donovan. The ex-Bayer Leverkusen player - currently at Los Angeles Galaxy - is now used more as a midfield playmaker but still scored six goals during qualifying and laid on a further six more for his team-mates.

STRENGTHS: The US are a vastly experienced team and have three good goalkeepers in Kasey Keller, Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann.

WEAKNESSES: They do not play against genuine world-class opposition often enough. Were able to field a reserve team for their last two qualifiers and still top their group.

ODDS TO WIN (All prices courtesy of TAB Sportsbet Australia, current as of 31/5/2006):
TOURNAMENT: $111
GROUP: $7.25