GERMANY
How they qualified: The three-time champions were rampant in qualifying as they finished top of their group with nine wins and one draw from 10 games. Their most emphatic victory was a 6-1 triumph against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, while heavy wins over Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan and Austria saw them end the campaign having scored 36 goals. Their top scorer was Mesut Ozil, who found the net eight times overall.
Manager: Joachim Low: The 54-year-old took charge of the team in 2006 after spending two years as assistant coach to Jurgen Klinsmann. Low guided Germany to the 2008 European Championship final before they lost out to Spain. He then saw his German side lose out to the Spaniards again in the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup, while they were beaten in the semi-finals of the European Championship two years later by Italy. A manager with plenty of experience in major tournaments, expect Low to take Germany far in Brazil this summer.
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Previous World Cup best: Winners, 1954, 1974, 1990
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Strikers: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)
Three Key Players:
Philipp Lahm: Germany's lynchpin. The 30-year-old full-back, who has 105 caps to his name, has been rejuvenated in the past year at Bayern Munich by being developed into an effective midfielder. The kind of player whose commitment is never in doubt, Lahm's fitness and tenacity will see him play a huge part for his country out in the heat of Brazil. He has has won pretty much everything that there is to win in club football, but international honours continue to evade him. Expect Lahm to be doing his utmost to put that right in the coming weeks.
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Manuel Neuer: One of the top goalkeepers in world football, Neuer is sure to be an integral part to Germany's cause at the World Cup. An imposing presence at the back, the 28-year-old has bags of talent when it comes to keeping the ball out of the net. Strong in the air, superb reflexes and solid organisational skills, Neuer is the latest in a long line of impressive German shot-stoppers.
Thomas Muller: The versatile 24-year-old can be employed in a variety of positions, but he is usually most effective when drifting behind the strikers. A scorer of important goals, Muller is also a very handy player to have lurking in the penalty box. He was relatively unknown before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, only for that to all change by becoming the tournament's top scorer with five goals. While his exploits in attack will be invaluable to Germany this summer, Muller's assists will be equally as important.
PORTUGAL
How they qualified: Portugal and Russia battled it out for supremacy in their qualifying group, only for the Portuguese to finish one point behind their rivals. That meant that Paulo Bento's side had to face Sweden in a two-legged playoff to reach Brazil. Having led 1-0 from the first leg, Portugal travelled to Sweden with the tie in the balance. Billed as a clash between Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, it was Ronaldo who made his mark as a hat-trick saw Portugal win 3-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.
Manager: Paulo Bento: One of the youngest managers at the tournament at 44 years of age, Bento has been in charge of Portugal since September 2010. Arguably his most famous victory at the helm came soon after that with an eye-catching 4-0 thrashing of world champions Spain. His first taste of tournament football came at the 2012 European Championship, but it was ultimately a disappointing campaign as the Portuguese lost to Spain on penalties in the semi-finals.
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Previous World Cup best: Third place, 1966
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting)
Defenders: Andre Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit St Petersburg), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valencia)
Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon), Rafa (Braga)
Strikers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Eder (Braga), Helder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Nani (Manchester United), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg)
Three Key Players:
Cristiano Ronaldo: Only one place to start here. With 49 goals in 110 games for his country, the 29-year-old forward is expected to light up the tournament in Brazil this summer. As one of the best players on the planet, Ronaldo's blistering pace, physicality, attacking prowess and ability to win matches almost single-handedly make him Portugal's most dynamic force. While Ronaldo is the sort of player who has confidence oozing out of every well-maintained pore, there are sometimes question marks over whether he can influence the biggest games. However, it would be foolish to predict that he will not be one of the defining figures at the tournament.
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Pepe: Like him or loathe him, there can be no denying that Pepe is an important part of the Portuguese side. His general petulance can certainly grate, but it must also be said that his no-nonsense approach to defending is just what Portugal will need against tricky opponents in their group. With a good sense of positioning, a big physical presence and a deceptive turn of pace, Pepe will need to be on his best behaviour to make sure that he does not become too much of a liability.
Joao Moutinho: The Monaco midfielder is the sort of player who will go quietly about his business, but his range of passing, stamina and vision all mean that he is integral to Portugal's hopes in Brazil. Moutinho has won 72 caps following his debut in 2005, but just two goals at international level is something of a disappointment. With a range of silky midfielders on show this summer, Moutinho is among the most gifted.
GHANA
How they qualified: The Ghanaians had little trouble getting through African qualifying. Five wins and one defeat made sure that they came top of their group, four points above second-placed Zambia. Their most emphatic victory came at the start of the campaign with a 7-0 thrashing of Lesotho. They had to beat Egypt over two legs in a playoff after that, but a 7-3 aggregate triumph saw them reach Brazil with ease.
Manager: Akwasi Appiah: The 53-year-old came through the ranks with the national setup, with a brief spell as Ghana's Under-23 coach preceding his appointment as manager of the senior team in 2012. He has proved to be more than capable of making the step up as a successful qualifying campaign saw him guide Ghana safely through to the World Cup. It would appear that Appiah has the faith of the Ghana Football Association as well after he was handed a two-year contract extension earlier this year.
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Previous World Cup best: Quarter-finals, 2010
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Adam Larsen Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars)
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege), Harrison Afful (Esperance), Jeffery Schlupp (Leicester City), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian), Rashid Sumaila (Mamelodi Sundowns), Jerry Akaminko (Eskisehirspor)
Midfielders: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Sulley Ali Muntari (AC Milan), Rabiu Mohamed (Kuban Krasnodar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese), Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Christian Atsu (Vitesse), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan), David Accam (Helsingborg)
Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Kevin Prince Boateng (Schalke), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux)
Three Key Players:
Michael Essien: Despite being one of Ghana's most famous footballers, Essien's international career has been a spluttering one in recent years. The 31-year-old missed the last World Cup through injury before taking a voluntary break from the national team. However, he returned earlier this year to help steer the Black Stars to Brazil. A combative midfielder who is not afraid to leave his mark on opponents, Essien will be an anchor in the centre of the park for his side this summer.
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Kevin-Prince Boateng: Similar to Essien, the AC Milan forward only recently returned to the Ghana squad following a self-imposed exile. However, the Black Stars will be glad that he is back among their ranks thanks to his experience of playing football at the highest level in Europe. A combustible personality, Boateng's two goals in 11 international appearances betray his overall quality. Quick, clever and athletic, Boateng is a potent force in the final third. If he really wants to show his worth to Ghana, what better place to do it than at the World Cup?
Asamoah Gyan: Ghana's captain is the type of striker who could well thrive in Brazil. The 28-year-old, who plays his club football out in the United Arab Emirates with Al Ain, has found the net 39 times in 77 games for his country - a record which cannot be taken lightly. Quick, powerful and with a keen sense of where the goal is, Gyan is sure to give opposition defences plenty of headaches. His penalty miss in the quarter-finals against Uruguay at the last World Cup is something that Gyan will also be keen to erase this summer.
USA
How they qualified: The Americans qualified by finishing at the top of their group in the CONCACAF section. Seven wins from 10 games put them four points ahead of Costa Rica, though they started with a defeat against Honduras. Despite that shaky opening, subsequent victories over Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and Panama put them through. The goals were largely shared around a handful of players, but it was Clint Dempsey who proved the most lethal in front of goal with three strikes to his name.
Manager: Jurgen Klinsmann: The former Germany striker has rejuvenated American football since taking charge in 2011, making sure that a focus on youth will stand the team in good stead for years to come. An intriguing sub-plot will see Klinsmann come up against Germany in Group G, but there will be no doubts that he will be intensely determined to put one over his home country.
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Previous World Cup best: Third place, 1930
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Strikers: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Three Key Players:
Tim Howard: The goalkeeper had a fine season with Everton in the Premier League as the Toffees secured a fifth-placed finish in the table under new manager Roberto Martinez. Howard, 35, is a hugely reliable figure between the sticks, and his commanding presence at the back will be vital to the USA if they want to make it out of the group. Klinsmann has urged Howard to make a big mark at this summer's tournament, and the shot-stopper will be relishing the chance to step up to the plate. Having made 98 appearances for his country, Howard also brings with him a wealth of experience.
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Clint Dempsey: Another player who has been a mainstay in the USA side for the past 10 years, Dempsey's big-game experience will play an important factor for his country out in Brazil. While the 31-year-old is not blessed with pace or technical ability, he has a knack of scoring important goals. Good in the air and with an instinctive sense of positioning in and around the penalty box, Dempsey remains a key man for the Americans.
Jozy Altidore: The burly forward found life difficult with Sunderland in the Premier League last season, scoring one goal in 31 matches. However, 21 goals in 67 appearances for the USA shows you that he is adept at causing an impact at international level. Altidore has a tendency to drift in and out of matches due to his questionable stamina, but he can also come alive when the ball is in the area. Expect him to be a handful against the likes of Germany and Portugal.
Group G fixtures (KO UK time)
Monday, June 16
Germany vs. Portugal, 5pm
Ghana vs. USA, 11pm
Saturday, June 21
Germany vs. Ghana, 8pm
Sunday, June 22
USA vs. Portugal, 11pm
Thursday, June 26
Portugal vs. Ghana, 5pm
USA vs. Germany, 5pm
Sports Mole says: 1. Germany 2. Portugal 3. USA 4. Ghana
