GROUP D
THREE FORMER WORLD CUP WINNERS COMPETE FOR TWO KNOCKOUT SPOTS
Uruguay start the group as favourites against fellow Latin Americans Costa Rica in the heat of Brazils north coast in Fortaleza on 14 June, while European giants England and Italy face off in the humidity of Manaus later that day in a tie that could dictate the tournament fortunes of either side.

On 19 June the Three Lions are next called into action against Uruguay in a match were a second defeat would end the World Cup dream, while a day later Italy face Costa Rica and will hope to collect a win to boost their chances of escaping the group.

Match-day three sees Italy take on Uruguay in what could be a decisive match in either the race to top the table or to stay in qualification, while England look to either collect the points they need to progress or end the tournament with pride after an early exit.

WAYNE ROONEY
The versatile striker was awarded a bumper new contract at Manchester United, although Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement preceded disappointing league form under his former Everton manager David Moyes. Still just 28 he has starred for the Three Lions for over a decade but has struggled at major tournaments since limping off injured at Euro 2004, and he failed to score in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

LUIS SUAREZ
Despite controversial behavior in each of the last two seasons and his transfer request last summer, the striker has improved with every season since joining Liverpool from Ajax mid-season in 2011. His unique combination of power, agility, eye for goal and unceasing energy mean he has succeeded Diego Forlan as the spearhead for his country, with whom he faces club strike partner Daniel Sturridge this summer.

BRYAN RUIZ
Fulham signed the forward in 2011 for £10.6 million after impressive Champions League displays for Twente Enschede, but his languid style did not seem to suit England and he was loaned out to PSV Eindhoven in January, where he plays in support of a central striker in an attacking trio. His cultured left-foot will be key if Costa Rica are to unlock their experienced opponents’ tight defences.

MARIO BALOTELLI
The talented striker left treble-winning Inter Milan for Manchester City where he won the Premier League title, despite his colourful behavior off the pitch, before he left for AC Milan, who he helped qualify for the Champions League in his first season. While he was unable to prevent their form collapsing this term, he is tall, quick, creative and has excellent finishing instincts despite his inconsistency.
URUGUAY
SUAREZ SHINES AMID FADING COPA AMERICA WINNERS
Uruguay reached the semi-finals of the last World Cup in 2010 after a controversial quarter-final win over Ghana on penalties, with their opponents missing the penalty late in normal time that followed when Luis Suarez’s handball stopped a goal-bound header. A year later they won the 2011 Copa America, knocking out Argentina on penalties in the quarter-finals before collecting the trophy with a 3-0 win over Paraguay in the final.

Manager Oscar Tabarez’s side had aimed to keep a solid defence and attack mainly through the prowess on the counter of strikers Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan. They switched between a back three and a back four depending on the opposition, making use of versatile wing-backs Maxi Pereira and Alvaro Pereira on the fight and left respectively. However despite Diego Godin’s good form, his captain and fellow centre-back Diego Lugano is 33 and has lost pace, leaving regular central midfielders Egidio Arevalo Rios and Diego Perez, also over 30, with more ground to cover.

Suarez struck 11 goals to finish top scorer in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table, but La Celeste lost five of their eight matches away from home to finish fifth in the table, meaning they required an inter-continental play-off against Jordan to qualify.

The Copa America holders rely increasingly on Cavani and Suarez up front, but the duo could prove capable of winning games on their own.

COSTA RICA
LATIN MINNOWS FACE FORMER WORLD CUP WINNERS
Los Ticos missed out on qualification for the 2010 World Cup after finishing fourth behind Honduras on goal difference the CONCACAF Fourth qualifying table meant they faced Uruguay in an inter-continental play-off, in which they were beaten by the eventual semi-finalists.

This time round new manager Jorge Luis Pinto, who had been dismissed during Costa Rica’s 2006 qualifying campaign despite its eventual success, made sure of their progression. His side secured passage through the Third round group stage behind Mexico following their 1-0 win away in El Salvador, but they were much convincing in the Fourth round where they qualified in second place in the table after wins in all five home games. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas built on his form with high-flying La Liga side Levante to concede just seven goals, the lowest tally in that group, despite having defence lacking experience on the World stage.

While left-sided Bryan Oviedo suffered a broken leg earlier this season, winger Christian Bolanos offers pace on the right flank. Powerful MLS striker Alvaro Saborio finished their top scorer with eight goals and he will be ably supported by the creative Bryan Ruiz as well as promising young forward Joel Campbell. A strike from the Arsenal-owned forward while on loan at Olympiakos left English giants Manchester United reeling before they recovered to progress in the home second leg of their Champions League tie, but their group rivals might not get a second chance this summer.

ITALY
AZZURRI LOOK TO BUILD ON RECENT SUCCESS
Italy won the 2006 World Cup under manager Marcello Lippi but after he was rehired after a Euro 2008 quarter-final exit to Spain, his side flopped at World Cup 2010 finishing bottom of their Group. Fiorentina’s Cesare Prandelli was appointed in his place and he has restored confidence to the side over the past four years.

They finished as runners-up in Euro 2012 after defeating first England on penalties and then Germany 2-0, before a losing the final 4-0 to world champions Spain. At the 2013 Confederations Cup they collected thrilling wins over Mexico and Japan before defeat to hosts Brazil set up a semi-final against Spain once again, and though they lost, the scoreline was much closer as a penalty shoot-out was needed to separate the two. Although the Azzurri drew four of their ten Group B games in qualification for World Cup 2014, their passage was comfortable and they qualified unbeaten at the top of the table.

Prandelli has experimented with both a back four and the back three used by Serie A champions Juventus alongside their goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and deep-lying playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who each played a key role in the 2006 triumph. Further forward the coach faces a difficult choice of players from his talented and deep squad, although five-goal top scorer in qualifying Mario Balotelli’s combination of athletic and technical abilities is unique within the squad and he is likely to feature heavily if Italy are to succeed.