CAPELLO’S RUSSIA TAKE ON BELGIUM’S GOLDEN GENERATION
Dark horses Belgium face comparative minnows Algeria to open Group H on 17 June, while Russia will have to be careful to avoid an upset against South Korea in a tie that could prove crucial if the Asian side are to progress from the group stage.

Match-day two sees Belgium, new to the world stage, take on the experienced Fabio Capello’s Russia at the Maracana in a tie that could decide who tops the group – although arguably potential round-of-16 opponents Germany and Portugal are equally intimidating. Meanwhile South Korea and Algeria face off in a tie that could see one of the two eliminated early.

On match-day 3 the two European sides will likely be competing to secure their passage to the round-of-16, but if previous rounds have gone their way either South Korea or Algeria could be poised to secure progression following a memorable upset.

ALAN DZAGOEV
Russia open their World Cup campaign against South Korea on the playmaker’s 24th birthday, but he started only four of their ten qualifying matches having suffered with injury earlier this season. He was Euro 2012’s joint top scorer with three goals, after he added to the four he netted during qualification, and his technical ability and clever play around the box could help his side break down tight defences.

EDEN HAZARD
The 23-year-old is still improving and impresses all over attack at Chelsea, where he moved from Lille after winning the 2011 Ligue 1 title along successive player of the season awards after striking 20 league goals the next year. He is able to combine with teammates around the box while dribbling at high-speed, and if he transfers his good finishing to Belgium he could add to his five international goals rapidly.

SON HEUNG-MIN
The versatile forward moved to Germany aged 16 and rose up through the Hamburg youth academy to score 12 Bundesliga goals last season before earning a move to Bayer Leverkusen, where he has featured across the front line. He has pace, dribbling ability and finishes well with either foot, and though he started just three games in qualifying he could make a big impact in Brazil.

SAPHIR TAIDER
The central midfielder displayed great stamina, composure and defensive awareness for such a young player at Bologna last season, earning him a move to Inter Milan. Born in France, he made himself available for selection by Algeria last year, and will be crucial for his side if they are to have much success in building on their solid defence to retain possession and construct moves going forward.

BELGIUM – LUKAKU BEARS BURDEN AFTER BENTEKE INJURY
Belgium failed to qualify for the World Cup since reaching six consecutive tournaments from 1982 to 2002. Nicknamed ‘war-pig’, current manager Marc Wilmots played in three where the attacking midfielder became their all-time top World Cup goalscorer. After retirement he served in the Belgian Senate, before he returned to the national team in 2009 as an assistant manager under Dick Advocaat.

They had lost five straight games in their World Cup 2010 qualifying group, and despite beating Turkey in their next they finished fourth. Advocaat soon became the third manager in two years to depart, and Georges Leekens restored stability but began their Euro 2012 group with defeats to Germany and then Turkey, who they again finished below. Wilmots then took over and finally capitalized on the talent of Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ to top Group A unbeaten.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois conceded just four goals behind captain Vincent Kompany in defence, where outstanding depth at centre-back masks a lack of natural full-backs that has moved Jan Vertonghen to the left. Ever-present Axel Witsel, skilful Moussa Dembele, giant Marouane Fellaini or versatile Nacer Chadli add further power in midfield.

Lone striker Christian Benteke’s Achilles tendon injury rocked preparations, but alongside the creativity of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne or the direct Dries Mertens and Kevin Mirallas, Romelu Lukaku is capable of leading the attack to glory on his own.

ALGERIA – FENNECS COACH REACHES WORLD CUP AT SECOND ATTEMPT
Vahid Halihodzic previously guided Ivory Coast to qualification for World Cup 2010, but after a disappointing defeat to Algeria in the quarter-finals of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations he was dismissed and missed out on the chance to coach at a World Cup. He joined the side that beat him shortly after a humiliating 4-0 defeat away at neighbours Morocco in qualification AfCoN 2012, but they could not recover to reach the tournament.

Les Fennecs also suffered an early exit from the 2013 tournament after opening the group stage with two defeats, however this time Halilhodzic kept his job and he went on to win all their remaining matches in CAF second round qualifying to top Group H despite an previous defeat to Mali. Algeria qualified for their second consecutive World Cup by defeating AfCoN 2013 finalists Burkina Faso in a nervy playoff decided on away goals, after Madjid Bougherra netted the only goal of the game in the first leg at home before his side held on for a 3-2 defeat in the second leg.

The North African side conceded just two goals and held England to a 0-0 draw at the 2010 World Cup in performances that the experienced Bougherra, his centre-back partner Carl Medjani, and powerful midfielder Hassan Yebda will attempt to repeat. They failed to score however and powerful striker Islam Slimani, their five-goal top scorer with in qualifying, along with the pacey Sofiane Feghouli and playmaker Saphir Taider will hope to improve this year in attack.

RUSSIA – CAPELLO LEADS GIANTS BACK AFTER WORLD CUP ABSENCE
Russia had failed to reach the knock-out stages of a major tournament since a new football federation for was created in place of the USSR’s, but at Euro 2008 manager Guus Hiddink and playmaker Andrei Arshavin led a run to a semi-final exit to eventual winners Spain. Hiddink then resigned after a shock play-off defeat on away goals to Slovenia saw them miss out on their second consecutive World Cup, and while Dick Advocaat saw qualification as group winners for Euro 2012, they were eliminated at the group stage and he too resigned.

While Arshavin apologised after he was stripped of the captaincy following controversial comments on his side’s failure, legendary new manager Fabio Capello fielded him for less than 45 minutes in his first friendly in charge before omitting him entirely from qualification.

A CSKA Moscow based defence of goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and centre-backs Vasili Berezutsky and Sergei Ignashevich let in just five goals as a strong start helped Russia top Group F despite defeats away to rivals Portugal and then Northern Ireland.

Creative Roman Shirokov (now ruled out through injury), versatile Viktor Faizulin and fiery Igor Denisov provide experience in central midfield and combine well on the counter-attack with their former teammates at Zenit St Petersburg, pacey winger Vladimir Bystrov and striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov. Forward Alexandr Kokorin and versatile Alan Dzagoev also pose a goal threat, and the Italian’s immense pedigree could make the difference.

SOUTH KOREA – 2002 CAPTAIN TAKES CHARGE AFTER CLOSE-RUN QUALIFICATION
Until reaching the semi-finals as a host nation in 2002 South Korea had won a single match in four successive prior finals appearances. They also reached the round-of-16 in 2010, but qualification for this year’s tournament proved very difficult. Manager Cho Kwang-Rae was fired after a 2-1 loss to Lebanon in the AFC third round group stage left progression down to the final round, when newly appointed Choi Kang-Hee won 2-0 at home to Kuwait to send them through to the fourth round.

A 1-0 defeat in Iran was followed by controversy after Choi complained about the facilities provided ahead of the match. And despite a home win 1-0 over Uzbekistan in their penultimate match, a draw in their previous game away in Lebanon meant progression from the group stage was decided on the final day. His side were again beaten 1-0 by table-topping Iran while Uzbekistan thrashed Qatar 5-1, and the Taegeuk Warriors avoided by a single goal an Asian play-off against Jordan followed by an inter-continental play-off against Uruguay.

Choi stepped down and in came 2002 captain Hong Myung-Bo who inherited a young side beginning to emerge in Europe, including centre-back Hong Jeong-Ho, left-back Park Joo-Ho in defence, midfielders Ki Sung-Yueng, Lee Chung-Yong , and Kim Bo-Kyung in England and goalscoring Koo Ja-Cheol in Germany. Experienced striker Park Chu-Young has lacked playing time, but versatile attackers Ji Dong-Won and Son Heung-Min could more than compensate.