Brazil won the 2013 Confederations Cup with five victories from each of their first competitive matches in two years, facing both Euro 2012 finalists Spain and Italy. The performances suggested that after half a year in charge, manager Felipao had the squad acclimatising to the pressure they face as host nations.

The Selecao had been struggling to qualify for World Cup 2002 before his first appointment, and were hit by a run of just two wins in eight games as he took charge for the second time. But in each tournament he constructed a winning team built around a solid defensive spine allowing his stars freedom to attack.

In their 2010 quarter-final against Holland, Brazil were unable to cancel out a goal resulting a goalkeeping error Julio Cesar, who has recently lacked game-time at the top level. A setback could prompt negative memories of the goalkeeping error in 1950 and their ability to chase a game is untested.

The team relies heavily on Neymar for quality in attack, but the arrangement has a clear purpose and he has thrived to score 31 goals in 49 games. Fred lacks pace but finishes well, and against a defence that has dropped deep against the pace of Hulk and the Barcelona star, he has the link-up play to help crack it.

Luiz Gustavo’s defensive presence on the left side of central midfield supports pacey centre-backs David Luiz and Thiago Silva, and gives more freedom to Marcelo and Neymar on the left flank. To his right, each of Paulinho, Oscar and Hulk possess a high work-rate, allowing Dani Alves forward from right-back.

The fearsome athleticism throughout the side makes them difficult to attack without encouraging counter-attacks, and they are the clear favourites. Nate Silver puts their chances even higher. If the opening match contains a surprise it could be a spectacular win for the home side.

Croatia began their qualifying campaign with five wins and a draw against eventual Group A winners Belgium, but after collecting only one draw from their last four matches the 1998 semi-finalist Igor Stimac was replaced as manager.

Niko Kovac took charge for the two-legged play-off against Iceland, which they opened nervously with a 0-0 draw away. They secured progression in the return leg with a 2-0 home win, but striker Mario Mandzukic was sent off shortly after scoring the opening goal and he now misses the opening game against Brazil.

The Bayern Munich treble-winner’s work rate, and hold-up play are crucial to capitalise on the outstanding central midfield quality and passing range of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic. The side’s natural wide players, Danijel Pranjic, Sime Vrsaljko and Dario Srna play at full-back, while positions on the flanks are left to strikers such as Ivica Olic or playmakers such as Ivan Perisic.

The youthful Mateo Kovacic can add his prodigious dribbling ability to the side’s midfield prowess, and has played a bigger role for Croatia than for Inter Milan. But unless Kovac adds a dedicated physical presence in midfield such as Ognjen Vukojevic to cover the full-backs, or successfully defends by keeping the ball, opponents will be invited to defend deep and wait for their chance to strike powerfully on the counter.

Opening day opponents Brazil are ideally suited to doing so and if they manage this in the opening game, the confidence so crucial to their midfield creativity may falter and the team could disappoint.

Mexico almost failed to qualify after collecting just two wins from ten games in the Fourth Round group stage of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, but a final day favour from group winners USA helped them reach fourth place behind Costa Rica and Honduras before their third manager during qualification was dismissed.

New manager Miguel Herrera took charge and, after attempting to improve morale among the side by selecting predominantly home-based players in his squad, qualified with a 9-3 aggregate win over New Zealand in their inter-continental play-off.

His 3-5-2 system relies on the athleticism from a five-man midfield anchored by Jose Vazquez in front of vastly experienced former Barcelona centre-back Rafael Marquez. His preference for a front-two system sees either pacey Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez or Villarreal attacker Giovani Dos Santos miss out, with strong finisher Oribe Peralta left up front with much of his side’s attacking responsibility.

Cameroon relied on Togo fielding an ineligible player in order to qualify, and were still hindered by lingering disagreements shortly before the tournament, but have many players based in strong leagues in Europe. Much of their defensive core has Champions League experience, but the teams lack of stability during qualification limits their cohesion in attack.

However, the side’s aerial power, Alex Song’s passing range, and Samuel Eto’o finishing instinct offer hope for moments of individual quality, and I always think wide-forward Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting stands out as a goal threat in ITV 4’s Bundesliga highlights programme.

With a favourable result against Mexico, they could build momentum ahead of a deciding fixture in Manaus against Croatia with the hot and humid conditions supporting them in their bid for an upset.

Brazil qualified as hosts, while in 2011 as many as 202 other teams began A competition for the remaining 31 starting positions in the FIFA World Cup that concluded over two years later.

In the AFC a row broke out in Fourth Round Group A between Iran and South Korea whose coach complained about the facilities provided in their away fixture, and the East Asian side going on to qualify ahead of Uzbekistan on goal difference after their last match. Australia reached the World Cup in alongside Group B winners Japan despite losing away to Jordan, who faced Uzbekistan in the continent’s fifth round tie between the two third placed sides. After the two could not be separated over two legs the play-off was won by Jordan 9-8 on penalties.

The CONMEBOL qualifying competition saw Argentina, Colombia and Chile negotiate their 16 games more comfortably than above Ecuador, who were hit by the tragic death of Cristian Benitez, and Uruguay who succumbed to defeat in a string of away fixtures. Uruguay were beaten in the table on goal difference, forcing them into an inter-continental play-off against Jordan which they won comfortably 5-0 on aggregate.

The CONCACAF competition saw heavily fancied Mexico almost succumb to complacency and fail to qualify with just two wins from ten games in the Fourth Round group stage, but a final day favour from group winners USA helped them reach fourth place behind Costa Rica and Honduras. Mexico then qualified after a 9-3 aggregate win over comfortable OFC competition winners New Zealand in their inter-continental play-off.

The CAF Second Round group stage saw Morocco, Zambia and Mali eliminated with most of the drama was saved for the Third Round play-offs. Egypt, winners of three of the last five Africa Cups of Nations, were blown apart 6-1 away in Ghana despite winning all but one of their previous group matches, while Burkina Faso were denied entry on away goals when a late winner would have taken them through. In the end all five qualifiers for the 2010 tournament again made it to 2014.

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In Europe, Belgium, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland qualified as comfortable group winners, while Russia, debut finalists Bosnia, England and Spain took longer after close competition from Portugal, Greece, Ukraine and France respectively. In the play-offs, Greece overcame Romania after a strong home performance, while experienced Croatia held their nerve after a 0-0 draw away at minnows Iceland to record a 2-0 win at home and go through. The drama occurred as France needed to overturn a 2-0 defeat away in Ukraine, and did so with a 3-0 victory in Paris, and the highlight was Cristiano Ronaldo’s display away in Sweden as the Ballon D’Or winner’s hat-trick overshadowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s two goals to ensure the giant striker would miss the World Cup after Sweden were beaten 4-2 on aggregate.