The USA have a lot to live up to after reaching the quarter finals four years ago but being placed in the Group of Death could see their campaign in Germany fall much shorter.
World Cup 2006 Preview – Italy
Italy are the grand masters of heart-breaking tragedy when it comes to major finals. In all three World Cups held in the 1990s, the Italians bowed out on penalties, including Roberto Baggios infamous miss against Brazil in the 1994 final.
World Cup Preview – Poland
Following a disastrous 2002 World Cup campaign in which coach Jerzy Engel talked up his sides prospects only for them to be beaten 2-0 by South Korea and hammered 4-0 by Portugal, Poland will be keen to recreate their former World Cup glories.
World Cup 2006 Preview – Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast topped their qualifying group but the margins between success and failure were so intense it came down to a single penalty kick with just four minutes of qualification remaining.
Wolfsburg, Germany Croatia vs. Poland
The Croatian national football team has played in international tournaments as a national team since Croatia’s independence in 1990-1992 and is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation.
World Cup 2006 Preview – Japan
Japan are a difficult team to predict. Last year they beat European champions Greece and earned a credible draw with Brazil in last years Confederations Cup but their qualifying campaign was less than convincing.
World Cup 2006 Preview – Angola
After almost bowing out at the first hurdle, Angola, the smallest of all the African qualifiers, reached Germany at the expense of traditional powerhouses Nigeria.
World Cup 2006 Preview – Mexico
As per usual, Mexico, ranked in the Worlds top 10, had an impossibly easy qualifying path to the finals in Germany.
World Cup 2006 Preview – Argentina
Following a dismal World Cup four years ago which saw first round elimination, Argentina will look to make a serious impact at this years finals.
World Cup 2006 Preview – Paraguay
Paraguay have qualified for their third successive World Cup finals, but like fellow South American qualifiers Ecuador, their route to Germany was an inconsistent one.
World Cup 2006 Preview – Australia
After a 32 year absence from the finals, Australia finally overcame their play-off hoodoo to qualify for Germany. Play off agony to Iran in 1997 and Uruguay in 2001 was vanquished last November as the Australians again faced Uruguay and beat them in a penalty shoot-out.
World Cup 2006 Preview – Portugal
After a disastrous 2002 World Cup, in which they finished bottom of their group following defeats by both the United States and South Korea, Portugal will be looking to finally live up to their potential on the international stage.