• Antonio Valencia, midfielder (Manchester United); age 28; 67 caps. Ecuador’s best known player thanks to his performances for Manchester United since 2009. Born in the Amazonian province of Sucumbios, he stands out on the wing with his pace, tactical obedience and scoring ability. Runs the Antonio Valencia foundation to fight against child labour, violence and drugs. As a child, he helped his mother sell drinks outside a local stadium and searched for empty bottles, which his father sold for recycling. Although he plays on the wing for his club, he began as a central midfielder. Jeff Zelevansky / Getty Images / AFP
    Antonio Valencia, midfielder (Manchester United); age 28; 67 caps. Ecuador’s best known player thanks to his performances for Manchester United since 2009. Born in the Amazonian province of Sucumbios, he stands out on the wing with his pace, tactical obedience and scoring ability. Runs the Antonio Valencia foundation to fight against child labour, violence and drugs. As a child, he helped his mother sell drinks outside a local stadium and searched for empty bottles, which his father sold for recycling. Although he plays on the wing for his club, he began as a central midfielder. Jeff Zelevansky / Getty Images / AFP
  • Xherdan Shaqiri, midfielder (Bayern Munich); age 22; 31 caps. One of the most exciting players ever to have come out of Switzerland, Kosovo-born Shaqiri can play on either flank and is always a threat with his powerful shooting and good crosses. He moved to Switzerland as a child because of the war in his homeland and joined FC Basel’s youth academy at 10. Joined Bayern in 2012 and was part of their treble-winning team last season. Michaela Rehle / Reuters
    Xherdan Shaqiri, midfielder (Bayern Munich); age 22; 31 caps. One of the most exciting players ever to have come out of Switzerland, Kosovo-born Shaqiri can play on either flank and is always a threat with his powerful shooting and good crosses. He moved to Switzerland as a child because of the war in his homeland and joined FC Basel’s youth academy at 10. Joined Bayern in 2012 and was part of their treble-winning team last season. Michaela Rehle / Reuters
  • Karim Benzema, striker (Real Madrid); age 26; 65 caps. Benzema seems to have finally shed the extra kilos that previously prevented him to hit top form and has rediscovered his scoring touch with France after a 1,222-minute drought. Finding his mark as France’s lone forward, he can also play in a deeper role. Has repaid Real’s faith in him when they signed him for €40 million (Dh200.4m) from Lyon in 2009. Martin Rose / Bongarts / Getty Images
    Karim Benzema, striker (Real Madrid); age 26; 65 caps. Benzema seems to have finally shed the extra kilos that previously prevented him to hit top form and has rediscovered his scoring touch with France after a 1,222-minute drought. Finding his mark as France’s lone forward, he can also play in a deeper role. Has repaid Real’s faith in him when they signed him for €40 million (Dh200.4m) from Lyon in 2009. Martin Rose / Bongarts / Getty Images
  • Valon Behrami, midfielder (Napoli); age 29; 46 caps. Kosovo-born player who moved to Switzerland at the age of four, Behrami has raised a few eyebrows among the reserved Swiss squad with his tattoos and ever-changing haircuts. Happy at right back or in midfield, Behrami, who suffered a nasty knee injury during a three-season spell at West Ham United, has revived his career since joining Napoli in 2012. Harshly sent off against Chile at the 2010 World Cup. Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
    Valon Behrami, midfielder (Napoli); age 29; 46 caps. Kosovo-born player who moved to Switzerland at the age of four, Behrami has raised a few eyebrows among the reserved Swiss squad with his tattoos and ever-changing haircuts. Happy at right back or in midfield, Behrami, who suffered a nasty knee injury during a three-season spell at West Ham United, has revived his career since joining Napoli in 2012. Harshly sent off against Chile at the 2010 World Cup. Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
  • Paul Pogba, midfielder (Juventus); age 21; 8 caps. In England they say of Pogba “the one Alex Ferguson should not have let go” following his departure from Manchester United in 2012 after only a handful of games for the club. Another defensive midfielder with a box-to-box drive, the 2013 Golden Boy award winner also has penchant for goals and for the spectacular. He has quickly made it to the first team at Juventus and is already a starter for France. Oozes class and talent. Fabio Muzzi / AFP
    Paul Pogba, midfielder (Juventus); age 21; 8 caps. In England they say of Pogba “the one Alex Ferguson should not have let go” following his departure from Manchester United in 2012 after only a handful of games for the club. Another defensive midfielder with a box-to-box drive, the 2013 Golden Boy award winner also has penchant for goals and for the spectacular. He has quickly made it to the first team at Juventus and is already a starter for France. Oozes class and talent. Fabio Muzzi / AFP
  • Maynor Figueroa, defender (Hull City); age 31; 102 caps. Centre-back for his country who plays at left back for his Premier League club. While known for his versatility, consistency and experience, the veteran has had a rocky campaign at Hull this year and manager Steve Bruce, who brought him to Wigan Athletic in 2008, said his mistakes had cost the team. However he made no mistake with one of the most famous goals in England in the last few years, when he scored from a free kick inside his own half against Stoke City in December 2009. Paul Ellis / AFP
    Maynor Figueroa, defender (Hull City); age 31; 102 caps. Centre-back for his country who plays at left back for his Premier League club. While known for his versatility, consistency and experience, the veteran has had a rocky campaign at Hull this year and manager Steve Bruce, who brought him to Wigan Athletic in 2008, said his mistakes had cost the team. However he made no mistake with one of the most famous goals in England in the last few years, when he scored from a free kick inside his own half against Stoke City in December 2009. Paul Ellis / AFP
  • Stephan Lichtsteiner, right-back (Juventus); age 30; 61 caps. Nicknamed “Forrest Gump” thanks to his storming runs down the right flank, the feisty right-back completed an apprenticeship in banking when he was a young player at Grasshoppers Zurich. Has won successive Serie A titles with Juventus since his move to Turin in 2011. Plays on the flank of a five-man midfield for his club and at right back of a four-man defence for his country. Martin Rose / Getty Images
    Stephan Lichtsteiner, right-back (Juventus); age 30; 61 caps. Nicknamed “Forrest Gump” thanks to his storming runs down the right flank, the feisty right-back completed an apprenticeship in banking when he was a young player at Grasshoppers Zurich. Has won successive Serie A titles with Juventus since his move to Turin in 2011. Plays on the flank of a five-man midfield for his club and at right back of a four-man defence for his country. Martin Rose / Getty Images
  • Wilson Palacios, midfielder (Stoke City); age 29; 92 caps. One of the strongest players in the Honduran side, Palacios has played for several English teams since 2007 and was the product of a £12.0 million (Dh74m) transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. But he seems to have stalled lately at Stoke. This modest man has been described as a water carrier and midfield destroyer rolled into one. His younger brother Edwin, then 14, was kidnapped in 2007 and later found murdered. Another brother, Jerry, plays alongside him in the national team. Kerstin Joensson / AP
    Wilson Palacios, midfielder (Stoke City); age 29; 92 caps. One of the strongest players in the Honduran side, Palacios has played for several English teams since 2007 and was the product of a £12.0 million (Dh74m) transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. But he seems to have stalled lately at Stoke. This modest man has been described as a water carrier and midfield destroyer rolled into one. His younger brother Edwin, then 14, was kidnapped in 2007 and later found murdered. Another brother, Jerry, plays alongside him in the national team. Kerstin Joensson / AP
  • Felipe Caicedo, striker (Al Jazira, UAE); age 25; 47 Caps. Born in Guayaquil, he signed for Swiss club Basel as a 16 year old and then moved to Manchester City where he was billed as a great South American prospect. He has not quite lived up to that early promise and his club career has been unsettled. He is still likely to be the first-choice centre-forward in Brazil and has nevertheless scored some vital goals for his country. Sometimes known as “Felipao” after Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. Francois Nel / Getty Images
    Felipe Caicedo, striker (Al Jazira, UAE); age 25; 47 Caps. Born in Guayaquil, he signed for Swiss club Basel as a 16 year old and then moved to Manchester City where he was billed as a great South American prospect. He has not quite lived up to that early promise and his club career has been unsettled. He is still likely to be the first-choice centre-forward in Brazil and has nevertheless scored some vital goals for his country. Sometimes known as “Felipao” after Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. Francois Nel / Getty Images

Football

In pictures: World Cup 2014 – 10 to watch in Group E

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Images of the top 10 players to look out for from Group E’s Switzerland, France, Ecuador and Honduras.

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