Andy Mitten

Uncertainty and disharmony is nothing new for the French team. Even when Les Bleus won the competition for the first time in 1998, they were racked by uncertainty and self-doubt.

The European champions remain favourites to be crowned world champions in Soweto on July 11, but they face humiliation if they fail to beat Honduras.

The midfielder is the heart of the Azzurri and the Roma star says he considers himself an 'ultra', someone who plays for honour.

The World Cup's tallest striker needs to perform in his biggest test for his country in Port Elizabeth today.

The man they call 'The Axe', Aaron Mokoena went from the townships to captaining his country.

Spain will be expected to win against a Swiss team placed 22 spots below their No 2 position in the Fifa world rankings, but Ramos is not underestimating the side.

Before 2002, Portugal had reached the World Cup finals just once since and Ivory Coast scraped their way into the finals winning just one of their first five group games.

The scheming Real Madrid midfielder pulls all the strings in Brazil's attack.

His first call-up for Cameroon was shrouded in farce. Now, the robust Ajax midfielder is hoping to help the Indomitable Lions emulate the stars of Italia '90.

The two-footed striker was the Primera Liga's top scorer and the Golden Boot winner in 2005 at Villarreal, a feat he repeated in 2009 with Atletico Madrid.

Captain of arguably the greatest Brazil side to never win the World Cup, the mercurial midfielder talks to Andy Mitten.

To survive in his new job he has to bring success to Real Madrid, writes Andy Mitten.

The Portuguese want to know if the world's most expensive player will translate his club form into performances at the World Cup.

Spain's World Cup squad will happily forsake a few weeks' rest if it means being on a flight to South Africa.

The Bayern Munich winger knew he would get under Jose Mourinho's skin when he said the Inter Milan coach had a win-at-all-costs philosophy to football.