By Rob McDonald

ARGENTINA

What We Know:
Well, Argentina are one of those teams that are just always expected to be dead good. They have the players, after all. All of them. Whatever happens, expect a whole lot of Messi narrative. The team is settled and, so far, there are no internal squabbles.

What They Could Be:
Winners. You don’t have Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria and imagine anything but a world where you win the World Cup. If they can keep the balance they attained in qualification and rely on a solid base of Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Federico Fernandez and Sergio Romero then you have to imagine that they’ll have more than enough going forward for anyone.

What They’ll Probably Be:
Honestly? Winners. They should be. Holes will appear in Spain’s team and Argentina are the next best. A semi-rested captain Messi could be the one to make the difference.

The Player To Talk About With Phil Blundell:
Maxi Rodriguez. Still brilliant.

BOSNIA & HERZOGOVINA

What We Know:
The romantic story of the World Cup, Bosnia will play in their first major finals since the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Only Bosnia and Croatia will be at the World Cup of the former Communist state.

What They Could Be:
Although it’s easy to assume they’ll be overly reliant on Edin Dzeko, Bosnia are a potent attacking threat with Stuttgart’s Vedad Ibisevic weighing in with a lot of goals and Roma’s Miralem Pjanic pulling the strings in midfield.

What They’ll Probably Be:
Despite having quality in Emir Spahic, Sead Kolasinac and Asmir Begovic, don’t expect Bosnia to be a solid defensive outfit. They know their strengths and will play to them, to the death. Coach Safet Susic has implied that the only time Bosnia won’t go for the jugular is against Argentina, which is fair enough, really.

The Player To Talk About With Phil Blundell:
Schalke defender Sea Kolasinac has earned the moniker “The Destroyer”. YES!

IRAN

What We Know:
Iranian players, while still rare, have begun making inroads in European football through players like Javad Nekounam, Ashkan Dejagah, Reza Ghoochannejhad and Masoud Shojaei all having experience. Manager Carlos Queiroz is their secret weapon. The former Portugal manager will be meticulous in his preparation and look to capitalise on any complacency in the opposition.

What They Could Be:
In Nigeria and Bosnia, it’s not like Iran expect to be blown away and to just enjoy themselves. All three of them will expect defeats against Argentina but will undoubtedly look at one another with suspicion. Iran will be hoping that their underdog status and the element of surprise can be used to propel them through the group stages.

What They’ll Probably Be:
Iran, along with Nigeria, will boast a squad primarily built of domestically-based players and will look to their more experienced players to anchor them. Combined with the factor that Carlos Queiroz is reportedly unhappy with preparation and unlikely to remain after the finals, it’s easy to imagine Iran becoming whipping boys.

The Player To Talk About With Phil Blundell:
Ebi.

NIGERIA

What We Know:
Stephen Keshi will not be a name automatically familiar to most fans but he has guided Nigeria from the doldrums to African Cup of Nations champions and formed a solid, motivated, unit that head into the World Cup without any of the regular tiffs.

What They Could Be:
A surprise. A mix of experience and youth, with players from both Europe and the domestic leagues, many of the more difficult characters have been cast aside and Nigeria have a good balance with talented forward Emmanuel Emenike leading the line, pacy wingers in Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses and a midfield platform built around Jon Obi Mikel and Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi.

What They’ll Probably Be:
The team that Bosnia should most fear. An opening fixture against Iran could give Nigeria momentum and should provide a stern test for Bosnia.

The Player To Talk About With Phil Blundell:
Victor MosehAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH