Australia
Qualified as AFC Group B runner-up.
Have previously participated in 3 World Cups: 1974, 2006, 2010
Previous best: Round 2 in 2006
FIFA World ranking: 62
This is Australia's second successive qualification campaign following their switch from Oceania to Asia. Coach Ange Postecoglou was hired in October to lead a regeneration of the national team program, and he got started on that last month when he left 36-year-old defender Lucas Neill at home. The majority of their squad are 25 years of age or younger, with a few experienced heads like Cahill, Jedinak and Bresciano.
Squad:
GK: Ryan (Club Brugge), Langerak (Dortmund), Galekovic (Adelaide)
DF: Franjic (Brisbane), Davidson (Heracles), Spiranovic (Western Sydney), Wright (Preston), McGowan (Shandong Luneng Taishan), Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Huyndai Motors)
MF: Milligan (Melbourne), Halloran (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Oar (Utrecht), Bozanic (Luzern), Troisi (Atalanta), Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Holland (Austria Wien), McKay (Brisbane), Vidosic (Sion), Luongo (Swindon), Bresciano (Al-Gharafa)
FW: Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Leckie (FSV Frankfurt), Taggart (Saudi Sportswashing Machine Jets)
Chile
Qualified as the third best team from CONMEBOL.
Have previously participated in 8 World Cups: 1930, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1998, 2010
Previous best: 3rd place in 1962
FIFA World ranking: 14
To get out of group play, they will have to eliminate a 2010 finalist, either Spain or the Netherlands. Chile have played one of the toughest schedules over the last nine months, beating England and Costa Rica, losing by a goal to Germany and Brazil and holding Colombia and Spain to draws.
Squad:
GK: Bravo (Real Sociedad), Toselli (Universidad Catolica), Herrera (Universidad de Chile)
DF: Mena (Santos), Albornoz (Malmö), Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Medel (Cardiff), Jara (Nottingham)
MF: Isla (Juventus), Silva (Osasuna), Carmona (Atalanta), Vidal (Juventus), Valdivia (Palmeiras), Orellana (Celta Vigo), Beausejour (Wigan), Gutierrez (Twente), Fuenzalida (Colo-Colo), Aranguiz (Internacional), Diaz (Basel)
FW: Sanchez (Barcelona), Pinilla (Cagliari), Vargas (Valencia), Paredes (Colo-Colo)
Netherlands
Qualified as UEFA Group D winner.
Have previously participated in 9 World Cups: 1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010
Previous best: 2nd place (1974, 1978, 2010)
FIFA World ranking: 15
The Netherlands is the only country to reach three World Cup finals without winning one, but won the European Championship in 1988.
Squad:
GK: Cillessen (Ajax), Vorm (Swansea), Krul (Saudi Sportswashing Machine)
DF: Vlaar (Aston Villa), de Vrij (Feyenoord), Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Blind (Ajax), Janmaat (Feyenoord), Verhaegh (Augsburg), Veltman (Ajax), Kongolo (Feyenoord)
MF: de Guzman (Swansea), de Jong (AC Milan), Sneijder (Galatasaray), Robben (Bayern Munich), Clasie (Feyenoord), Fer (Norwich), Wijnaldum (PSV), Depay (PSV)
FW: van Persie (Man United), Kuyt (Fenerbache), Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Huntelaar (Schalke)
Spain
Qualified as UEFA Group I winner.
Have previously participated in 13 World Cups: 1934, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010
Previous best: Winners (2010)
FIFA World ranking: 1
Spain are the reigning World Champions. They also won the European Championship in 2008 and again in 2012. Coach Vicente del Bosque took charge after the European Championship in 2008.
Squad:
GK: Casillas (Real Madrid), de Gea (Man United), Reina (Napoli)
DF: Albiol (Napoli). Pique (Barcelona), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Ramos (Real Madrid), Alba (Barcelona), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
MF: Martinez (Bayern Munich), Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Fabregas (Barcelona), Mata (Man United), Alonso (Real Madrid), Busquets (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Cazorla (Arsenal), Silva (Emirates Marketing Project)
FW: Villa (Atletico Madrid), Torres (Chelsea), Pedro (Barcelona), Costa (Atletico Madrid)
GROUP B SCHEDULE:
June 13: Spain vs. Netherlands in Salvador; Chile vs. Australia in Cuiabá
June 18: Australia vs. Netherlands in Porto Alegre; Spain vs. Chile in Rio de Janeiro
June 23: Australia vs. Spain in Curitiba; Netherlands vs. Chile in São Paulo
Qualified as AFC Group B runner-up.
Have previously participated in 3 World Cups: 1974, 2006, 2010
Previous best: Round 2 in 2006
FIFA World ranking: 62
This is Australia's second successive qualification campaign following their switch from Oceania to Asia. Coach Ange Postecoglou was hired in October to lead a regeneration of the national team program, and he got started on that last month when he left 36-year-old defender Lucas Neill at home. The majority of their squad are 25 years of age or younger, with a few experienced heads like Cahill, Jedinak and Bresciano.
Squad:
GK: Ryan (Club Brugge), Langerak (Dortmund), Galekovic (Adelaide)
DF: Franjic (Brisbane), Davidson (Heracles), Spiranovic (Western Sydney), Wright (Preston), McGowan (Shandong Luneng Taishan), Wilkinson (Jeonbuk Huyndai Motors)
MF: Milligan (Melbourne), Halloran (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Oar (Utrecht), Bozanic (Luzern), Troisi (Atalanta), Jedinak (Crystal Palace), Holland (Austria Wien), McKay (Brisbane), Vidosic (Sion), Luongo (Swindon), Bresciano (Al-Gharafa)
FW: Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Leckie (FSV Frankfurt), Taggart (Saudi Sportswashing Machine Jets)
Chile
Qualified as the third best team from CONMEBOL.
Have previously participated in 8 World Cups: 1930, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1998, 2010
Previous best: 3rd place in 1962
FIFA World ranking: 14
To get out of group play, they will have to eliminate a 2010 finalist, either Spain or the Netherlands. Chile have played one of the toughest schedules over the last nine months, beating England and Costa Rica, losing by a goal to Germany and Brazil and holding Colombia and Spain to draws.
Squad:
GK: Bravo (Real Sociedad), Toselli (Universidad Catolica), Herrera (Universidad de Chile)
DF: Mena (Santos), Albornoz (Malmö), Rojas (Universidad de Chile), Medel (Cardiff), Jara (Nottingham)
MF: Isla (Juventus), Silva (Osasuna), Carmona (Atalanta), Vidal (Juventus), Valdivia (Palmeiras), Orellana (Celta Vigo), Beausejour (Wigan), Gutierrez (Twente), Fuenzalida (Colo-Colo), Aranguiz (Internacional), Diaz (Basel)
FW: Sanchez (Barcelona), Pinilla (Cagliari), Vargas (Valencia), Paredes (Colo-Colo)
Netherlands
Qualified as UEFA Group D winner.
Have previously participated in 9 World Cups: 1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010
Previous best: 2nd place (1974, 1978, 2010)
FIFA World ranking: 15
The Netherlands is the only country to reach three World Cup finals without winning one, but won the European Championship in 1988.
Squad:
GK: Cillessen (Ajax), Vorm (Swansea), Krul (Saudi Sportswashing Machine)
DF: Vlaar (Aston Villa), de Vrij (Feyenoord), Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Blind (Ajax), Janmaat (Feyenoord), Verhaegh (Augsburg), Veltman (Ajax), Kongolo (Feyenoord)
MF: de Guzman (Swansea), de Jong (AC Milan), Sneijder (Galatasaray), Robben (Bayern Munich), Clasie (Feyenoord), Fer (Norwich), Wijnaldum (PSV), Depay (PSV)
FW: van Persie (Man United), Kuyt (Fenerbache), Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Huntelaar (Schalke)
Spain
Qualified as UEFA Group I winner.
Have previously participated in 13 World Cups: 1934, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010
Previous best: Winners (2010)
FIFA World ranking: 1
Spain are the reigning World Champions. They also won the European Championship in 2008 and again in 2012. Coach Vicente del Bosque took charge after the European Championship in 2008.
Squad:
GK: Casillas (Real Madrid), de Gea (Man United), Reina (Napoli)
DF: Albiol (Napoli). Pique (Barcelona), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Ramos (Real Madrid), Alba (Barcelona), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
MF: Martinez (Bayern Munich), Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Fabregas (Barcelona), Mata (Man United), Alonso (Real Madrid), Busquets (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Cazorla (Arsenal), Silva (Emirates Marketing Project)
FW: Villa (Atletico Madrid), Torres (Chelsea), Pedro (Barcelona), Costa (Atletico Madrid)
GROUP B SCHEDULE:
June 13: Spain vs. Netherlands in Salvador; Chile vs. Australia in Cuiabá
June 18: Australia vs. Netherlands in Porto Alegre; Spain vs. Chile in Rio de Janeiro
June 23: Australia vs. Spain in Curitiba; Netherlands vs. Chile in São Paulo