Argentina
Qualified as CONMEBOL winners.
Have previously participated in 15 World Cups: 1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010
Previous best: Winners in 1978 and 1986
FIFA World ranking: 5
Messi suffered a 16-game scoreless skid with Argentina and struggled as they were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup and 2011 Copa America. But since coach Alejandro Sabella took over, he’s been named captain and his 10 qualifying goals led them to first place in notoriously tough CONMEBOL. They generally play a 4-3-3, but occasionally go 5-3-2 to protect a leaky defense.
Squad:
GK: Romero (Sampdoria, on loan to Monaco), Orion (Boca Juniors), Andujar (Catania)
DF: Garay (Benfica), Campagnero (Inter), Zabaleta (Emirates Marketing Project), Demichelis (Emirates Marketing Project), Rojo (Sporting), Fernandez (Napoli), Basanta (Monterrey)
MF: Gago (Boca Juniors), Biglia (Lazio), di Maria (Real Madrid), Perez (Benfica), Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys), Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Mascherano (Barcelona), Alvarez (Inter)
FW: Higuain (Napoli), Messi (Barcelona), Palacio (Inter), Aguero (Emirates Marketing Project), Lavezzi (PSG)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qualified as UEFA Group G winners.
Have previously never participated in a World Cup.
Previous best: N/A
FIFA World ranking: 21
World Cup debutants, having lost to Portugal in a playoff in 2010, the Bosnians hope they can give their nation something to cheer about. It is only the second time in the history of the World Cup, and the first since England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup (also held in Brazil), that only one national team makes its debut in a World Cup tournament.
Squad:
GK: Begović (Stoke), Fejzić (Aalen), Avdukić (Borac Banja Luka)
DF: Vršajević (Hajduk Split), Bičakčić (Eintracht Braunschweig), Spahić (Bayer Leverkusen), Kolašinac (Schalke), Vranješ (Elazığspor), Bešić (Ferencváros), Mujdža (Freiburg), Šunjić (Zorya Luhansk)
MF: Pjanić (Roma), Misimović (Guizhou Renhe), Hajrović (Galatasaray), Lulić (Lazio), Ibričić (Kayseri Erciyesspor), Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor), Hadžić (Sturm Graz), Sušić (Hajduk Split), Salihović (Hoffenheim)
FW: Ibišević (Stuttgart), Džeko (Emirates Marketing Project), Višća (Istanbul BB)
Iran
Qualified as AFC Group A winners.
Have previously participated in 3 World Cups: 1978, 1998 and 2006
Previous best: Round 1
FIFA World ranking: 43
Iran has won a grand total of one World Cup game in its history — against the US back in 1998. But they’ll look to a stout defense – which allowed just two goals in eight qualifiers – to better that. Coach Carlos Queiroz has previously qualified with South Africa for the 2002 World Cup, but resigned before the finals after falling out with the South African Football Association, and Portugal for the 2010 World Cup.
Squad:
GK: Ahmadi (Sepahan), Haghighi (Sporting Covilhã), Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig)
DF: Hosseini (Persepolis), Sadeghi (Esteghlal), Mahini (Persepolis), Montazeri (Umm Salal), Alenemeh (Naft Teheran), Beikzadeh (Esteghlal), Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps), Pouladi (Persepolis)
MF: Heydari (Esteghlal), Hajsafi (Sepahan), Nekounam (Al-Kuwait), Shojaei (Las Palmas), Haghighi (Persepolis), Haddadifar (Zob Ahan), Teymourian (Esteghlal), Rahmani (Foolad), Dejagah (Fulham)
FW: Jakanbakhsh (NEC), Ansarifard (Tractor Sazi), Ghoochannejhad (Charlton)
Nigeria
Qualified by beating Ethiopia in a CAF playoff.
Have previously participated in 4 World Cups: 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010
Previous best: Round 2 in 1994 and 1998
FIFA World ranking: 45
After Nigeria’s humbling failure to even make the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, Keshi has gone younger – and faster – to great effect, winning the team’s first African title in two decades, playing well in the Confederations Cup and going unbeaten in qualifying. Nigeria's coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi , is one of only two people to have won the African Cup of Nations both as a player and a coach.
Squad:
GK: Enyeama (Lille), Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Agbim (Gombe United)
DF: Yobo (Fenerbache, on loan to Norwich), Ambrose (Celtic), Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Odunlami (Sunshine Stars), Oshaniwa (Ashdod), Oboabona (Çaykur Rizespor), Omeruo (Middlesbrough)
MF: Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren), Mikel (Chelsea), Moses (Chelsea, on loan to Liverpool), Azeez (Almeria), Onazi (Lazio), Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk)
FW: Musa (CSKA Moscow), Odemwingie (Stoke), Emenike (Fenerbache), Nwofor (Herenveen), Uchebo (Cercle Brugge), Ameobi (Saudi Sportswashing Machine)
GROUP F SCHEDULE:
June 15: Argentina vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in Rio de Janeiro
June 16: Iran vs. Nigeria in Curitiba
June 21: Argentina vs. Iran in Belo Horizonte; Nigeria vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cuiaba
June 25: Nigeria vs. Argentina in Porto Alegre; Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Iran in Salvador
Qualified as CONMEBOL winners.
Have previously participated in 15 World Cups: 1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010
Previous best: Winners in 1978 and 1986
FIFA World ranking: 5
Messi suffered a 16-game scoreless skid with Argentina and struggled as they were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup and 2011 Copa America. But since coach Alejandro Sabella took over, he’s been named captain and his 10 qualifying goals led them to first place in notoriously tough CONMEBOL. They generally play a 4-3-3, but occasionally go 5-3-2 to protect a leaky defense.
Squad:
GK: Romero (Sampdoria, on loan to Monaco), Orion (Boca Juniors), Andujar (Catania)
DF: Garay (Benfica), Campagnero (Inter), Zabaleta (Emirates Marketing Project), Demichelis (Emirates Marketing Project), Rojo (Sporting), Fernandez (Napoli), Basanta (Monterrey)
MF: Gago (Boca Juniors), Biglia (Lazio), di Maria (Real Madrid), Perez (Benfica), Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys), Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Mascherano (Barcelona), Alvarez (Inter)
FW: Higuain (Napoli), Messi (Barcelona), Palacio (Inter), Aguero (Emirates Marketing Project), Lavezzi (PSG)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qualified as UEFA Group G winners.
Have previously never participated in a World Cup.
Previous best: N/A
FIFA World ranking: 21
World Cup debutants, having lost to Portugal in a playoff in 2010, the Bosnians hope they can give their nation something to cheer about. It is only the second time in the history of the World Cup, and the first since England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup (also held in Brazil), that only one national team makes its debut in a World Cup tournament.
Squad:
GK: Begović (Stoke), Fejzić (Aalen), Avdukić (Borac Banja Luka)
DF: Vršajević (Hajduk Split), Bičakčić (Eintracht Braunschweig), Spahić (Bayer Leverkusen), Kolašinac (Schalke), Vranješ (Elazığspor), Bešić (Ferencváros), Mujdža (Freiburg), Šunjić (Zorya Luhansk)
MF: Pjanić (Roma), Misimović (Guizhou Renhe), Hajrović (Galatasaray), Lulić (Lazio), Ibričić (Kayseri Erciyesspor), Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor), Hadžić (Sturm Graz), Sušić (Hajduk Split), Salihović (Hoffenheim)
FW: Ibišević (Stuttgart), Džeko (Emirates Marketing Project), Višća (Istanbul BB)
Iran
Qualified as AFC Group A winners.
Have previously participated in 3 World Cups: 1978, 1998 and 2006
Previous best: Round 1
FIFA World ranking: 43
Iran has won a grand total of one World Cup game in its history — against the US back in 1998. But they’ll look to a stout defense – which allowed just two goals in eight qualifiers – to better that. Coach Carlos Queiroz has previously qualified with South Africa for the 2002 World Cup, but resigned before the finals after falling out with the South African Football Association, and Portugal for the 2010 World Cup.
Squad:
GK: Ahmadi (Sepahan), Haghighi (Sporting Covilhã), Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig)
DF: Hosseini (Persepolis), Sadeghi (Esteghlal), Mahini (Persepolis), Montazeri (Umm Salal), Alenemeh (Naft Teheran), Beikzadeh (Esteghlal), Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps), Pouladi (Persepolis)
MF: Heydari (Esteghlal), Hajsafi (Sepahan), Nekounam (Al-Kuwait), Shojaei (Las Palmas), Haghighi (Persepolis), Haddadifar (Zob Ahan), Teymourian (Esteghlal), Rahmani (Foolad), Dejagah (Fulham)
FW: Jakanbakhsh (NEC), Ansarifard (Tractor Sazi), Ghoochannejhad (Charlton)
Nigeria
Qualified by beating Ethiopia in a CAF playoff.
Have previously participated in 4 World Cups: 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010
Previous best: Round 2 in 1994 and 1998
FIFA World ranking: 45
After Nigeria’s humbling failure to even make the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, Keshi has gone younger – and faster – to great effect, winning the team’s first African title in two decades, playing well in the Confederations Cup and going unbeaten in qualifying. Nigeria's coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi , is one of only two people to have won the African Cup of Nations both as a player and a coach.
Squad:
GK: Enyeama (Lille), Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Agbim (Gombe United)
DF: Yobo (Fenerbache, on loan to Norwich), Ambrose (Celtic), Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Odunlami (Sunshine Stars), Oshaniwa (Ashdod), Oboabona (Çaykur Rizespor), Omeruo (Middlesbrough)
MF: Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren), Mikel (Chelsea), Moses (Chelsea, on loan to Liverpool), Azeez (Almeria), Onazi (Lazio), Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk)
FW: Musa (CSKA Moscow), Odemwingie (Stoke), Emenike (Fenerbache), Nwofor (Herenveen), Uchebo (Cercle Brugge), Ameobi (Saudi Sportswashing Machine)
GROUP F SCHEDULE:
June 15: Argentina vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in Rio de Janeiro
June 16: Iran vs. Nigeria in Curitiba
June 21: Argentina vs. Iran in Belo Horizonte; Nigeria vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cuiaba
June 25: Nigeria vs. Argentina in Porto Alegre; Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Iran in Salvador
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