2014fwc Kit Teams Neutral

Contents
Participating Teams ..............................................................................................................................................4

Whos the Boss? ..................................................................................................................................................5
List of coaches of the participating teams ........................................................................................................5
Preparation games .............................................................................................................................................16
Global statistical overview 32 teams at a glance ..............................................................................................22
Team Fact Boxes (in alphabetical order) ..............................................................................................................22
Algeria (ALG) ................................................................................................................................22
Argentina (ARG)............................................................................................................................24
Australia (AUS) ..............................................................................................................................26
Belgium (BEL) ................................................................................................................................28
Bosnia-Herzegovina (BIH) ...............................................................................................................30
Brazil (BRA) ...................................................................................................................................32
Cameroon (CMR) ..........................................................................................................................34
Chile (CHI) ....................................................................................................................................36
Colombia (COL) ............................................................................................................................38
Costa Rica (CRC) ...........................................................................................................................40
Cte dIvoire (CIV) .........................................................................................................................42
Croatia (CRO) ................................................................................................................................44
Ecuador (ECU) ................................................................................................................................46
England (ENG)...............................................................................................................................48
France (FRA) ..................................................................................................................................50
Germany (GER) .............................................................................................................................52
Ghana (GHA) ................................................................................................................................54
FIFA Communications & Public Affairs - Documentation

Statistical Kit Teams
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
Greece (GRE) .................................................................................................................................56

Honduras (HON)............................................................................................................................58
Iran (IRN) .......................................................................................................................................60
Italy (ITA) .......................................................................................................................................62
Japan (JPN) ....................................................................................................................................64
Korea Republic (KOR) ....................................................................................................................66
Mexico (MEX)................................................................................................................................68
Netherlands (NED) .........................................................................................................................70
Nigeria (NGA)................................................................................................................................72
Portugal (POR)...............................................................................................................................74
Russia (RUS) ..................................................................................................................................76
Spain (ESP) ....................................................................................................................................78
Switzerland (SUI) ...........................................................................................................................80
Uruguay (URU) ..............................................................................................................................82
USA (USA) .....................................................................................................................................84
Positioning of the participating teams of the 2014 FIFA World Cup ................................................................86
All-time Ranking ................................................................................................................................................87
Graphics
89
FIFA World Cup matches played by the participating teams ...........................................................................89
Average goals scored per match at the FIFA World Cup by the participating teams ....................................90

Participating Teams

Whos the Boss?

List of coaches of the participating teams
Algeria (ALG)
Previous FIFA final competitions experience
As player
1982 FIFA World Cup Spain (YUG, 2 matches)
As coach
none
Vahid HALILHODZIC (BIH)

15.05.1952
Formerly a forward with Nantes and Paris St-Germain, Vahid Halilhodzic represented
the Yugoslavian national team in two matches at the 1982 World Cup. Algeria are
the second team that the Bosnian tactician has taken to the World Cup, although he
was sacked as coach of Cte dIvoire after securing their qualification four years ago.
In previous editions Algeria had only ever been led by native coaches.
Argentina (ARG)
As player
none
As coach
2009 FIFA Club World Cup (Club Estudiantes de La Plata ARG; 2 matches)
During his playing career Alejandro Sabella turned out for River Plate, Leeds United and
Estudiantes, as well as the Argentinian national side. As coach of Estudiantes he lost
the final of the FIFA Club World Cup 2009 to Barcelona after extra time.
Alejandro SABELLA (ARG)

05.11.1954
Australia (AUS)

As player
FIFA World Youth Championship USSR 1985 (3 matches)
As coach
FIFA Club World Championship Brazil 2000 (South Melbourne, AUS; 3 matches)
FIFA World Youth Championship Argentina 2001 (AUS, 4 matches)
FIFA U-17 World Championship Trinidad & Tobago 2001 (AUS, 4 matches)
FIFA U-17 World Championship Finland 2003 (AUS, 3 matches)
FIFA World Youth Championship UAE 2003 (AUS, 4 matches)
FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 (AUS, 3 matches)
FIFA U-17 World Championship Peru 2005 (AUS, 3 matches)
Ange POSTECOGLOU (AUS)

27.08.1965
Formerly a defender, Ange Postecoglou won several caps with the senior Australia
national team as well as the U-20 side (with whom he took part in the FIFA U-20
World Cup 1985). He has overseen Australian youth teams at six World Cups: three at
U-17 level and three at U-20 level.

List of coaches of the participating teams continued
Belgium (BEL)

As player
1994 FIFA World Cup USA (1 match)
1998 FIFA World Cup France (3 matches)
2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan (4 matches)
As coach
None
Marc WILMOTS (BEL)

22.02.1969
Marc Wilmots is Belgiums all-time top scorer in the World Cup with five goals. Once
an attacking midfielder with Mechelen, Standard Liege, Schalke and Bordeaux,
Wilmots participated in four World Cups between 1990 and 2002, although he
didnt play in the 1990 edition.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH)
As player
1982 FIFA World Cup Spain (YUG, 3 matches)
1990 FIFA World Cup Italy (YUG, 5matches)
As coach
None
Safet SUSIC (BIH)

13.04.1955
Formerly a forward with Sarajevo and Paris St-Germain, Safet Susic represented
Yugoslavia at the 1982 and 1990 World Cups, scoring a goal against United Arab
Emirates at the latter finals.
Brazil (BRA) host

As player
None
As coach
2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan (BRA, 7 matches)
2006 FIFA World Cup Germany (POR, 7 matches)
FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 (BRA, 5 matches)
Luiz Felipe SCOLARI (BRA)

09.11.1948
Luiz Felipe Scolari has already won one FIFA World Cup TM at the helm of Brazil, back
in 2002, before taking Portugal to the semi-finals of the 2010 event. Last summer
Big Phil also guided A Seleo to victory in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

List of coaches of the participating teams continued
Cameroon(CMR)
As player
None
As coach
None
Volker FINKE (GER)

24.03.1948
Volker Finke managed Freiburg for 16 years before taking over at Japanese club
Urawa Red Diamonds and subsequently Cologne. He has been in charge of
Cameroon since May 2013 and is the second German to coach the Indomitable Lions
at the World Cup, following Winfried Schaefer in 2002.
Chile (CHI)
As player
None
As coach
None
Jorge SAMPAOLI (ARG)

13.03.1960
After clinching three Chilean league titles and one Copa Sudamericana in two years
with Universidad de Chile, Jorge Sampaoli was named head coach of La Roja in
December 2012.
Colombia (COL)

As player
None
As coach
FIFA World Youth Championship Qatar 1995 (ARG, 6 matches)
FIFA U-17 World Championship Ecuador 1995 (ARG, 6 matches)
FIFA World Youth Championship Malaysia 1997 (ARG, 7 matches)
FIFA U-17 World Championship Egypt 1997 (ARG, 4 matches)
FIFA World Youth Championship Nigeria 1999 (ARG, 4 matches)
FIFA World Youth Championship Argentina 2001 (ARG, 7 matches)
FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005 (ARG, 5 matches)
2006 FIFA World Cup Germany (ARG, 5 matches)
Jose PEKERMAN (ARG)

03.09.1949
Jose Pekerman closed out his playing career in Colombia and is contesting his second
World Cup as a coach, having led his home nation Argentina in the 2006 edition.
Pekerman has managed Argentinian national youth sides at six World Cups (two U17 and four U-20), winning three global titles at U-20 level.

Costa Rica (CRC)

As player
None
As coach
None
Jorge Luis PINTO (COL)

02.01.1952
As a club coach Jorge Luis Pinto has won league titles in four different countries,
namely Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Venezuela. He oversaw eight qualifiers for
the 2010 World Cup with Colombia, plus another seven ahead of the 2006 finals
during a previous stint with the Costa Rican national team.
Cte dIvoire (CIV)
As player
None
As coach
None
Sabri LAMOUCHI (FRA)

09.11.1971
Sabri Lamouchi played in France for Auxerre, Monaco and Marseille, as well as in
Italy for Parma, Inter and Genoa, before ending his playing career in Qatar. This is the
Frenchmans first major assignment as a coach.
Croatia (CRO)

As player
2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan (CRO, 3 matches)
2006 FIFA World Cup Germany (CRO, 3 matches)
As coach
None
Nico KOVAC (CRO)

15.10.1971
Once a midfielder who built a glittering career in Germany with Hertha Berlin, Bayer
Leverkusen, Hamburg and Bayern Munich, Nico Kovac played for Croatia in the 2002
and 2006 World Cups. He was only appointed as head coach of his national team
shortly before their play-off against Iceland.

Ecuador (ECU)

As player
None
As coach
FIFA World Youth Championship Australia 1993 (COL, 3 matches)
FIFA World Youth Championship UAE 2003 (COL, 7 matches)
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (HON, 2 matches)
Reinaldo RUEDA (COL)

16.04.1957
Reinaldo Rueda guided his home nation Colombia at two FIFA U-20 World Cups, in
1993 and 2003. He is participating in his second consecutive World Cup, having also
qualified four years ago with Honduras.
England (ENG)
As player
None
As coach
1994 FIFA World Cup USA (SUI, 4 matches)
Roy HODGSON (ENG)

09.08.1947
England are the fourth national team that Roy Hodgson has managed after
Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Finland, and the second that he has taken to
the World Cup, following his qualification with Switzerland in 1994.
France (FRA)
As player
As coach
None
Didier DESCHAMPS (FRA)

15.10.1968
As a player Didier Deschamps won 13 league and cup trophies with Marseille,
Juventus and Chelsea. He also captained France to the World Cup title in 1998 and
the European crown in 2000.

Germany (GER)
As player
None
As coach
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (GER, 7 matches)
Joachim LOEW (GER)

03.02.1960
Formerly an attacking midfielder who enjoyed the best seasons of his career with
Freiburg, Joachim Low was assistant coach to Jurgen Klinsmann at the 2006 World
Cup, before becoming head coach himself. Low is competing in his second World
Cup at the helm of the German national team.
Ghana (GHA)
As player
None
As coach
None
Akwasi APPIAH (GHA)

09.08.1959
Akwasi Appiah has been in the Ghanaian hot seat for the past two-and-a-half years,
having previously been one of the teams assistant coaches for almost five years.
During his playing days, the former defender was sought by a number of European
clubs but preferred to remain in his homeland.
Greece (GRE)
As player
None
As coach
None
Prior to being appointed head coach of the Greek national team in July 2010,
Fernando Santos honed his managerial skills with clubs in Portugal and Greece.
Fernando SANTOS (POR)

10.10.1954

10
Honduras (HON)
As player
None
As coach
2006 FIFA World Cup Germany (ECU, 4 matches)
Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 (HON, 4 matches)
Luis SUAREZ (COL)

23.12.1959
Luis Suarez is competing in his second World Cup, having previously called the shots
for Ecuador at the 2006 edition.
Iran (IRN)

As player
None
As coach
FIFA World Youth Championship Saudi Arabia 1989 (POR, 6 matches)
FIFA U-16 World Championship Scotland 1989 (POR, 6 matches)
FIFA World Youth Championship Portugal 1991 (POR, 6 matches)
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (POR, 4 matches)
Carlos QUEIROZ (POR)

01.03.1953
Carlos Queiroz notably coached Portugal to two U-20 World Cup titles in 1989 and
1991, before enjoying success as assistant coach to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester
United. At the 2010 World Cup he took Portugal as far as the Round of 16.
Italy (ITA)
As player
None
As coach
FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 (ITA, 5 matches)
Cesare PRANDELLI (ITA)

19.08.1957
As a player Cesare Prandelli won three Serie A titles, one Italian cup and two
European cup competitions with Juventus. Since taking charge of Italy in August
2010, Prandelli led Gli Azzurri to the runners-up spot at the UEFA European
Championship 2012.

11
Japan (JPN)
As player
None
As coach
FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 (JPN, 3 matches)
Alberto ZACCHERONI (ITA)

01.04.1953
Alberto Zaccheroni has coached in Serie A with Udinese, AC Milan (winning one
Scudetto), Lazio, Inter, Torino and Juventus. After taking charge of Japan in the
summer of 2010, the Italian supremo steered the Samurai Blue to the AFC Asian Cup
title in 2011.
Korea Republic (KOR)

As player
1990 FIFA World Cup Italy (3 matches)
1994 FIFA World Cup USA (3 matches)
FIFA Confederations Cup Korea/Japan 2001 (3 matches)
As coach
FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 (KOR, 5 matches)
Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 (KOR, 6 matches)
Myung Bo HONG (KOR)

12.02.1969
Hong Myungbo played in four World Cups and has clocked up more appearances in
the event than any other Korean player. As a coach he contested FIFA finals
tournaments with the U-20 national side in 2009 and the Olympic team in 2012.
Mexico (MEX)
As player
None
As coach
None
Miguel HERRERA (MEX)

18.03.1968
Former defender Miguel Herrera won 14 caps for Mexico and took part in the Copa
America 1993. He was the fourth coach appointed during Mexicos troubled World
Cup qualifying campaign after Jose Manuel de la Torre, Luis Fernando Tena and
Victor Manuel Vucetich.

12
Netherlands (NED)

As player
None
As coach
FIFA World Youth Championship Argentina 2001 (NED, 5 matches)
Louis VAN GAAL (NED)

08.08.1951
At club level Louis van Gaal has notably coached Ajax, AZ Alkmaar, Barcelona and
Bayern Munich, winning the Dutch, Spanish and German league titles. His managerial
resume also includes a UEFA Champions League trophy with Ajax in 1995. The Dutch
strategist is contesting his first global showpiece, having been reappointed as head
coach of the Netherlands in 2012, a decade after failing to qualify for the 2002
World Cup.
Nigeria (NGA)
As player
1994 FIFA World Cup USA (1 match)
As coach
FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 (NGA, 3 matches)
Stephen KESHI (NGA)

23.01.1962
Stephen Keshi played two matches in the 1994 World Cup. As a coach he won the
CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, before securing Nigerias qualification for their
fifth World Cup.
Portugal (POR)
As player
As coach
None
PAULO BENTO (POR)

20.06.1969
Paulo Bento has been in charge of Portugal since September 2010. As a player he
featured in three matches at the 2002 World Cup.

13
Russia (RUS)

As player
1974 FIFA World Cup Germany (3 matches)
As coach
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (ENG, 4 matches)
Fabio CAPELLO (ITA)

18.06.1946
Fabio Capello has won cups and league titles as both a player and a coach with Roma,
Milan and Juventus. He took part in the 1974 FIFA World Cup, where he scored one
goal. Capello also guided Real Madrid to two Spanish league crowns. The Italian
tactician is appearing in his second successive World Cup as coach of a foreign team,
having already managed England at the 2010 finals.
Spain (ESP)

As player
None
As coach
FIFA Club World Championship Brazil 2000 (Real Madrid, ESP, 4 matches)
FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 (ESP, 5 matches)
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (ESP, 7 matches)
FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 (ESP, 5 matches)
Vicente DEL BOSQUE (ESP)

23.12.1950
Winner of 16 league and cup titles as a player and then head coach of Real Madrid,
Vicente del Bosque steered Spain to victory at the 2010 World Cup and UEFA EURO
2012.
Switzerland (SUI)
As player
Olympic Football Tournament Munich 1972 (FRG, 6 matches)
As coach
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (SUI, 3 matches)
Ottmar Hitzfelds coaching honours include a total of 25 league and cup titles with
Aarau, Grasshoppers, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. He is participating in his
second consecutive World Cup as head coach of the Swiss national team.
Ottmar HITZFELD (GER)

12.01.1949

14
Uruguay (URU)

As player
None
As coach
1990 FIFA World Cup Italy (URU, 4 matches)
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (URU, 7 matches)
Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 (URU, 3 matches)
FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 (URU, 5 matches)
Oscar TABAREZ (URU)

03.03.1947
Oscar Tabarez has managed clubs in Uruguay, Argentina, Italy, Spain and Colombia. As
head coach of the Uruguayan national team he won the Copa America in 2011.
Tabarez is participating in his third World Cup and also his third as coach of Uruguay,
following on from the 1990 and 2010 editions.
USA (USA)

As player
Olympic Football Tournament Seoul 1988 (6 matches)
1990 FIFA World Cup Italy (7 matches)
1994 FIFA World Cup USA (5 matches)
As coach
FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005 (GER, 5 matches)
2006 FIFA World Cup Germany (GER, 7 matches)
Juergen KLINSMANN (GER)

30.07.1964
As a player with the German national team, Jurgen Klinsmann was crowned world
champion in 1990 and European champion in 1996. After taking the reins of USA in
the summer of 2011, Klinsmann clinched the continental title in 2013. He is appearing
in his second World Cup as a coach, having managed Germany at the 2006 finals.
Photos: FIFA/FIFA via Getty images

15
Preparation games
Algeria (ALG)
3 Preparation matches
Date
05.03.2014
31.05.2014
04.06.2014
City
BLIDA (ALG)
SION (SUI)
GENEVA (SUI)
Match
Algeria Slovenia 2:0
Algeria Armenia 3:1
Algeria Romania 2:1
Argentina (ARG)
Date
City
05.03.2014
BUCHAREST (ROU)
04.06.2014
LA PLATA (ARG)
07.06.2014
BUENOS AIRES (ARG)
Match
Romania Argentina 0:0
Argentina Trinidad & Tobago 4:0
Argentina Slovenia 2:0
Australia (AUS)
Date
05.03.2014
26.05.2014
06.06.2014
City
LONDON (ENG)
SYDNEY (AUS)
SALVADOR (BRA)
Match
Australia Ecuador 3:4
Australia South Africa 1:1
Croatia Australia 1:0
City
BRUSSELS (BEL)
GENK (BEL)
SOLNA (SWE)
BRUSSELS (BEL)
Match
Belgium Cte dIvoire 2:2
Belgium Luxembourg 5:1 NOT A MATCH
Sweden Belgium 0:2
Belgium Tunisia 1:0
Belgium (BEL)
Date
05.03.2014
26.05.2014
01.06.2014
07.06.2014
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH)

Date
05.03.2014
30.05.2014
03.06.2014
City
INNSBRUCK (AUT)
ST. LOUIS (USA)
CHICAGO (USA)
Match
Bosnia and Herzegovina Egypt 0:2
Bosnia and Herzegovina Cte dIvoire 2:1
Mexico - Bosnia and Herzegovina 0:1
City
JOHANNESBURG (RSA)
GOIANIA (BRA)
SAO PAULO (BRA)
Match
South Africa Brazil 0:5
Brazil Panama 4:0
Brazil Serbia 1:0
Brazil (BRA) host

Date
05.03.2014
03.06.2014
06.06.2014

16
Preparation games continued

Cameroon (CMR)
Date
05.03.2014
26.05.2014
29.05.2014
01.06.2014
07.06.2014
City
LEIRIA (POR)
KUFSTEIN (AUT)
KUFSTEIN (AUT)
MOENCHENGLADBACH (GER)
YAOUNDE (CMR)
Match
Portugal Cameroon 5:1
FYR Macedonia Cameroon 0:2
Cameroon Paraguay 1:2
Germany Cameroon 2:2
Cameroon Moldova 1:0
City
COQUIMBO (CHI)
STUTTGART (GER)
SANTIAGO DE CHILE (CHI)
VALPARAISO (CHI)
Match
Chile Costa Rica 4:0
Germany Chile 1:0
Chile Egypt 3:2
Chile Northern Ireland 2:0
Chile (CHI)
Date
22.01.2014
05.03.2014
30.05.2014
04.06.2014
Colombia (COL)
Date
05.03.2014
31.05.2014
06.06.2014
City
BARCELONA (ESP)
BUENOS AIRES (ARG)
BUENOS AIRES (ARG)
Match
Colombia Tunisia 1:1
Colombia Senegal 2:2
Colombia Jordan 3:0
Costa Rica (CRC)

Date
22.01.2014
25.01.2014
05.03.2014
02.06.2014
07.06.2014
City
COQUIMBO (CHI)
LOS ANGELES (USA)
SAN JOSE (CRC)
TAMPA (USA)
FOXBOROUGH (USA)
Match
Chile Costa Rica 4:0
Costa Rica Korea Republic 0:1
Costa Rica Paraguay 2:1
Costa Rica Japan 1:3
Costa Rica Republic of Ireland 1:1
City
BRUSSELS (BEL)
ST. LOUIS (USA)
MIAMI (USA)
Match
Belgium Cte dIvoire 2:2
Bosnia and Herzegovina Cte dIvoire 2:1
El Salvador - Cte dIvoire 1:2
City
ST. GALL (SUI)
OSIJEK (CRO)
SALVADOR (BRA)
Match
Switzerland Croatia 2:2
Croatia Mali 2:1
Croatia Australia 1:0
Cte dIvoire (CIV)

Date
05.03.2014
30.05.2014
04.06.2014
Croatia (CRO)
Date
05.03.2014
31.05.2014
06.06.2014

17

Ecuador (ECU)
Date
05.03.2014
17.05.2014
31.05.2014
04.06.2014
City
LONDON (ENG)
AMSTERDAM (NED)
ARLINGTON (USA)
MIAMI GARDENS (USA)
Match
Australia Ecuador 3:4
Netherlands Ecuador 1:1
Mexico Ecuador 3:1
Ecuador England 2:2
City
LONDON (ENG)
LONDON (ENG)
MIAMI GARDENS (USA)
MIAMI GARDENS (USA)
Match
England Denmark 1:0
England Peru 3:0
Ecuador England 2:2
England Honduras 0:0
City
PARIS/SAINT-DENIS (FRA)
NICE (FRA)
LILLE (FRA)
Match
France Netherlands 2:0
France Norway 4:0
France Paraguay 1:1
France Jamaica 8:0
City
STUTTGART (GER)
HAMBURG (GER)
MOENCHENGLADBACH (GER)
MAINZ (GER)
Match
Germany Chile 1:0
Germany Poland 0:0
Germany Cameroon 2:2
Germany Armenia 6:1
England (ENG)
Date
05.03.2014
30.05.2014
04.06.2014
07.06.2014
France (FRA)
Date
05.03.2014
27.05.2014
01.06.2014
08.06.2014
Germany (GER)
Date
05.03.2014
13.05.2014
01.06.2014
06.06.2014
Ghana (GHA)
4 Preparation matches (not including the six African Nations Championship matches played in South Africa)
Date
City
Match
04.01.2014
WUBDGIEJ (NAM)
Namibia Ghana 0:1
05.03.2014
PODGORICA (MNE)
Montenegro Ghana 1:0
31.05.2014
ROTTERDAM (NED)
Netherlands Ghana 1:0
09.06.2014
MIAMI (USA)
Ghana Korea Republic
Greece (GRE)
Date
05.03.2014
31.05.2014
03.06.2014
06.06.2014
City
PIRAEUS (GRE)
LISBON (POR)
CHESTER (USA)
HARRISON (USA)

Match
Greece Korea Republic 0:2
Portugal Greece 0:0
Greece Nigeria 0:0
Greece Bolivia 2:1
18

Honduras (HON)
Date
05.03.2014
29.05.2014
01.06.2014
07.06.2014
City
SAN PEDRO SULA (HON)
WASHINGTON DC (USA)
HOUSTON (USA)
MIAMI GARDENS (USA)
Match
Honduras Venezuela 2:1
Honduras Turkey 0:2
Honduras Israel 2:4
England Honduras 0:0
City
TEHRAN (IRN)
KAPFENBERG (AUT)
HARTBERG (AUT)
HARTBERG (AUT)
SAO PAULO (BRA)
Match
Iran Guinea 1:2
Iran Belarus 0:0
Montenegro Iran 0:0
Iran Angola 1:1
Iran Trinidad and Tobago 2:0
City
MADRID (ESP)
LONDON (ENG)
PERUGIA (ITA)
Match
Spain Italy 1:0
Italy Republic of Ireland 0:0
Italy Luxembourg 1:1
City
TOKYO (JPN)
SAITAMA (JPN)
TAMPA (USA)
TAMPA (USA)
Match
Japan New Zealand 4:2
Japan Cyprus 1:0
Costa Rica Japan 1:3
Japan Zambia 4:3
Iran (IRN)
Date
05.03.2014
18.05.2014
26.05.2014
30.05.2014
08.06.2014
Italy (ITA)
Date
05.03.2014
31.05.2014
04.06.2014
Japan (JPN)
Date
05.03.2014
27.05.2014
02.06.2014
06.06.2014

Date
25.01.2014
29.01.2014
01.02.2014
05.03.2014
28.05.2014
09.06.2014
City
LOS ANGELES (USA)
SAN ANTONIO (USA)
CARSON (USA)
PIRAEUS (GRE)
SEOUL (KOR)
MIAMI (USA)

Match
Costa Rica Korea Republic 0:1
Mexico Korea Republic 4:0
USA Korea Republic 2:0
Greece Korea Republic 0:2
Korea Republic Tunisia 0:1
Ghana Korea Republic
19

Mexico (MEX)
Date
29.01.2014
05.03.2014
02.04.2014
28.05.2014
31.05.2014
03.06.2014
06.06.2014
City
SAN ANTONIO (USA)
ATLANTA (USA)
GLENDALE (USA)
MEXICO CITY (MEX)
ARLINGTON (USA)
CHICAGO (USA)
FOXBOROUGH (USA)
Match
Mexico Korea Republic 4:0
Mexico Nigeria 0:0
USA- Mexico 2:2
Mexico Israel 3:0
Mexico Ecuador 3:1
Mexico Bosnia and Herzegovina 0:1
Mexico Portugal 0:1
City
AMSTERDAM (NED)
ROTTERDAM (NED)
AMSTERDAM (NED)
Match
France Netherlands 2:0
Netherlands Ecuador 1:1
Netherlands Ghana 1:0
Netherlands Wales 2:0
Netherlands (NED)
Date
05.03.2014
17.05.2014
31.05.2014
04.06.2014
Nigeria (NGA)
5 Preparation matches (not including the six African Nations Championship matches played in South Africa)
Date
City
Match
04.01.2014
ABUJA (NGA)
Nigeria Ethiopia 2:1
05.03.2014
ATLANTA (USA)
Mexico Nigeria 0:0
28.05.2014
LONDON (ENG)
Nigeria Scotland 2:2
03.06.2014
CHESTER (USA)
Greece Nigeria 0:0
07.06.2014
JACKSONVILLE (USA)
USA Nigeria 2:1
Portugal (POR)
Date
05.03.2014
31.05.2014
06.06.2014
10.06.2014
City
LEIRIA (POR)
LISBON (POR)
FOXBOROUGH (USA)
NEW YORK (USA)
Match
Portugal Cameroon 5:1
Portugal Greece 0:0
Mexico Portugal 0:1
Republic of Ireland - Portugal
City
KRASNODAR (RUS)
ST. PETERSBURG (RUS)
OSLO (NOR)
MOSCOW (RUS)
Match
Russia Armenia 2:0
Russia Slovakia 1:0
Norway Russia 1:1
Russia Morocco 2:0
Russia (RUS)
Date
05.03.2014
26.05.2014
31.05.2014
06.06.2014

20

Spain (ESP)
3 Preparation match
Date
05.03.2014
30.05.2014
07.06.2014
City
MADRID (ESP)
SEVILLE (ESP)
WASHINGTON DC (USA)
Match
Spain Italy 1:0
Spain Bolivia 2:0
El Salvador Spain 0:2
City
ST. GALL (SUI)
LUCERNE (SUI)
LUCERNE (SUI)
Match
Switzerland Croatia 2:2
Switzerland Jamaica 1:0
Switzerland Peru 2:0
City
KLAGENFURT (AUT)
MONTEVIDEO (URU)
MONTEVIDEO (URU)
Match
Austria Uruguay 1:1
Uruguay Northern Ireland 1:0
Uruguay Slovenia 2:0
City
CARSON (USA)
KHARKOV (UKR)
GLENDALE (USA)
SAN FRANCISCO (USA)
HARRISON (USA)
JACKSONVILLE (USA)
Match
USA Korea Republic 2:0
Ukraine USA 2:0
USA Mexico 2:2
USA Azerbaijan 2:0
USA Turkey 2:1
USA Nigeria 2:1
Switzerland (SUI)
Date
05.03.2014
30.05.2014
03.06.2014
Uruguay (URU)
Date
05.03.2014
30.05.2014
04.06.2014
USA
Date
01.02.2014
05.03.2014
02.04.2014
27.05.2014
01.06.2014
07.06.2014
Status as of 08.06.2014

21
Global statistical overview 32 teams at a glance

Team Fact Boxes (in alphabetical order)
Algeria (ALG)
FIFA World Cup Team History
General Association Facts

Year Association founded
1962
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
Year Association affiliated
1964
1930 URU
No preliminary competition
1934
ITA
Did not enter
22
1938 FRA
Did not enter
19 (Nov, Dec 2012)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Did not enter
1962 CHI
Did not enter
1966* ENG
Withdrew from preliminary competition
16 / 7
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
4-0
vs Rwanda
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Group stage
Rachid MEKHLOUFI (ALG)

Mahieddine KHALEF (ALG)
1986 MEX
Group stage
Rabah SAADANE (ALG)
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
6 / 12
1994 USA
Did not qualify
2-1
vs Germany FR in 1982
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
2002 JPN/KOR
Did not qualify
2006 GER
Did not qualify
2010 RSA
Group stage
Rabah SAADANE (ALG)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Vahid HALILHODZIC (BIH)
Confederation
CAF
FIFA World Ranking position

June 2014
Best ever FIFA World Ranking
position (year)
Preliminary competition facts
Preliminary participations
12
2014 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition

Matches (win - draw - loss)
8 (6 0 2)
Goals for / goals against

Biggest win/best score
FIFA World Cup competition facts
Participations prior 2014
First FIFA World Cup

1982
9 (2 2 5)
Most capped player
Top Scorer
All-time FIFA World Cup
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
3-2
vs Chile in 1982
6 caps
Mahmoud GUENDOUZ
Faouzi MANSOURI
Rabah MADJER
2 goals
Salah ASSAD
47
Group stage in 1982, 1986 &
2010
Team Manager
* Withdrew from 1966 preliminary competition without playing

a single match
Continental achievements
African Cup of Nations winners in 1990
Other FIFA mens tournaments (excl. Futsal, Beach Soccer)
Olympic Football Tournament: 1980
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 2009

22
ALGERIA (ALG)
FIFA World Cup Background
This is Algerias fourth FIFA World CupTM finals campaign and the second time they have qualified for back-toback editions (1982-1986 and 2010-2014).
At Spain 1982, Algeria became the first CAF side to beat a previous world champion, taming Germany FR 2-1 in
their maiden match, as well as the first Africans to win two opening-round games during a single edition of the
tournament.
Algeria exited at the group stage in their three previous participations. They have recorded two victories from
nine games played, both of which came in the 1982 edition. The Algerians ongoing five-match goal drought in
the World Cup equals the tournament record set by Bolivia in terms of number of games, although the South
Americans goalless run lasted 517 minutes of play compared to 481 for Les Fennecs.
FIFA World Cup 2014 preliminaries

Islam Slimanis strike in the 2-1 defeat away to Mali on 10 June 2012 was the 100th World Cup qualifying goal
scored by Algeria.
With four victories in this edition, Algeria extended their home winning streak in World Cup qualifying to ten
matches. The north Africans last reverse on native soil dates back to 4 September 2005, when they lost 5-2 to
Nigeria in Oran. Since that encounter the Algerians have only played their home qualifiers in Blida, where they
have a 100 per cent winning record.
The decisive goal in the 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso that secured Algerias place in Brazil was scored by Madjid
Bougherra on 49 minutes. Four years previously Les Fennecs had taken nine minutes fewer to bag the goal that
would eventually take them to South Africa 2010, with Anther Yahias solitary winner coming 40 minutes into
the tiebreaking play-off win over Egypt.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

23
Argentina (ARG)

1893
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
Team Manager
1912
1930 URU
Runners-up
Juan TRAMUTOLA (ARG)
CONMEBOL
1934 ITA
First round
Felipe PASCUCCI (ARG)
1938 FRA
1 (2007/2008)
1950 BRA
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Group stage
Guillermo STABILE (ARG)
1962 CHI
Group stage
Juan Carlos LORENZO (ARG)
16 (9 5 2)
1966 ENG
Quarter-finals
Juan Carlos LORENZO (ARG)
35 / 15
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
4-0 vs Ecuador
1974 FRG
Second round
Vladislao CAP (ARG)
1978* ARG
Champions
Cesar Luis MENOTTI (ARG)
1982** ESP
Second round
Cesar Luis MENOTTI (ARG)
1986 MEX
Champions
Carlos BILARDO (ARG)
1990** ITA
Runners-up
Carlos BILARDO (ARG)
123 / 80
1994 USA
Round of 16
Alfio BASILE (ARG)
6-0
vs Peru in 1978
vs Serbia & Montenegro in 2006
1998 FRA
Quarter-finals
Daniel PASSARELLA (ARG)
2002 JPN/KOR
Group stage
Marcelo BIELSA (ARG)
Most capped player
21 caps
Diego MARADONA
2006 GER
Quarter-finals
Jos PEKERMAN (ARG)
10 goals
Gabriel BATISTUTA
2010 RSA
Quarter-finals
Diego MARADONA (ARG)
Top Scorer
2014 BRA
Qualified
Alejandro SABELLA (ARG)
Confederation
June 2014
position (year)
12

15

1930
70 (37 13 20)


Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
4
Champions in 1978, 1986
*
**
Qualified by default
Qualified automatically as host
Qualified automatically as defending champions
South American champions in 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937,
1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993
Olympic Football Tournament: 1928, 1960, 1964, 1988, 1996,
2004, 2008
FIFA Confederations Cup: 1992, 1995, 2005
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1979, 1981, 1983, 1989, 1991, 1995,
1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1985, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997,
2001, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
In bold: tournament champions

24
ARGENTINA (ARG)
Brazil 2014 will be Argentinas 16th FIFA World CupTM campaign and the 11th in a row since their last absence
in 1970. La Albiceleste have reached the Final four times and won the title twice, in 1978 and 1986.
To date, four Argentinians have played and later coached in the World Cup. The first was Guillermo Stabile, who
reached the 1930 Final as a player before managing his countrymen at the 1958 edition. In 1974 Argentina
were stewarded by Vladislao Cap, who had worn the Albiceleste shirt himself at Chile 1962. Daniel Passarella
guided his home nation at France 1998 after winning the 1978 Trophy and playing in the 1982 edition. The final
member of the quartet is Diego Maradona, who starred in four tournaments as a player between 1982 and
1994 before returning to South Africa 2010 as head coach.
The last hat-trick in the World Cup was netted by an Argentinian, Gonzalo Higuain, in the 4-1 win over Korea
Republic in 2010. It was also the only treble scored at the South Africa finals.
2014 FIFA World Cup preliminaries

Argentina won the South American qualifying tournament for the third time since the competition adopted the
current single-group format, having also finished first in 1998 and 2002.
Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain were the most prolific strike partnership in World Cup qualifying with ten and
nine goals respectively.
The opening strike in the 2-1 win over Chile in Santiago, scored by Lionel Messi, was Argentinas 200th goal in
World Cup qualification. La Albiceleste are the first and only South American side to have reached this milestone
to date.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

25
Australia (AUS)

1961
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
1963
1930 URU
AFC (prior 2006 OFC)
1934 ITA
Did not enter
62
1938 FRA
Did not enter
14 (Sep 2009)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Did not enter
1962 CHI
Did not enter
14 (8 4 2)
1966 ENG
Did not qualify
25 / 12
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
4-0
vs Jordan
1974 FRG
Group stage
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
Confederation
June 2014
Best ever FIFA World Ranking position
Preliminary competitions
13

Participations before 2014

1974
10 (2 3 5)
8 / 17
1994 USA
Did not qualify
Biggest win / best score
3-1
vs Japan in 2006
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
Most capped player
Top Scorer
7 caps
Jason CULINA
Lucas NEILL
Scott CHIPPERFIELD
3 goals
Tim CAHILL
All-time FIFA World Cup Ranking

Best FIFA World Cup achievement
Team Manager
Rale RASIC (YUG)
2002 JPN/KOR Did not qualify

2006 GER
Round of 16
Guus HIDDINK (NED)
2010 RSA
Group stage
Pim VERBEEK (NED)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Ange POSTECOGLOU (AUS)
44
Round of 16 in 2006
OFC Nations Cup winners in 1980, 1996, 2000, 2004
FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997, 2001, 2005
2004, 2008
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993,
1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995,
1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2011

26
AUSTRALIA (AUS)
This will be Australias fourth finals and their third in a row, but only their second since joining the Asian Football
Confederation.
A 32-year interval separated the Socceroos first two campaigns, at the 1974 and 2006 finals, both of which
were held in Germany.
In the 2006 edition Australia recorded their maiden victory in the competition, 3-1 over Japan, which helped
them get beyond the opening round for the first and only time to date. The Socceroos were then eliminated in
the Round of 16 by the eventual world champions Italy.

Australia scored 25 goals en route to Brazil 2014, with almost half (12) coming in the last 15 minutes of play.
Luke Wilkshires penalty equaliser in the 1-1 home draw with Japan on 12 June 2012 was Australias 300th goal
in FIFA World Cup qualification. The Socceroos are the second side to reach this milestone after Mexico.
Including the Brazil 2014 campaign, Mark Schwarzer and Harry Kewell have both played in five World Cup
qualifying tournaments, more than any other Australian. Schwarzer made his preliminary debut almost 20 years
ago on 31 July 1993, in the play-off against Canada, and played his last qualifier on 18 June 2013 against Iraq.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

27
Belgium (BEL)

1895
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
Team Manager
1904
1930 URU
First round
Hector GOETINCK (BEL)
Confederation
UEFA
1934
ITA
First round
Hector GOETINCK (BEL)
1938 FRA
First round
Jack BUTLER (ENG)
1950* BRA
1954 SUI
Group stage
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
10 (8 2 0)
1966 ENG
Did not qualify
18 / 4
1970 MEX
Group stage
3-0 vs Serbia
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Second round
Guy THYS (BEL)
1986 MEX
Semi-finals (4th)
Guy THYS (BEL)
1990 ITA
Round of 16
Guy THYS (BEL)
46 / 63
1994 USA
Round of 16
Paul VAN HIMST (BEL)
3-0
vs El Salvador in 1970
1998 FRA
Group Stage
Georges LEEKENS (BEL)
2002 JPN/KOR
Round of 16
Robert WASEIGE (BEL)
2006 GER
Did not qualify
2010 RSA
Did not qualify
2014 BRA
Qualified

June 2014
position
11
5 (Oct 2013)

18

Matches (win/ draw / loss)

11

1930
36 (10 9 17)

Most capped player
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
17 caps
Enzo SCIFO
5 goals
Marc WILMOTS
19
4th in 1986
Doug LIVINGSTONE (SCO)
Raymond GOETHALS (BEL)
Marc WILMOTS (BEL)
*withdrew from the 1950 preliminary without playing a single

match

Olympic Football Tournament: 1920, 1924, 1928, 2008
bold: tournament champions

28
BELGIUM (BEL)
Belgium last qualified for the FIFA World CupTM in 2002, when their title charge was derailed by future
champions Brazil in the Round of 16. The 2014 edition will be Belgiums 12th global finals.
The Belgians achieved their best finish of fourth at Mexico 1986, when they lost the match for third place
against France after extra time. At France 1998 Les Diables Rouges were eliminated without losing a game,
having drawn all three of their fixtures.
The FIFA award for the tournaments top goalkeeper was first awarded in 1994, when it was known as the
Yashin Award, and the inaugural winner was Belgian stopper Michel Preudhomme. Subsequently at the 2002
finals, Belgium collected the FIFA Fair Play Award.

On the qualification trail Belgium chalked up eight wins and two draws from ten matches. They won all five of
their away ties and endured the two stalemates at home, against Croatia and Wales.
This wasnt Belgiums first unbeaten preliminary campaign, although at ten games it qualifies as their longest.
The previous editions in which the Belgians avoided defeat were 1938 (one win and one draw), 1954 (three wins
and one draw), 1974 (four wins and two draws) and 1990 (four wins and four draws).
Eden Hazard scored two goals in the preliminaries, both against FYR Macedonia and both in the 62nd minute of
play. The strikes came five days apart on 22 and 26 March 2013.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

29
Bosnia-Herzegovina (BIH)
NEWCOMER

1992
Year Host
Participation
Team Manager
& Ranking
1996
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
Confederation
UEFA
2002 JPN/KOR
Did not qualify
21
2006 GER
Did not qualify
13 (Aug 2013)
2010 RSA
Did not qualify
2014 BRA
Qualified

June 2014
position

Safet SUSIC (BIH)

10 (8 1 1)
30 / 6
8-1 vs Liechtenstein
FIFA World Cup competition facts - NEWCOMER

Most capped player
Top Scorer

Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement

30
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA (BIH)
This is Bosnia-Herzegovinas first foray in a European or world finals tournament.
For the eighth consecutive edition there will be a European debutant in the World Cup. Bosnia-Herzegovina
follow in the footsteps of Denmark (1986), Republic of Ireland (1990), Greece (1994), Croatia (1998), Slovenia
(2002), Ukraine (2006) and Slovakia (2010).
UEFA have sent more representatives to the global showpiece than any other confederation, with BosniaHerzegovina being the 33rd. CAF (Africa) are next with 13.

Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic were the most prolific strike pairing in European Zone qualifying with 18 goals
between them, having contributed ten and eight respectively.
The 8-1 victory over Liechtenstein on 7 September 2012 is the joint-biggest win by a Bosnian national side,
equalling the 7-0 defeat of Estonia in the 2010 World Cup preliminaries.
Bosnia-Herzegovina are the only European team to have qualified on goal difference. The Zmajevi ended the
preliminary campaign on 25 points, the same number as Greece, but with a goal difference of +24 compared to
+8 for the Greeks, who therefore had to contest a play-off.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

31
Brazil (BRA)
Participation &
Team Manager
Ranking
Pindaro DE CARVALHO
Group stage
(BRA)
1914
Year
Host
1923
1930
URU
CONMEBOL
1934
ITA
First round
LUIZ VINHAES (BRA)
1938
FRA
Semi-finals (3rd)
Ademar PIMENTA (BRA)
1950* BRA
Runners-up
Flavio COSTA (BRA)
1954
SUI
Quarter-finals
Zeze MOREIRA (BRA)
1958
SWE
Champions
Vicente FEOLA (BRA)
Confederation
June 2014
position (year)
1 (1993-2007, 2009, 2010)

11
Qualified automatically for the 2014 FIFA World Cup (host)
1962** CHI
Champions
Aymore MOREIRA (BRA)
1966** ENG
Group stage
Vicente FEOLA (BRA)
1970
Champions
Mario ZAGALLO (BRA)
19

1930

Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
Semi-finals (4th)
Mario ZAGALLO (BRA)
1978
ARG
Semi-finals (3 )
Claudio COUTINHO (BRA)
210 / 88
1982
ESP
Second round
Tele SANTANA (BRA)
7-1
vs Sweden in 1950
1986
MEX
Quarter-finals
Tele SANTANA (BRA)
20 caps
CAFU
1990
ITA
Round of 16
Sebastiao LAZARONI (BRA)
15 goals
RONALDO
1994
USA
Champions
Carlos Alberto PARREIRA

(BRA)
Runners-up
Mario ZAGALLO (BRA)
Most capped player

Top Scorer
1974** FRG
97 (67- 15 15)
Goals for / against

MEX
1st
Champions in 1958, 1962,
1970, 1994, 2002
1998** FRA
rd
2002
KOR/JPN Champions
2006
GER
Quarter-finals
Carlos Alberto PARREIRA

(BRA)
2010
RSA
Quarter-finals
DUNGA (BRA)
Qualified
2014* BRA
*
**

South American champions in 1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997,
1999, 2004, 2007
FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009,
2013
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989,
1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009,
2011
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997,
1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
Olympic Football Tournaments: 1952, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972,
1976, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2012

32
BRAZIL (BRA)
Brazil are the only team to have taken part in every global showpiece since 1930. They hold the records for the
most titles won (five), the most goals scored (210) and the most victories (67). A Seleo are also the only team
to have won World Cups organised by four different confederations, namely UEFA (1958), CONMEBOL ( 1962),
CONCACAF (1970 and 1994) and AFC (2002).
Brazil hold the records for the most consecutive victories (11 between 2002 and 2006) and the longest unbeaten
run (13 games between 1958 and 1966).
A number of Brazilian players hold individual World Cup records, including Ronaldo, who is the competitions alltime top scorer with 15 goals, and Cafu, who won the most games in the tournaments history (16) and is the
only person to have played in three Finals (1994, 1998 and 2002). The legendary Pele also set a host of records
in 1958, when he became the youngest scorer and the youngest player to net a hat-trick, as well as the
youngest finalist and scorer in a Final.

Brazil, who as hosts qualified for the finals automatically, played no fewer than 34 matches while the South
American qualifying tournament was taking place between October 2011 and October 2013. They included 29
friendlies plus five FIFA Confederations Cup games, which yielded a total of 24 wins, five draws and five defeats.
Brazil have contested 92 World Cup qualifiers, fewer than any other South American side, and are the only
CONMEBOL team yet to reach the 100 mark. This is due to the fact that they have qualified by right on six
occasions: twice as hosts (in 1950 and 2014) and four times as the defending champions (in 1962, 1966, 1974
and 1998).
Brazil have never lost once in 45 qualifiers played on native soil. The only teams with a better unbeaten home
record in the World Cup preliminaries are Spain (52) and Italy (49).
Team Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

33
Cameroon (CMR)
1959
Year Host
participation
& Ranking
1962
1930 URU
1934
ITA
Did not enter
56
1938 FRA
Did not enter
11 (2006, 2007,2008,2009, 2010)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Did not enter
1962 CHI
Did not enter
1966* ENG
Withdrew from the preliminary competition
Confederation
June 2014
position (year)
CAF

12

8 (5 2 1)
Team Manager
12 / 4
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
4-1 vs. Tunisia
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Group stage
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Quarter-finals
Valeri NEPOMNYASHCHI
(URS)
17 / 34
1994 USA
Group stage
Henri MICHEL (FRA)
4 matches with 1 goal

difference
1998 FRA
Group stage
Claude LE ROY (FRA)
Most capped player
11 caps
Francois OMAM-BIYIK
2002 JPN/KOR
Group stage
Winnie SCHAEFER (GER)


1982
20 (4 7 9)
Goals for / against
Top Scorer
2006 GER
Did not qualify
5 goals
Roger MILLA
2010 RSA
Group Stage
Paul LE GUEN (FRA)
28
2014 BRA
Qualified
Volker Finke (GER)
All-time FWC Ranking

Best FWC achievement
Jean VINCENT (FRA)
Quarter-finals 1990
*Withdrew from the 1966 preliminary competition without

playing a single match
Continental champions in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002
FIFA Confederations Cup: 2001, 2003
Olympic Football Tournament: 1984, 2000, 2008
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1981, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2009, 2011

34
CAMEROON (CMR)
This is the seventh global showpiece to involve Cameroon, who have clocked up more World Cup finals
campaigns and matches (20) than any other African team.
Cameroon are the only African side to have been eliminated from the tournament without suffering a defeat.
This happened on their first World Cup foray in 1982, when they ground out three straight draws in the first
group stage against Peru (0-0), Poland (0-0) and Italy (1-1). Although the Indomitable Lions ended the round
equal on points with the eventual world champions, the fortunate Azzurri went through by virtue of having
scored two goals to Cameroons one.
Roger Milla is without doubt one of Africas most influential figures in the history of the World Cup. As well as
being his continents all-time leading marksman at the finals with five goals, the quick-footed striker is also the
oldest footballer to have appeared in the competition. Furthermore he holds the distinction of being the
tournaments oldest goalscorer, having found the net aged 42 years and 39 days against Russia in the 1994
contest.

Cameroon have not lost a World Cup qualifier at home for 33 years. Since succumbing to Congo in Yaounde in
1976, the Indomitable Lions have played 37 matches unbeaten on native territory, beginning with a 3-0 win over
Malawi on 29 June 1980 and including their four wins in the 2014 preliminaries.
Scorer of two goals during the campaign, Samuel Etoo is the first Cameroonian have netted in four consecutive
World Cup qualifying tournaments. Etoo opened his account in the 2002 preliminaries and his tournament tally
now stands at 18 goals.
Of all the African qualifiers, Cameroon and Cte dIvoire were the teams with the fewest goalscorers during the
preliminary tournament, numbering just six apiece.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

35
Chile (CHI)
1895
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
Team Manager
1913
1930 URU
Group stage
Gyorgi ORTH (HUN)
1934
Confederation
CONMEBOL

June 2014
position
14
ITA
1938 FRA
Did not enter
1950 BRA
Group stage
1954 SUI
Did not qualify
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI*
Semi-final (3rd) Fernando RIERA (CHI)
16 (9 1 6)
1966 ENG
Group stage
29 / 25
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
3-0 vs Venezuela
1974 FRG
Group stage
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Group stage
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
1994 USA**
Suspended
1998 FRA
Round of 16
9 caps
Elias FIGUEROA
Leonel SANCHEZ
2002 JPN/KOR
Did not qualify
2006 GER
Did not qualify
4 goals
Marcelo SALAS
Leonel SANCHEZ
2010 RSA
Round of 16
Marcelo BIELSA (ARG)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Jorge SAMPAOLI (ARG)
6 (Apr 1998)

14



1930
29 (9 6 14)
34 / 45
3-0 vs Mexico (1930)

5-2 vs USA (1950)
Most capped player
Top Scorer
20
rd
3 place in 1962
Arturo BUCCIARDI (CHI)
Luis ALAMOS (CHI)
Luis ALAMOS (CHI)
Luis Alberto SANTIBANEZ (CHI)
Nelson ACOSTA (URU)
qualified 1950 following Argentinas withdrawal

*
**
Suspended following goalkeeper Rojas feigning an injury
in the preliminary competition against Brazil
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1987, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1993, 1997
Olympic Football Tournaments: 1928, 1952, 1984, 2000

36
CHILE (CHI)
Chile are taking part in their ninth World Cup. La Roja also participated in the South Africa edition and this is the
second time they have contested back-to-back finals, following consecutive appearances in 1962 (as the host
country) and 1966.
Chiles best placing remains third spot in the 1962 edition on home soil. After losing their semi-final encounter
against the title holders and subsequent winners Brazil, the Chileans overcame Yugoslavia in the match for third
place.
The first penalty saved in the history of the FIFA World Cup was kicked by Chilean midfielder Carlos Vidal on 10
July 1930 and parried to safety by French keeper Alex Thepot.

Chile conceded the most defeats of all the qualified teams, having lost no fewer than six games despite finishing
third in the South American qualifying group. This isnt the first time that a CONMEBOL team has been beaten
so often en route to the finals, although the previous teams all played at least two games more than the 16
contested by Chile this time around.
Chile set a new national record for consecutive qualifying victories, winning four in a row between March and
September 2013 against Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Venezuela respectively. The Chileans previous best was
three straight wins, a feat which they had achieved twice.
Thirteen different players scored for Chile, more than any other team in the South American qualifying group.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

37
Colombia (COL)
1924
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
1936
1930 URU
1934 ITA
Did not enter
1938* FRA
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Entry not allowed
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Group stage
16 (9 3 4)
1966 ENG
Did not qualify
27 / 13
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
5-0 vs Bolivia
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Round of 16
Francisco MATURANA (COL)
14 / 23
1994 USA
Group stage
Francisco MATURANA (COL)
2-0
vs UAE in 1990
vs Switzerland in 1994
1998 FRA
Group stage
Hernan GOMEZ (COL)
2002 JPN/KOR
Did not qualify
10 caps
Carlos VALDERRAMA
Freddy RINCON
2006 GER
Did not qualify
2010 RSA
Did not qualify
2014 BRA
Qualified
Confederation
CONMEBOL

June 2014
position (year)
8
3 (Jul/Aug 2013)

15



1962
13 (3 2 8)
Goals for / against

Most capped player
Top Scorer
2 goals
Bernardo REDIN
Adolfo VALENCIA

38
Round of 16 in 1990
Team Manager
Adolfo PEDERNERA (ARG)
Jose PEKERMAN (ARG)
*Withdrew from the 1938 qualifiers without playing a single

match
FIFA Confederations Cup: 2003
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993, 2003, 2005,
2011, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1989, 1993, 2003, 2007, 2009
Olympic Football Tournaments: 1968, 1972, 1980, 1992

38
COLOMBIA (COL)
Colombia are participating in their fifth World Cup after an absence of 16 years, having last appeared at France
1998.
In their only previous foray beyond the opening round in 1990, Los Cafeteros were eliminated after extra time by
Round of 16 opponents Cameroon.
In 1962 Colombia were involved in the joint-highest scoring draw in the World Cup history, a 4-4 stalemate
against Soviet Union, which equalled the record set by England-Belgium in 1954.

Colombia have drawn more Word Cup qualifiers than any other side, no fewer than 40 from a total of 134
played. In this latest preliminary tournament, however, Los Cafeteros only tied three matches.
Radamel Falcao bagged nine goals in the 2014 campaign to become Colombias all-time top scorer in World
Cup qualifying. Including the goal that he netted in the 2010 tournament, Falcaos ten-goal tally surpasses
Faustino Asprillas overall total of nine during the 1994 and 1998 preliminary competitions.
With only 13 goals conceded in 16 matches, Colombia had the best defence in South American qualifying.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

39
Costa Rica (CRC)


1921
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
1927
1930 URU
1934 ITA
Did not enter
1938* FRA
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Entry not accepted
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
16 (8 4 4)
1966 ENG
Did not qualify
27 / 12
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
7-0 vs
Guyana16.10.2012
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Round of 16
12 / 21
1994 USA
Did not qualify
2-0
vs China PR in 2002
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
2002 JPN/KOR
Group stage
Alexandre GUIMARAES (CRC)
2006 GER
Group stage
Alexandre GUIMARAES (CRC)
2010 RSA
Did not qualify
2014 BRA
Qualified
Confederation
CONCACAF

June 2014
(years)
28
17 (2003, 2004)

15


1990
10 (3 1 6)

Most capped player
Top Scorer
5 players with 6 caps

3 goals
Ronald GOMEZ
Paulo WANCHOPE

40
Round of 16 in 1990
Team Manager
Bora MILUTINOVIC (YUG)
Jorge Luis PINTO (COL)
* Withdrew from the 1938 preliminary competition without

CONCACAF Championship winners in 1963, 1969, 1989
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1989, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2007,
2009, 2011
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1985, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005,
2007, 2009

40
COSTA RICA (CRC)

This is Costa Ricas fourth outing in the finals of the FIFA World CupTM. The Central Americans achieved their
best finish on their debut in 1990, getting beyond the first round before being eliminated in the Round of 16 by
Czechoslovakia.
Costa Rica are on a four-match losing run in the World Cup. Besides the three defeats they collected in their
most recent campaign in 2006, Los Ticos succumbed 5-2 to Brazil in their last group game of the 2002 edition.
In 1990 Costa Rica became the second of five teams to be coached at the World Cup by Bora Milutinovic.
2014FIFA World Cup preliminaries

The 7-0 win over Guyana on 16 October 2012 equalled Costa Ricas biggest margin of victory in World Cup
qualification. The Costa Ricans had already twice achieved the same margin (and scoreline) against Jamaica and
Suriname in the 1966 and 2010 preliminary tournaments respectively.
After drawing their first home match 2-2 with El Salvador and losing the next one 2-0 to Mexico, Costa Rica
went on to win all of their remaining six home fixtures, scoring 17 goals and conceding just two.
Costa Rica have played 156 World Cup qualifiers, more than any other team except Mexico, who have contested
three more.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

41
Cte dIvoire (CIV)

1960
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
1964
1930 URU
1934
ITA
Did not enter
23
1938 FRA
Did not enter
12 (Feb, Apr & May 2013)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Did not enter
1962 CHI
Did not enter
8 (5 3 0)
1966 ENG
Did not enter
19 / 7
1970 MEX
Did not enter
3-0 vs Gambia (2x)
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not enter
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
Confederation
CAF

June 2014
position (year)
10



2006
6 (2 1 3)
Team Manager
9/9
1994 USA
Did not qualify
3-0
vs Korea DPR in 2010
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
2002 JPN/KOR
Did not qualify
2006 GER
Group Stage
Henri MICHEL (FRA)
2010 RSA
Group Stage
Sven-Goran ERIKSSON (SWE)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Sabri LAMOUCHI (FRA)
Most capped player
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
6 caps
Aruna DINDANE
Emmanuel EBOUE
Yaya TOURE
Didier ZAKORA
2 goals
Aruna DINDANE
Didier DROGBA
50
Group Stage in 2006 and 2010
Continental Champions in 1992
Olympic Football Tournament: 2008
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1977, 1983, 1991, 1997, 2003
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1987, 2005, 2011, 2013

42
CTE DIVOIRE (CIV)

This is Cte dIvoires third consecutive participation in the World Cup. The only African team to top that total
are Cameroon, who qualified for four straight editions between 1990 and 2002. Ghana, Nigeria and Tunisia also
managed to qualify three times on the trot.
In 2006 Cte dIvoire became the first African team to win a match after going two goals down. Finding
themselves 2-0 behind within the first 20 minutes against Serbia and Montenegro, the Elephants hit back
through Aruna Dindane before the interval, then completed the turnaround after the break with another
Dindane strike plus a penalty from Bonaventure Kalou four minutes from the end.
Didier Drogba is the only Ivorian to have scored in two World Cups. The striker bagged both his goals against
South American former world champions, namely Argentina at the 2006 finals and Brazil in 2010.

Cte dIvoire went through the campaign undefeatedas they did in the 2010 preliminary tournament
winning five and drawing three of their eight games. The Elephants are now unbeaten in their last 21 qualifiers.
Their most recent reverse was a 3-2 defeat at home to Cameroon on 4 September 2005.
In both the second-round group and the decisive third round of the African Zone preliminaries, Cte dIvoire
faced a team with World Cup finals experience, specifically Morocco and Senegal respectively.
Salomon Kalou was the only African player to score in both the first and second legs of the knockout third round
of CAF World Cup qualifiers.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

43
Croatia (CRO)
1912
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
Team Manager
1992
1998 FRA
Semi-finals (3rd)
Miroslav BLAZEVIC (CRO)
Confederation
UEFA
2002 JPN/KOR Group stage
Mirko JOZIC (CRO)
2006 GER
Group stage
Zlatko KRANJCAR (CRO)
2010 RSA
Did not qualify
2014 BRA
qualified

June 2014
18

(year)
3 (1999)


Nico KOVAC (CRO)

12 (6 3 3)
14 / 9
2-0
vs Wales, Serbia and
Iceland
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1999, 2011, 2013



1998
13 (6 2 5)

Most capped player
Top Scorer
15 / 11
3-0
vs Germany in 1998
11 caps
Dario SIMIC
6 goals
Davor Suker

27
3rd Place in 1998

44
CROATIA (CRO)
Croatia make their return to the FIFA World CupTM finals after missing out on the last edition in 2010. Prior to
that, the Croats had qualified for three successive global showpieces from 1998 to 2006. During their maiden
campaign in France, the Vatreni became the first debutants to finish third since Portugal in 1966.
The top scorer at the 1998 tournament was Croatian. Davor Suker struck six times to top the goal chart ahead
of Gabriel Batistuta and Christian Vieri on five.
Croatia have contested 13 matches at the World Cup finals and have already faced five world champions. The
only former winners they have not played yet are England Spain and Uruguay.

This is the second time that Croatia have qualified for the finals via the play-offs. The first time was in the 1998
tournament, when they defeated opponents Ukraine 2-0 at home in the first leg before earning a 1-1 away
draw in the second. The Croatians gained similar results in this years duel with Iceland, drawing away 0-0 and
winning 2-0 on native soil.
Croatia recorded the lowest points tally of all the best eight runners-up. The Croats were second from bottom in
the ranking of the nine second-placed teams, pipping Group B runners-up Denmark by a single point.
Among the European teams to have qualified for Brazil 2014, Croatia scored the fewest goals along the way.
The Vatreni bagged 14 in total, including 12 in the group fixtures and another two in the play-offs. Only two
Croatian players found the net more than once during the campaign, namely Mario Mandzukic with four goals
and Eduardo with two.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

45
Ecuador (ECU)
1925
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
1926
1930 URU
Did not enter
1934
ITA
Did not enter
1938 FRA
Did not enter
1950* BRA
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Did not enter
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
16 (7 4 5)
1966 ENG
Did not qualify
20 / 16
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
4-1 vs Paraguay
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
7/8
1994 USA
Did not qualify
3-0
vs Costa Rica 2006
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
7 caps
Ulises DE LA CRUZ
Edison MENDEZ
2002 JPN/KOR
Group stage
Hernan GOMEZ (COL)
Most capped player
2006 GER
Round of 16
Luis SUREZ (COL)
3 goals
Agustin DELGADO
2010 RSA
Did not qualify
2014 BRA
Qualified
Confederation
CONMEBOL

June 2014
position
26
10 (Apr-Jun 2013)

14



2002
7 (3 0 4)
Goals for / against
Top Scorer
Team Manager
42
Round of 16 in 2006
*Withdrew from the 1950 competition without playing a single

match
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1987, 1995, 2011

46
ECUADOR (ECU)
Ecuador are participating in their third global showcase, having already appeared in the 2002 and 2006 editions.
La Tri got beyond the opening round in Germany before losing 1-0 to England in the Round of 16 following a
David Beckham goal.
Ecuadors World Cup track record stands at three wins and four defeats from seven matches played. That trio of
victories came in consecutive games, from the Ecuadorans last match at the 2002 edition (against Croatia) to
their first two in 2006 (against Poland and Costa Rica).
Despite having played relatively few games on footballs greatest stage, Ecuador managed to avoid conceding a
goal for 307 consecutive minutes thanks to their three victories spanning the 2002 and 2006 editions.

Ecuador qualified directly for the 2014 World Cup finals by virtue of finishing the South American qualifying
group in fourth position, ahead of Uruguay only on goal difference.
Since the introduction of the single-group format, no South American side has qualified directly for the finals
with a goals-per-game average as low as the one Ecuador achieved in the latest campaign. La Tri netted just 20
goals in 16 matches, or 1.25 per match. The previous lowest top-four average of 1.28 (23 goals in 18 matches)
was recorded in 2006 by Paraguay and Ecuador themselves, plus Argentina in 2010.
Ecuadors qualification owed everything to their home form. La Tri picked up 22 of their 25 points on native soil,
winning seven and drawing one of their home qualifiers. The only visitors to avoid defeat in Quito were
Argentina, who escaped with a 1-1 draw.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

47
England (ENG)

1863
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
1905
1930 URU
Confederation
UEFA
1934
ITA
Did not enter
10
1938 FRA
Did not enter
3 (Aug-Sep 2012)
1950 BRA
Group stage
Walter WINTERBOTTOM (ENG)
1954 SUI
Quarter-finals
1958 SWE
Group stage
1962 CHI
Quarter-finals
1966 ENG*
Champions
Alf RAMSEY (ENG)
1970 MEX**
Quarter-finals
Alf RAMSEY (ENG)
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Second round
Ron GREENWOOD (ENG)
1986 MEX
Quarter-finals
Bobby ROBSON (ENG)

June 2014
position (year)
15

10 (6-4-0)
Goals for / against

31/4
8-0 vs San Marino

13

1950
59 (26-19-14)
Team Manager
th
1990 ITA
Semi-finals (4 )
Bobby ROBSON (ENG)
77/52
1994 USA
Did not qualify
3-0
vs Denmark in 2002
vs Paraguay in 1986
vs Poland in 1986
1998 FRA
Round of 16
Glenn HODDLE (ENG)
2002 JPN/KOR
Quarter-finals
Sven Goran ERIKSSON (SWE)
2006 GER
Quarter-finals
Sven Goran ERIKSSON (SWE)
2010 RSA
Round of 16
Fabio CAPELLO (ITA)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Roy HODGSON (ENG)
Most capped player

Top Scorer
17 caps
Peter SHILTON
10 goals
Gary LINEKER

*
**

Qualified as defending champion
Champions in 1966
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1981, 1985, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999,
2003, 2009, 2011, 2013

48
ENGLAND (ENG)
This will be Englands 14th World Cup and their fifth in a row, although their longest uninterrupted run of
appearances was six, between 1950 and 1970. The Three Lions won the title in 1966 on home turf and reached
the semi-finals in 1990, when they went on to finish fourth.
Of all of the winners of the World Cup, England made their tournament debut the latest, on 25 June 1950 at
the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where they outfought Chile 2-0. The first of the Three Lions 77 goals
scored at the World Cup finals was netted in that match by Stan Mortensen.
Peter Shilton, along with French keeper Fabien Barthez, has kept more clean sheets than any other custodian in
the tournaments history. Englands most capped player did not concede a goal in ten of his 17 World Cup
appearances between 1982 and 1990.

The 0-0 draw against Ukraine on 10 September 2013 was Englands 100th World Cup qualifier.
Wayne Rooney racked up seven goals to become Englands top scorer for the second successive World Cup
qualifying campaign, having netted nine in the 2010 edition. Rooneys overall tally of 16 makes him Englands
all-time leading marksman in the preliminaries, ahead of Frank Lampard who has 13. By contrast Steven Gerrard,
who struck twice in this edition, is the only English player to have scored in four different World Cup preliminary
tournaments.
England finished the group undefeated with six wins and four draws, their first unbeaten campaign since the
1990 World Cup preliminaries when they recorded three wins and three draws.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

49
France (FRA)

1904
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
Team Manager
1904
1930 URU
Group stage
Raoul CAUDRON (FRA)
Confederation
UEFA
1934 ITA
First stage
George KIMPTON (ENG)
1938* FRA
Quarter-finals
Gaston BARREAU (FRA)
1950 BRA
Did not qualify
1954 SUI
Group stage
Pierre PIBAROT (FRA)
1958 SWE
Semi-finals (3rd)
Albert BATTEAUX (FRA)
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
10 (6 2 2)
1966 ENG
Group stage
18 / 8
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
3:0 vs Finland and Ukraine
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Group stage
Michel HIDALGO (FRA)
1982 ESP
Semi-finals (4th)
Michel HIDALGO (FRA)
1986 MEX
Semi-finals (3rd)
Henri MICHEL (FRA)
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
1994 USA
Did not qualify
1998* FRA
Champions
Aime JACQUET (FRA)
2002** JPN/KOR
Group stage
Roger LEMERRE (FRA)
vs Saudi Arabia in 1998
2006 GER
Runners-up
Raymond DOMENECH (FRA)
17 caps
Fabien BARTHEZ
Thierry HENRY
2010 RSA
Group stage
Raymond DOMENECH (FRA)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Didier DESCHAMPS (FRA)

June 2014
position (year)
17
1 (2001, 2002)

16


13

1930
54 (25 11 18)
96 / 68
7-3
vs Paraguay in 1958
Most capped player
Top Scorer
4-0
vs Northern Ireland in 1958
13 goals
Just FONTAINE
*
**
Henri GUERIN (FRA)
Qualified automatically as hosts.

Qualified as defending champion
7
Champions in 1998
European Champions in 1984, 2000
FIFA Confederation Cup: 2001, 2003
Olympic Football Tournament: 1908, 1920,
1924,1928,1948,1952,1960,1968, 1976, 1984, 1996
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1977, 1997, 2001, 2011, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1987, 2001, 2007, 2011

50
FRANCE (FRA)
France are competing in their 14th World Cup finals. This is a fifth consecutive outing for Les Bleus, who
fluctuated between finalists and first-round flops in their last four participations. World champions at home in
1998 and runners-up in 2006, the French failed to get beyond the opening stage in 2002 and 2010.
France have made the title First time in World Cup history their own by scoring the competitions first goal
(Lucien Laurent netted in the 19th minute in their 4-1 win over Mexico on 13th July 1930), saving the first
penalty (Alex Thepot against Chile on 19 July 1930), scoring the first penalty in extra time (Georges Verriest in
the 116th minute against Austria in 1934), scoring the first penalty in a penalty shoot-out (Alain Giresse in the
1982 semi-final against Germany FR), saving the first penalty in a penalty shoot-out (Jean-Luc Ettori, also in the
1982 semi-final) and, finally, scoring the first golden goal through Laurent Blanc in 1998s Round of 16 match
against Paraguay.
Just Fontaine holds the record for the most goals bagged by a player in a single edition of the tournament,
having struck 13 in 1958.

France qualified for the global showcase following their fourth flirtation with the play-offs. In their first two
encounters ahead of the 1950 and 1962 finals, Les Bleus lost out to Yugoslavia and Bulgaria respectively, before
winning a berth at South Africa 2010 and this latest edition.
France are the first team to have qualified via the play-offs after overturning a two-goal deficit from the first leg.
The first leg of the play-off against Ukraine in Kiev was Frances 100th World Cup qualifier.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

51
Germany (GER)
1900
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
1904
1930 URU
Confederation
UEFA
1934 ITA
Semi-finals (3rd) Otto NERZ (GER)
1938 FRA
First round
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Champions
1958 SWE**
Semi-finals (4th) Sepp HERBERGER (FRG)
1962 CHI
Quarter-finals
Sepp HERBERGER (FRG)
10 (9 1 0)
1966 ENG
Runners-up
Helmut SCHOEN (FRG)
36 / 10
1970 MEX
Semi-finals (3rd) Helmut SCHOEN (FRG)
6-1 vs Republic of Ireland
1974 FRG*
Champions
Helmut SCHOEN (FRG)
1978 ARG**
Second round
Helmut SCHOEN (FRG)
1982 ESP
Runners-up
Jupp DERWALL (FRG)
1986 MEX
Runners-up
Franz BECKENBAUER (FRG)
1990 ITA
Champions
Franz BECKENBAUER (FRG)
1994 USA**
Quarter-finals
Berti VOGTS (GER)
1998 FRA
Quarter-finals
Berti VOGTS (GER)
2002 JPN/KOR
Runners-up
Rudi VOELLER (GER)
2006 GER*
Semi-finals (3rd) Juergen KLINSMANN (GER)
2010 RSA
Semi-finals (3rd) Joachim LOEW (GER)
2014 BRA
Qualified

June 2014
position (year)
1 (1993/1994)

13


17

1934
99 (60 19 20)
206 / 117
8-0
vs Saudi Arabia in 2002
Most capped player

Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
25 caps
Lothar MATTHAEUS
14 goals
Miroslav KLOSE
2
Champions in 1954, 1974, 1990
Team Manager
Sepp HERBERGER (GER)
Sepp HERBERGER (FRG)
Joachim LOEW (GER)
1954-1990 Federal Republic of Germany (FRG)

*
** Qualified automatically as defending champions
European champions in 1972, 1980, 1996
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1981, 1987, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001,
2003, 2005, 2009
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1985, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2007,
2009, 2011,
Olympic Football Tournaments: 1912, 1928, 1936, 1952, 1956,
1972, 1984, 1988

52
GERMANY (GER)
Germany are participating in their 18th global showpiece and have attended every finals since missing out on
Brazil 1950. Germany lie third in the all-time title ranking with three World Cup triumphs, behind only Brazil on
five and Italy on four, and have played the most Finals (seven) along with Brazil. Die Nationalelf also boast the
most top-four finishes, no fewer than 12, which is two more than Brazil.
The all-time player and coach appearance records are both held by Germans, namely Lothar Matthaeus and
Helmut Schoen respectively, who each contested 25 World Cup games. Their compatriot Uwe Seeler holds
another honour, albeit one that he shares with Pele, for having scored in four different editions.
The opening match in Brazil will be the 100th World Cup game played by Germany, who are the first team to
reach this milestone.

Germany had the joint-best attack in qualification for Brazil 2014 with 36 goals scored. New Caledonia also
netted the same number but played an extra match. The Germans scored at least three goals in eight straight
games and struck fewer than that in only one, a 2-1 win in Austria.
With nine wins and one draw on the way to Brazil 2014, Die Nationalmannschaft extended their unbeaten
streak in World Cup qualifying to 23 matches. Their longest undefeated run remains 36 between the 1934 and
1986 preliminary tournaments.
Philipp Lahm won his 100th cap for Germany in the 3-0 win over Austria on 6 September 2013.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

53
Ghana (GHA)
1957
Year Host
participation
& Ranking
1958
1930 URU
1934
ITA
Did not enter
37
1938 FRA
Did not enter
14 (2008)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Did not enter
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
8 (6 0 - 2)
1966 ENG
25/6
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
7-0 vs Lesotho
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
9/10
1994 USA
Did not qualify
2-0
vs Czech Republic in 2006
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
2002 JPN/KOR
Did not qualify
2006 GER
Round of 16
Ratomir DUJKOVIC (SRB)
2010 RSA
Quarter-finals
Milovan RAJEVAC (SRB)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Akwasi APPIAH (GHA)
Confederation
CAF

June 2014
position (year)
12

Goals for / against
2006
Matches
(win/ draw / loss)
9 (4-2-3)
Goals for / against

Most capped player
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
9 Caps
Richard KINGSON
John PANTSIL
4 goals
Asamoah GYAN
Team Manager
34
Quarter-finals in 2010
Withdrew from the 1966 & 1982 preliminary competition

without playing a single match
Continental champions in 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982
Other FIFA tournament participations
2004
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1993, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2009, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999,
2005, 2007

54
GHANA (GHA)
Ghana are competing in their third consecutive global showpiece. They got beyond the opening round in both
the 2006 and 2010 finals, eventually going out in the Round of 16 against Brazil in Germany and at the quarterfinal stage in South Africa, after losing to Uruguay on penalties.
In 2010 Ghana became the third African team to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup, following
Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.
Asamoah Gyan was the first player to miss two penalties in the World Cup. In 2006 he struck the post against
Czech Republic, although Ghana went on to win 2-0. In the 2010 quarter-finals against Uruguay, Gyan hit the
crossbar in the last minute of extra time. If the Ghanaian striker had converted that spot-kick, his team would
have become the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Instead, the Black Stars went on to be
eliminated in the subsequent shoot-out. Despite those penalty misses, Gyan scored in both matches.

Ghana were the most prolific team in the African preliminaries, scoring 25 goals from a total of eight matches.
Asamoah Gyan was the joint-top scorer in the African preliminaries with six goals, the same number as Egypts
Mohamed Aboutrika and Mohamed Salah.
Ghanas two biggest winning margins in World Cup qualifying history were recorded en route to Brazil 2014.
The Black Stars overran Lesotho 7-0 on 1 June 2012, before routing Egypt 6-1 in the first leg of their third-round
encounter on 15 October 2013.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

55
Greece (GRE)

1926
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
1927
1930 URU
Confederation
UEFA
1934* ITA
12
1938 FRA
Did not qualify
8 (2008, 2011)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not qualify
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
12 (9 2 1)
1966 ENG
Did not qualify
16 / 6
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
1994 USA
Group stage
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
2002 JPN/KOR
Did not qualify
2006 GER
Did not qualify
13 Players with 3 caps
2010 RSA
Group stage
Otto REHHAGEL (GER)
1 goal
Dimitrious SALPINGIDIS
Vasileios TOROSIDIS
2014 BRA
Qualified
Fernando SANTOS (POR)

June 2014
position
18

2-0
vs Lithuania
vs Liechtenstein
3-1
vs Romania
Team Manager


1994

Most capped player
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
Alkis PANAGOULIAS (GRE)
6 (1 0 5)
2 / 15
2-1
vs Nigeria in 2010
61
Group stage 1994, 2010
*withdrew from the 1934 preliminary competition after playing

one match
European Champions in 2004

56
GREECE (GRE)
This will be Greeces third World Cup finals campaign and their second in a row. The Greeks made their
tournament bow in 1994. In both of their previous outings, To Piratiko were eliminated in the opening round.
None of Greeces six previous finals matches ended drawn, producing one victory and five defeats for the
Hellenics.
The Greeks earned their only World Cup win during the most recent edition in South Africa. On 17 June 2010 in
Mangaung/Bloemfontein they came from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1. That was also the only one of Greeces six
World Cup games in which they scored. The historic maiden goal was netted by Dimitrios Salpingidis.

Among the best eight runners-up from the nine European Zone qualifying groups, Greece achieved the highest
points score of 25. This tally would have been enough to finish top in four of the other groups.
Greece managed to keep five clean sheets during the campaign. The only European team to achieve more
shutouts in the 2014 preliminaries were Ukraine, with six.
Greece secured their berth in Brazil 2014 by beating play-off opponents Romania 3-1 at home and then drawing
1-1 away in Bucharest. This is the second consecutive global showpiece that Greece have reached via the playoffs. In 2010 they plundered a 1-0 win in Ukraine after being held to a goalless draw at home. Many years
before, the Greeks also contested a knockout decider to qualify for the 1938 finals but lost it 11-1 to Hungary.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

57
Honduras (HON)
1951
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
1946
1930 URU
1934
ITA
Did not enter
33
1938 FRA
Did not enter
20 (Sept 2001)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Did not enter
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
16 (7 5 4)
1966 ENG
Did not qualify
25 / 15
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
8-1
vs Canada
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978* ARG
1982 ESP
Group stage
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
2/6
1994 USA
Did not qualify
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
2002 JPN/KOR
Did not qualify
1 goal
Eduardo LAING
Hector ZELAYA
2006 GER
Did not qualify
2010 RSA
Group stage
59
2014 BRA
Qualified
Luis SUAREZ (COL)
Confederation
CONCACAF

June 2014
position (month/year)
13

Goals for / against

1982
6 (0 3 3)
Goals for / against

Most capped player
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
15 players with 3 caps
Group stage in 1982 and 2010
Team Manager
Jose DE LA PAZ (HON)

FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1977, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2009
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 2007, 2009, 2013

58
HONDURAS (HON)
Honduras are participating in their third global showcase and the second in a row. A 28-year interval separated
the Hondurans first two World Cup campaigns, at Spain 1982 and South Africa 2010. Los Catrachos squared up
to Spain in both of those editions, conceding a penalty equaliser in a 1-1 draw in 1982 before losing 2-0 to the
eventual world champions in 2010.
Honduras are yet to win a World Cup match. In six games played, the Central Americans have collected three
draws and three defeats, besides having failed to score in their last four fixtures.
In 2010 Honduras set an unusual World Cup record by naming three brothers in their 23-man squad. Jerry,
Johnny and Wilson Palacios were all involved in the South Africa showpiece, although the youngest brother
Johnny didnt get any playing time.

On 6 September 2013 Honduras finally won a qualifier in Mexico after seven consecutive defeats away to the
North Americans. Los Catrachos came from behind to triumph 2-1 in the Azteca stadium, thanks to goals from
Jerry Bengtson and Carlo Costly in a three-minute spell from the 63rd to 66th minutes.
Bengtson and Costly, the top Honduran scorers in qualifying with nine and seven goals respectively, each scored
a hat-trick in the 8-0 win over Canada on 16 October 2012. It was the first time this had happened to Honduras
in the history of the preliminary tournament.
Honduras played no fewer than four of their 16 qualifiers against Panama but failed to win any of those
meetings. Instead the Hondurans picked up two draws and two defeats against Los Canaleros, including their
only home reverse of the campaign, 2-0 in their opening match on 8 June 2012.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

59
Iran (IRN)

1920
Year Host
Participation
Team Manager
& Ranking
1948
1930 URU
1934
ITA
Did not enter
43
1938 FRA
Did not enter
15 (Jul/Aug 2005)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Did not enter
1962 CHI
Did not enter
16 (10 4 2)
1966 ENG
Did not enter
30 / 7
1970 MEX
Did not enter
6-0 vs Bahrain
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Group stage
1982* ESP
1978
1986 MEX
Excluded from the preliminary competition
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
6 / 18
1994 USA
Did not qualify
2-1
vs USA in 1998
1998 FRA
Group stage
Confederation
AFC

June 2014

9 (1 2 6)
Goals for / against

6 caps
Mehdi MAHDAVIKIA
2006 GER
Group stage
Top Scorer
6 players with 1 goal
2010 RSA
Did not qualify
53
2014 BRA
Qualified
Group stage in 1978,

1998 & 2006
Jalal TALEBI (IRN)
2002 JPN/KOR Did not qualify
Most capped player
Heshmat MOHADJERANI (IRN)
Branko IVANKOVIC (CRO)

Asian Champions in 1968, 1972 and 1976
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 2001, 2009, 2013

60
IRAN (IRN)
Iran are participating in their fourth finals after the 1978, 1998 and 2006 editions. In each of their previous three
outings, Team Melli failed to make it past the opening round.
Irans only victory in nine matches was a 2-1 win over USA in 1998 in Lyon, courtesy of goals from Hamid Estili
and Mehdi Mahdavikia.
Iran made their World Cup debut at the 1978 edition and earned their first point with a 1-1 draw against
Scotland. During that encounter, Iraj Danayfar scored Team Mellis historic first goal in the competition.

Iran hit the campaign trail earlier than any of the other Asian qualifiers. On 23 July 2011 the west Asians took to
the field for the first leg of their second-round tie against Maldives, which they won 4-0.
Of all the AFC sides that have secured a berth in Brazil, Iran did it with the fewest defeats (two in 16 matches,
plus ten wins and four draws) and scoring the fewest goals (seven).
Those ten qualifying victories were split equally between home and away fixtures.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

61
Italy (ITA)

1898
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
1905
1930 URU
Confederation
UEFA
1934 ITA
Champions
Vittorio POZZO (ITA)
1938** FRA
Champions
Vittorio POZZO (ITA)
1 (1993, 2007)
1950** BRA
Group stage
Ferruccio NOVO (ITA)
1954 SUI
Group stage
Lajos CZEIZLER (HUN)
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Group stage
Paolo MAZZA (ITA)

Giovanni FERRARI (ITA)
10 (6-4-0)
1966 ENG
Group stage
Edmondo FABBRI (ITA)
19/9
1970 MEX
Runners-up
Ferruccio VALCAREGGI (ITA)
4 matches won with 2 goals

difference
1974 FRG
Group stage

June 2014
position (year)
15

Team Manager
Ferruccio VALCAREGGI (ITA)

th
1978 ARG
Semi-finals (4 )
Enzo BEARZOT (ITA)
1982 ESP
Champions
Enzo BEARZOT (ITA)
1986** MEX
Round of 16
Enzo BEARZOT (ITA)
80 (44-21-15)
1990* ITA
Semi-finals (3rd)
Azeglio VICINI (ITA)
126 / 74
1994 USA
Runners-up
Arrigo SACCHI (ITA)
7-1
vs USA in 1934
1998 FRA
Quarter-finals
Cesare MALDINI (ITA)
23 caps
Paolo MALDINI
2002 JPN/KOR
Round of 16
Giovanni TRAPATTONI (ITA)
Most capped player
2006 GER
Champions
Marcello LIPPI (ITA)
2010 RSA
Group stage
Marcello LIPPI (ITA)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Cesare PRANDELLI (ITA)
17

Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
1934
9 goals
Roberto BAGGIO
Paolo ROSSI
Christian VIERI
3
Champions 1934, 1938, 1982,
2006
* Qualified automatically as host

** Qualified automatically defending champions
1948, 1952, 1960, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000,2004, 2008
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1977, 1981, 1987, 2005, 2009
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 2005, 2009, 2013

62
ITALY (ITA)
This will be Italys 18th global finals and their 14th in a row since 1962. The four-time world champions are
second only to Brazil in terms of titles won and have played out the most draws (21) and extra-time matches (11)
in World Cup history.
All four of Italys Trophy wins have come on the Old Continent, on home soil in 1934, in France in 1938, Spain
in 1982 and Germany in 2006. Italy were the first world champions to defend their crown, notching consecutive
titles in 1934 and 1938, as well as the first defending champions to suffer the ignominy of a first-round exit
(1950).
On 11 July 1982 in Madrid, Dino Zoff became the oldest player to compete in a World Cup Final at the ripe old
age of 40 years and 133 days.

On 10 September Italy achieved a first by qualifying for the World Cup finals with two matches to spare, thanks
to their victory over Czech Republic.
At home to Armenia in the final group game, Mario Balotellis equaliser that clinched a 2-2 draw was also Italys
200th goal in World Cup qualifying history.
Italy finished their World Cup group unbeaten for the second campaign in a row. The Italians undefeated run in
the competition now stands at 27 matches, including 18 wins and nine draws. Furthermore Gli Azzurri have
played 49 World Cup qualifiers at home without losing a single one.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

63
Japan (JPN)

1921
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
1929
1930 URU
AFC
1934 ITA
Did not enter
46
1938 FRA
9 (Feb/Mar1998)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not qualify
1958 SWE
Did not enter
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
14 (8 3 3)
1966 ENG
Did not enter
30 / 8
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
8-0 vs Tajikistan
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
Confederation
June 2014
13



1998
14 (4 3 7)
Team Manager
12 / 16
1994 USA
Did not qualify
2-0
vs Tunisia in 2002
3-1
vs Denmark in 2010
1998 FRA
Group stage
Takeshi OKADA (JPN)
2002* JPN/KOR
Round of 16
Philippe TROUSSIER (FRA)
2006 GER
Group stage
ZICO (BRA)
2010 RSA
Round of 16
Takeshi OKADA (JPN)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Alberto ZACCHERONI (ITA)
Most capped player
Top Scorer
10 caps
Hidetoshi NAKATA
2 goals
Keisuke HONDA
Junichi INAMOTO

Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
32
Withdrew from the1938 preliminary competition without

*
Qualified automatically as co-host
Round of 16 in 2002 & 2010

Asian Champions in 1992, 2000, 2004, 2011
FIFA Confederations Cup: 1995, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2013
Olympic Football Tournament: 1936, 1956, 1964, 1968, 1996, 2000,
2004, 2008, 2012
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1979, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005,
2007
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1993, 1995, 2001, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013

64
JAPAN (JPN)
In two of their four previous participations, in 2002 and 2010, Japan managed to get beyond the opening round
only to be eliminated in the Round of 16 each time. The Samurai Blue were edged out 1-0 by Turkey in the
Korea/Japan edition, before going out on penalties against Paraguay at the last finals in South Africa.
The only Asian goalkeepers to have saved a penalty in the finals of the World Cup are both Japanese. Yoshikatsu
Kawaguchi kept out a Darijo Srna spot-kick in 2006, whereas Eiji Kawashima parried an effort by Jon Dahl
Tomasson in 2010 (but couldnt prevent the Dane from scoring the rebound).
During the 3-1 group-match victory over Denmark in 2010, Japan managed to score three goals in a FIFA World
Cup game for the first and only time to date.

For the third time in a row, Japan were the first Asian team to qualify for the finals. The Japanese made sure of
their place on 4 June with a 1-1 draw against Australia in Saitama.
Shinji Okazaki was the top scorer in the Asian Zone preliminary competition with eight goals. The Japanese
forward found the net in six matches, including two braces against Tajikistan and last-gasp winners in vital away
victories over Oman (2-1) and Iraq (1-0).
Japan played their 100th qualifier on 26 March 2013, losing 2-1 to Jordan in Amman. Four months earlier
during the 2-1 victory in Oman, Okazakis winner was Japans 200th goal in qualifying history.
Team Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

65


1933
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
1948
1930 URU
AFC
1934 ITA
Did not enter
57
1938 FRA
Did not enter
17 (Dec 1998)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Group stage
1958 SWE
Entry not accepted
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
1966** ENG
Confederation
June 2014
13

14 (8 3 3)
Team Manager
KIM Yong Shik (KOR)
27 / 11
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
6-0 vs Lebanon
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Group stage
KIM Jung Nam (KOR)
1990 ITA
Group stage
LEE Hoe Taik (KOR)
1994 USA
Group stage
KIM Ho Kon (KOR)
1998 FRA
Group stage
KIM Pyung Seok (KOR)

CHA Bum Kun (KOR)
2002* JPN/KOR
Semi-finals (4th)
Guus HIDDINK (NED)
2006 GER
Group stage
Dick ADVOCAAT (NED)
2010 RSA
Round of 16
HUH Jung Moo (KOR)
2014 BRA
Qualified
HONG Myung-Bo (KOR)


1954
28 (5 8 15)
28 / 61
2-0
vs Poland in 2002
vs Greece in 2010
Most capped player
16 caps
HONG Myung Bo
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
3 goals
AHN Jung Hwan
PARK Ji Sung
26
th
4 in 2002
*
Qualified automatically as co-host
**
withdrew from the preliminary competition without
Asian Champions in 1956, 1960
2000, 2004, 2008, 2012
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1979, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999,
2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1987, 2003, 2007, 2009

66
KOREA REPUBLIC (KOR)

Korea Republic are contesting their ninth World Cup finals and their eighth in a row. They have played more
games (28), collected more victories (five) and netted more goals (28) than any other AFC team in the
competitions history.
Korea Republic achieved the best World Cup placing by an Asian side when they finished fourth at the 2002
edition, which they co-hosted with Japan. The only other time that the Taegeuk Warriors got beyond the
opening round was in 2010, when they were subsequently eliminated in the Round of 16 by Uruguay.
The South Koreans earned four of their five finals victories against European opposition, namely Poland, Portugal
and Italy in 2002, followed by Greece in 2010. The only exception was a victory over Togo in 2006.

Korea Republic have played 117 World Cup qualifiers, more than any other Asian side.
The Taegeuk Warriors qualified directly without the need for play-offs, owing to their superior goal difference in
matches against Uzbekistan. They also qualified for the 1994 finals this way, by dint of their goal difference in
games against Japan.
In the preliminary campaign for Brazil 2014, Korea Republic lost three World Cup qualifiers for the first time.
One defeat came against Lebanon whereas the other two were at the hands of Iran.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

67
Mexico (MEX)

1927
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
Team Manager
1929
1930 URU
Group Stage
Juan LUQUE (MEX)
1934
Did not qualify
Confederation
June 2014
position (year)
CONCACAF
20
1938 FRA
4 (1998, 2003, 2004, 2006)
1950 BRA
Group stage
Octavio VIAL (MEX)
1954 SUI
Group Stage
Antonio LOPEZ (ESP)
1958 SWE
Group Stage
Antonio LOPEZ (ESP)
1962 CHI
Group stage
Ignacio TRELLEZ (MEX)
1966 ENG
Group stage
Ignacio TRELLEZ (MEX)
1970 MEX*
Quarter-finals
Raul CARDENAS (MEX)
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Group stage
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX*
Quarter-finals
1990 ITA
Disqualified
52 / 89
1994 USA
Round of 16
Miguel Mejia BARON (MEX)
4-0
vs El Salvador in 1970
12 caps
Rafael MARQUEZ
4 goals
Luis HERNANDEZ
1998 FRA
Round of 16
Manuel LAPUENTE (MEX)
2002 JPN/KOR
Round of 16
Javier AGUIRRE (MEX)
2006 GER
Round of 16
Ricardo LA VOLPE (ARG)
2010 RSA
Round of 16
Javier AGUIRRE (MEX)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Miguel HERRERA (MEX)

15

18 (10 5 3)
Goals for / against
31 / 14
5-0
vs Guyana

14

Matches (win / draw / loss)
1930
49 (12 / 13 / 24)
Goals for / against

Most capped player
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
ITA
Jose ROCA (MEX)
14
Quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986
withdrew from the 1938 preliminary competition without

*
Disqualified from the 1990 qualifiers as a result of a two-year
ban FIFA imposed for falsifying age at a youth championship.
Continental Champions in 1965, 1971, 1977, 1993, 1996,
1998, 2003, 2009, 2011
1976, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2012
FIFA Confederations Cup: 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2013
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1991,
1993, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999,
2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013
In bold: tournament champion

68
MEXICO (MEX)
Only four teamsBrazil, Germany, Italy and Argentinahave taken part in more World Cups than Mexico. This
will be the Mexicans 15th outing and their sixth in a row.
Besides Brazil, who have appeared in every edition, Mexico are set to become the only team to have played in all
five of the World Cups held in South America, namely Uruguay 1930, Brazil 1950, Chile 1962, Argentina 1978
and now Brazil 2014.
In each of their last five finals appearances, Mexico were eliminated in the Round of 16. El Tri lost to Bulgaria on
penalties in 1994, Germany in 1998, USA in 2002 and Argentina after extra time in both the 2006 and 2010
editions.

The second Mexican goal in the 5-1 first-leg play-off win over New Zealand, scored by Raul Jimenez, was
Mexicos 400th goal in World Cup qualification. El Tri are the most prolific team in the history of the
preliminaries.
Four head coaches oversaw Mexicos passage to Brazil 2014. Jose Manuel De La Torre guided the team through
the first 13 qualifiers, before Luis Fernando Tena took over for one match, followed by Victor Manuel Vucetich
for two and Miguel Herrera in the play-off.
This is not the first time Mexico have qualified via a play-off. They also did it against Costa Rica in the 1958
preliminaries and Paraguay ahead of the 1962 finals. By contrast, in 1934 the Mexicans lost their play-off against
USA.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

69
Netherlands (NED)

1889
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
1904
1930 URU
Confederation
UEFA
1934 ITA
First round
Bob GLENDENNING (ENG)
15
1938 FRA
First round
Bob GLENDENNING (ENG)
1 (Aug 2011)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
10 (9 1 0)
1966 ENG
Did not qualify
34 / 5
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
8-1 vs Hungary
1974 FRG
Runners-up
Rinus MICHELS (NED)
1978 ARG
Runners-up
Ernst HAPPEL (AUT)
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Round of 16
Leo BEENHAKKER (NED)
1994 USA
Quarter-finals
Dick ADVOCAAT (NED)
1998 FRA
Semi-finals (4th)
Guus HIDDINK (NED)
2002 JPN/KOR
Did not qualify
2006 GER
Round of 16
Marco VAN BASTEN (NED)
2010 RSA
Runners-up
Bert VAN MARWIJK (NED)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Louis VAN GAAL (NED)

June 2014
position
17

Goals for / against

1934
43 (22 10 11)
Goals for / against

Most capped player
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
71 / 44
5-0
vs Korea Republic in 1998
14 caps
Ruud KROL
Wim JANSEN
Johnny REP
7 goals
Johnny REP
8
Team Manager
2nd in 1974, 1978, 2010

UEFA European Champions in 1988
1948, 1952, 2008
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1983, 1995, 2001, 2005
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 2005, 2009, 2011

70
NETHERLANDS (NED)
The Netherlands are contesting their third consecutive World Cup finals and the tenth overall.
The Oranje hold the record for playing in the most Finals without winning, having finished runners-up in 1974,
1978 and 2010. They lost the 1974 and 1978 deciders against the host team and were taken into extra time in
1978 and 2010.
The 1000th goal in the history of the World Cup finals was a penalty dispatched by Oranje striker Rob
Rensenbrink, 34 minutes into the showdown with Scotland on 11 June 1978.
On the four occasions that the Netherlands have played extra time in this competition, they have failed to score.
At the 1938 event, their first-round encounter with Czechoslovakia ended 0-0 after 90 minutes and 3-0 to the
eastern Europeans after 120 minutes. In the 1978 Final the Oranje battled to a 1-1 draw with Argentina, before
conceding two goals to the hosts in extra time. In the 1998 semi-final against Brazil, the sides remained
deadlocked at 1-1 throughout the additional half-hour before A Seleo prevailed on penalties. Finally against
Spain in the 2010 decider, the teams remained goalless after normal time, before the Dutch lost 1-0 following
an Andres Iniesta goal on 116 minutes.

The Netherlands recorded 28 points in European Zone qualifying, the joint-highest total together with Germany.
They also achieved the best goal difference of +29, having scored 34 and conceded five. Robin van Persie was
the regional competitions top marksman with 11 goals, besides being one of three players who scored in six
straight games, the others being Englands Wayne Rooney and Israels Eden Ben Basat.
With nine wins in the 2014 preliminaries, the Oranje increased their overall tally of victories in the event to 76 in
115 games, which is unrivalled in Europe. On a global level, the Dutch are second only to Mexico (102) and level
with Costa Rica (76), although the two CONCACAF sides have respectively played 44 and 41 matches more.
Having collected nine wins and one draw on the road to Brazil 2014, the Netherlands extended their unbeaten
streak in World Cup qualifying to 32 matches, the third longest of all time. Ahead of them are Spain, who have
not lost for 53 games, and Germany, who previously went undefeated for 36 matches. The Netherlands last
reverse dates back to 2001, when they lost 1-0 to Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

71
Nigeria (NGA)
1945
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
1960
1930 URU
1934
ITA
Did not enter
44
1938 FRA
Did not enter
5 (April 1994)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Did not enter
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
1966* ENG
Confederation
CAF

June 2014
position
13

8 (5 3 0)
Team Manager
11 / 4
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
2-0 vs Malawi and vs Ethiopia
1974 FRG
Disqualified from the preliminary competition
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Did not qualify


1994
14 (4 2 8)
17 / 21
1994 USA
Round of 16
Clemens WESTERHOF (NED)
3-0
vs Bulgaria in 1994
1998 FRA
Round of 16
2002 JPN/KOR
Group stage
Adegboye ONIGBINDE (NGA)
2006 GER
Did not qualify
2010 RSA
Group stage
Lars LAGERBACK (SWE)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Stephen KESHI (NGA)
Most capped player
Top Scorer
9 caps
Jay Jay OKOCHA
2 goals
Daniel AMOKACHI
Emmanuel AMUNIKE
Kalu UCHE

37
Round of 16 in 1994 and 1998

Continental Champions in 1980, 1994, 2013
2008
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1999, 2005,
2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2001,
2003, 2007, 2009, 2013

72
NIGERIA (NGA)
This is Nigerias fifth participation in the World Cup. The only edition the Super Eagles missed out in since 1994
was Germany 2006.
The west Africans have notched all four of their wins in the World Cup against European sides, namely Bulgaria
(3-0 in 1994 and 1-0 in 1998), Greece (2-0 in 1994) and Spain (3-2 in 1998).
Nigeria got beyond the opening round in both of their first two participations, exiting in the Round of 16 against
Italy in 1994 and Denmark in 1998, but suffered opening-round eliminations in their last two outings, in 2002
and 2010. The Nigerians last victory in the World Cup dates back to 19 June 1998, when they edged Bulgaria 10. Since then the Super Eagles have failed to win in eight games and mustered just two draws, 0-0 against
England in 2002 and 2-2 with Korea Republic in 2010.

With five wins and three draws on the road to Brazil 2014, Nigeria extended their undefeated streak in World
Cup qualifying to 28 matches, the longest recorded by an African team. The Super Eagles last defeat was a 1-0
loss to Angola in Luanda on 20 June 2004.
Nigeria scored the fewest goals of all the 31 teams that reached Brazil via the preliminaries, netting just 11 in
eight games.
No African side has racked up as many qualifying victories as Nigeria, whose overall record of 53 wins from 96
games equates to a win rate of 55.2 per cent.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

73
Portugal (POR)

1914
Year Host
Participation &
Ranking
1923
1930 URU
Confederation
UEFA
1934 ITA
Did not qualify
1938 FRA
Did not qualify
3 (2010, 2012, 2014)
1950 BRA
Did not qualify
1954 SUI
Did not qualify
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
12 (8-3-1)
1966 ENG
Semi-finals (3rd)
24/11
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Group stage
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
1994 USA
Did not qualify
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
2002 JPN/KOR
Group Stage
Antonio OLIVEIRA (POR)
2006 GER
Semi-finals (4th)
2010 RSA
Round of 16
2014 BRA
Qualified
PAULO BENTO (POR)

June 2014
position (years)
19

Goals for / against
3-0
vs Luxembourg
vs Azerbaijan
Team Manager
Otto GLORIA (BRA)


23 (12-3-8)
Goals for / against

39/22
7-0
vs Korea DPR in 2010
Most capped player
11 Caps
SIMAO
Top Scorer
9 goals
EUSEBIO

Jose TORRES (POR)
1966
18
3rd in 1966

FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1979, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2007,
2011, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1989, 1995, 2003

74
PORTUGAL (POR)
This is Portugals fourth consecutive outing in the World Cup finals and their sixth overall. The Lusitanians
achieved their best placing in their debut participation back in 1966, when they finished third. In 2006 they
reached the semi-finals before ending in fourth spot.
Portugal are one of just two teams that have won a World Cup match from three goals down. Just 25 minutes
into the quarter-final on 23 July 1966, Portugal were already three goals behind against Korea DPR, but
managed to turn the tables and triumph 5-3. The only other team to have performed this feat are Austria, who
trailed Switzerland 3-0 after 23 minutes of the 1954 quarter-final before battling back to win 7-5.
In 2010 Portugal achieved their most emphatic World Cup win to date, beating Korea DPR 7-0. During that
victorythe seventh biggest in the tournaments historysix Portuguese players were on target, namely Raul
Meireles, Simao, Hugo Almeida, Tiago (twice), Liedson and Cristiano Ronaldo. The record is held by Yugoslavia,
who netted through seven different players in their 9-0 win over Zaire in 1974.

This is the second consecutive time that Portugal have taken the play-off route to the finals. As in the 2010
tournament against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Lusitanians won both legs of the decider.
Including the two play-off games against Sweden, Portugal have now contested 129 World Cup qualifiers, more
than any other European team.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two hat-tricks during the qualifying tournament, the only European to do so. The feat
was also achieved in the 2014 preliminaries by Peter Byers of Antigua and Barbuda and bettered only by
Vietnams Le Cong Vinh, who scored three and four goals in separate fixtures. Cristiano Ronaldo bagged both of
his trebles on the road, in Northern Ireland and in Sweden during the play-off.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

75
Russia (RUS)

1912
Year Host
Participation
Team Manager
& Ranking
1912
1930 URU
Confederation
UEFA
1934
ITA
Did not enter
19
1938 FRA
Did not enter
3 (1996)
1950 BRA
Did not enter
1954 SUI
Did not enter
1958 SWE
Quarter-finals
Gavril KACHALIN (URS)
1962 CHI
Quarter-finals
10 (7 1 2)
1966 ENG
Semi-finals (4th)
Nikolai MOROZOV (URS)
20 / 5
1970 MEX
Quarter-finals
1974 FRG
Disqualified
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Second Round
Konstantin BESKOV (URS)
1986 MEX
Round of 16
Valeriy LOBANOVSKYI (URS)
1990 ITA
Group Stage
Valeriy LOBANOVSKYI (URS)
1994 USA
Group Stage
Pavel SADYRIN (RUS)
1998 FRA
Did not qualify

June 2014
position
15

Matches (win/draw /loss)
Goals for / against
4-0
vs Luxembourg
vs Israel


Matches
(win/ draw / loss)
1958
37 (17 6 14)
Goals for / against

Most capped player
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
64 / 44
6-0
vs Hungary in 1986
13 caps
Lev YASHIN
6 goals
Oleg SALENKO
12
2002 JPN/KOR Group Stage

2006 GER
Did not qualify
2010 RSA
Did not qualify
2014 BRA
Qualified
Oleg ROMANTSEV (RUS)
Fabio CAPELLO (ITA)
th
4 in 1966
1958-1990 Soviet Union (URS)
1980, 1988
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1977, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1991,
1993, 1995

76
RUSSIA (RUS)
Russia will be taking part in their tenth World Cup, including participations as Soviet Union. Their last
appearance was in 2002, when they were eliminated in the group round. The Russians failed to get beyond the
opening stage during their last three World Cup outings, in 1990, 1994 and 2002. Their best tournament was in
1966 when Soviet Union finished fourth, having lost to Germany in the semi-finals and Portugal in the match for
third place.
At the 1970 edition, substitutions were allowed for the first time and the use of yellow and red cards was
introduced. The then Soviet Union were the first team to receive a yellow card, when Kakhi Asatiani was
cautioned against Mexico, as well as the first to make a substitution, when Anatoli Puzach replaced Viktor
Serebryanikov at half-time in the same match.
The record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup finals match belongs to Russias Oleg Salenko, who
fired in five during the 6-1 win over Cameroon in 1994.

Together with the Netherlands, Russia were one of only two teams that won all of their home qualifiers on the
trail to Brazil 2014, having notched five victories on native soil.
Russia are the only European side that qualified directly despite losing two games in their group, which they won
by one point ahead of Portugal. The Russians two defeats came in Portugal and Northern Ireland, both by the
scoreline of 1-0.
Two of Russias matches were postponed due to adverse weather conditions. The fixture against Northern
Ireland in Belfast, which was originally scheduled for 22 March, was initially put back one day due to heavy
snowfall before being called off and rescheduled to 14 August. The home tie against Luxembourg was delayed
by an hour due to rain.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

77
Spain (ESP)
1913
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
1904
1930 URU
Confederation
UEFA
1934
Quarter-Finals

June 2014
position (years)
Entry not accepted
1950 BRA
Semi-finals (4th)
1954 SUI
Did not qualify
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Group stage
Helenio HERRERA (ARG)
8 (6 2 0)
1966 ENG
Group stage
Jose VILLALONGA (ESP)
14 / 3
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
4-0
vs Belarus
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Group stage
Ladislao KUBALA (ESP)
13
1982* ESP
Second round
Jose SANTAMARIA (ESP)
1934
1986 MEX
Quarter-Finals
Miguel MUNOZ (ESP)
1990 ITA
Round of 16
Luis SUAREZ (ESP)
88 / 59
1994 USA
Quarter-finals
Javier CLEMENTE (ESP)
6-1 vs Bulgaria in 1998
1998 FRA
Group stage
Javier CLEMENTE (ESP)
2002 JPN/KOR
Quarter-finals
Jose Antonio CAMACHO (ESP)
2006 GER
Round of 16
Luis ARAGONES (ESP)
2010 RSA
Champions
2014 BRA
Qualified
17
Goals for / against

56 (28 12 16)
Goals for / against

Most capped player
Top Scorer
16 caps
Andoni ZUBIZARRETA
8 goals
David VILLA

Amadeo GARCIA (ESP)
1938 FRA
1
1 (2008/2009/2010/2011
2012/2013/2014)
ITA
Team Manager
6
Champions in 2010
Guillermo EIZAGUIRRE (ESP)
European Champions in 1964, 2008, 2012
1980, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2012
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1977, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1991,
1995, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003,
2007, 2009

78
SPAIN (ESP)
Spain are taking part in their 14th World Cup and the tenth in a row since 1978. La Roja earned their first world
title at South Africa 2010, following a previous best finish of fourth at the 1950 edition in Brazil.
Iker Casillas is one of three goalkeepers who have saved two penalties in normal or extra time in the FIFA World
Cup. However, in contrast to Polands Jan Tomaszewski in 1974 and United States Brad Friedel in 2002, Casillas
did it in two different editions, against Republic of Ireland in 2002 and Paraguay in 2010. At the South Africa
finals, the Spanish stopper also won the adidas Golden Glove as the tournaments top keeper.
Of the nine players who have represented two different nations in the history of the World Cup, the most
famous was undoubtedly legendary striker Ferenc Puskas. The man nicknamed the Galloping Major played in
Spains colours at Chile 1962, eight years after being a runner-up with Hungary.

Having won six and drawn two of their eight matches played in the 2014 tournament, Spain extended their
unbeaten World Cup qualifying run to 53 matches, the longest of all time. The Iberians last defeat stretches
back to 31 March 1993, when they suffered a 1-0 reverse against Denmark in Copenhagen.
Spain have never lost once in 52 home matches played in World Cup qualifying, recording 43 victories and nine
draws.
The Spaniards had the best defence in the European Zone preliminary tournament with just three goals
conceded, although they were in the five-team group and therefore played two games less than most other
sides. La Roja shipped all of their goals at home and in the last 12 minutes of play, specifically in the 4th minute
of injury time during the 1-1 draw with France; in the 79th minute of the other home draw against Finland,
which also ended 1-1; and in the 89th minute of the 2-1 win over Belarus. Spain didnt concede a single goal on
their travels.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

79
Switzerland (SUI)
1895
Year Host
Participation
& Ranking
1904
1930 URU
Confederation
UEFA
1934
ITA
Quarter-finals
Heini MUELLER (SUI)
1938 FRA
Quarter-finals
Karl RAPPAN (AUT)
3 (Aug 1993)
1950 BRA
Group stage
Franco ANDREOLI (SUI)
1954* SUI
Quarter-finals
Karl RAPPAN (AUT)
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Group stage
Karl RAPPAN (AUT)
10 (7 3 0)
1966 ENG
Group stage
Alfredo FONI (ITA)
17 / 6
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
2-0
vs Albania, Iceland, Norway &
Slovenia
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Did not qualify
1994 USA
Round of 16
1998 FRA
Did not qualify
2002 JPN/KOR
Did not qualify
2006 GER
Round of 16
Koebi KUHN (SUI)
2010 RSA
Group stage
2014 BRA
Qualified

June 2014
Best ever FIFA World
Ranking position
18

Goals for / against
Team Manager


Matches
(win/ draw / loss)
1934
29 (9-6-14)
Goals for / against

Most capped player
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
38/52
4-1
vs Romania in 1994
vs Italy in 1954
8 caps
Kiki ANTENEN
6 goals
Sepp HUEGI
21
Quarter-finals in 1934, 1938, 1954
Roy HODGSON (ENG)


80
SWITZERLAND (SUI)
This is Switzerlands third consecutive participation and their tenth overall. The Helvetians achieved their best
placing in 1934, 1938 and 1954 when they reached the quarter-finals.
After failing to keep a clean sheet in their first 22 games played in footballs showpiece event, Switzerland
conceded no goals in their four matches at Germany 2006, thus becoming the first team to be eliminated from
the World Cup without letting in a goal. Having reached the Round of 16 with three shutouts from their three
group matches, Switzerland were ousted on penalties by Ukraine following a 0-0 stalemate. That 3-0 spot-kick
defeat by Ukraine in 2006 was also the first time that a team had failed to score in a penalty shoot-out in the
history of the World Cup.
During the 2010 event, Switzerland were the only team to defeat the eventual world champions Spain, having
edged the Iberians 1-0 in the opening group game. The Swiss subsequently lost their second match 1-0 to Chile
following a 75th-minute winner from Mark Gonzalez. It was the first goal that Switzerland had conceded for
559 minutes of play, a tournament record that topped the 550-minute run of invincibility previously achieved by
Italy.

Switzerland struck 17 goals in their ten preliminary games. Of all the European teams that qualified directly
without going via the play-offs, the Helvetians goals-per-game average was the lowest at 1.7.
The Swiss enjoyed their first unbeaten World Cup preliminary campaign since 1950, although in that year they
played only two qualifiers. They had also gone undefeated in the 1934 tournament, having played twice, and in
1938, when they contested just one qualifier. The Helvetians record on the road to Brazil 2014 was seven wins
and three draws.
Granit Xhakas two goals in the preliminaries were also Switzerlands first and last of the tournament.
Furthermore, they both came against Slovenia. The first was the opener in Switzerlands 2-0 away win on 7
September, whereas the second was the only goal in the final group game at home on 15 October 2013.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

81
Uruguay (URU)
1900
Year Host
Participation
& ranking
Team Manager
1923
1930 URU*
Champions
Alberto SUPPICI (URU)
1934
ITA
Did not enter
1938 FRA
Did not enter
2 (Jun 2012)
1950 BRA
Champions
1954 SUI**
Semi-finals (4th) Juan LOPEZ (URU)
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Group stage
Juan Carlos CORAZZO (URU)
1966 ENG
Quarter-finals
Ondino VIERA (URU)
30 / 25
1970 MEX
Semi-finals (4th) Juan HOHBERG (URU)
5-0
vs Jordan
1974 FRG
Group stage
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Round of 16
Omar BORRAS (URU)
1990 ITA
Round of 16
Oscar TABAREZ (URU)
Confederation
CONMEBOL

June 2014
position (year)
15

18 (8 5 5)
Goals for / against

11
1930
Matches
(win / draw / loss)
47 (18 12 17)
Goals for / against
76 / 65
1994 USA
Did not qualify
8-0
vs Bolivia in 1950
13 caps
Ladislao MAZURKIEWICZ
8 goals
Oscar MIGUEZ
1998 FRA
Did not qualify

Most capped player
Top Scorer
9
Champions in 1930 & 1950
2002 JPN/KOR Group stage
Juan LOPEZ (URU)
Roberto PORTA (URU)
Victor PUA (URU)
2006 GER
Did not qualify
2010 RSA
Semi-finals (4th) Oscar TABAREZ (URU)
2014 BRA
Qualified
*
**
Oscar TABAREZ (URU)

South American Champions in 1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924,
1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2011
FIFA U-20 World Cup:1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1993,
1997, 1999, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1991, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013
Olympic Football Tournaments: 1924, 1928, 2012

82
URUGUAY (URU)
Uruguay won ten of their first 11 matches played in world football's premier competition, during the 1930 and
1950 editions when they finished both campaigns as world champions. The South Americans then declined to
take part in the Italy 1934 and France 1938 events.
At the 2010 global showpiece Diego Forlan scored five goals to become the first Uruguayan to finish a FIFA
World Cup as tournament top scorer, albeit alongside Spains David Villa, Germanys Thomas Mueller and
Wesley Sneijder of the Netherlands.
The last time Uruguay defeated European opponents in the World Cup was way back in 1970, when they edged
out Soviet Union 1-0 after extra time in the quarter-finals. Since then La Celeste have recorded six draws and
nine defeats against UEFA teams.

This was the fourth consecutive edition in which Uruguay had to play an intercontinental play-off, a route that
has now secured their passage on three occasions, against Australia in the 2002 campaign, Costa Rica in 2010
and Jordan in 2014.The Uruguayans only play-off elimination came in 2006 against Australia.
Luis Suarez was the top scorer in the South American qualifying group with 11 goals, one more than Argentinas
Lionel Messi and two ahead of Gonzalo Higuain, also of Argentina, and Colombias Radamel Falcao.
The 5-0 first-leg play-off win over Jordan in Amman is Uruguays all-time biggest away victory in World Cup
qualification.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

83
USA (USA)

1913
Year Host
Participation &
ranking
Team Manager
1914
1930 URU
Semi-finals (3rd)
Bob MILLAR (USA)
CONCACAF
1934 ITA
First round
David GOULD (USA)
13
1938 FRA
Withdrew from Preliminary competition
4 (Apr 2006)
1950 BRA
Group stage
1954 SUI
Did not qualify
1958 SWE
Did not qualify
1962 CHI
Did not qualify
16 (11-2-3)
1966 ENG
Did not qualify
26/14
1970 MEX
Did not qualify
5 matches won with 2 goals

difference
1974 FRG
Did not qualify
1978 ARG
Did not qualify
1982 ESP
Did not qualify
1986 MEX
Did not qualify
1990 ITA
Group stage
Bob GANSLER (USA)
1994* USA
Round of 16
1998 FRA
Group stage
Steve SAMPSON (USA)
2002 JPN/KOR
Quarter-finals
Bruce ARENA (USA)
2006 GER
Group stage
Bruce ARENA (USA)
2010 RSA
Round of 16
Bob BRADLEY (USA)
2014 BRA
Qualified
Juergen KLINSMANN (GER)
Confederation
June 2014
position (year)
17

Goals for / against


1930
29 (7-5-17)
Goals for / against

Most capped player
Top Scorer
Ranking
Best FIFA World Cup
achievement
32/56
3-0
vs Belgium in 1930
vs Paraguay in 1930
12 caps
Landon DONOVAN
5 goals
Landon DONOVAN
25
Bill JEFFREY (SCO)
Semi-finals in 1930
*
Continental Champions in 1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013
1956, 1972, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008
FIFA Confederations Cup: 1992, 1999, 2003, 2009
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1981, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1999,
2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013
FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997,
1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011

84
USA (USA)
This will be USAs tenth foray in the World Cup finals and their seventh in a row since 1990. The Americans
achieved their best performance at the 1930 edition, when they reached the semi-finals. More recently in 2002,
they qualified for the quarter-finals.
The first hat-trick in World Cup history was scored by an American player, Bert Patenaude, who struck all three
goals in the victory over Paraguay in 1930.
USAs most prestigious victory, also because it was one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, was a 1-0
win over England in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 1950. The winning goal was scored by Joe Gaetjens.

Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan are USAs all-time top scorers in World Cup qualifying with 13 goals apiece,
thanks to respective goal returns of eight and one on the road to Brazil 2014.
USA played their eight home qualifiers in six different cities, with only Kansas City and Columbus hosting two
fixtures. The Stars and Stripes maintained a 100 per cent record on native soil, winning eight out of eight.
USA won a total of 11 qualifiers on the way to Brazil 2014, more than any of the other finalists.
Player Kit
Goalkeeper Kit

85
Positioning of the participating teams of the 2014 FIFA World Cup
13
Belgium
11
11 15 13
14
Chile
15
Switzerland
16
USA
17
Korea Republic
18
Croatia
19
Cameroon
20
Japan
21
Ghana
22
Nigeria
23
Colombia
24
Costa Rica
25
Ecuador
26
Australia
27
Algeria
28
Cote d Ivoire
29
Iran
30
Honduras
31
Greece
2010
South Africa
14
Portugal
2006
Mexico
12
Germany
11
2002
Korea/Japan
Russia
1998
10
France
11
1994
Uruguay
USA
1990
Italy
13
Netherlands
1986
France
Mexico
1982
13
Spain
Spain
1978
Argentina
13
1974
England
Germany FR
1970
15
Mexico
17
Argentina
1966
Italy
England
1962
17
Chile
Germany
1958
Sweden
1938
14 3
1954
France
1934
Switzerland
Italy
1930
19
1950
Uruguay
Brazil
Brazil
Participations
11
10
12
15
26
11
10
18
13
10
12
10
17
12
28
29
15
11
Team
10
8
5
7
10
9
6
13
10
11
13
10
14
11
13
2
13
12
13
12
16
11
12
13
7
16
9
7
16
13
16
16
10
17
26
18
13
10
11
11
11
22
13
19
11
15
14
21
11
14
16
10
15
10
16
22
17
10
16
3
12
16
20
17
14
10
19
23
14
32
25
12
22
20
30
17
15
23
22
22
25
20
31
14
12
19
21
13
14
31
28
13
27
27
19
31
24
12
16
13
22
21
28
19
14
20
18
17
25
30
24
25
19
Bosnia and Herzegovina are newcomers to the FIFA World Cup 2014

86
All-time Ranking
Rank
Conf
Team
MP
GF
GA
Pts.
Avg. Pts.
Part.
Brazil
97
67
15
15
Germany
99
60
19
20
210
88
216
2.23
19
206
117
199
2.01
17
Italy
80
44
21
Argentina
70
37
13
15
126
74
153
1.91
17
20
123
80
124
1.77
15
England
59
26
Spain
56
28
19
14
77
52
97
1.64
13
12
16
88
59
96
1.71
France
54
13
25
11
18
96
68
86
1.59
13
Netherlands
Uruguay
43
22
10
11
71
44
76
1.77
47
18
12
17
76
65
66
1.4
11
10
11
Sweden
46
16
13
17
74
69
61
1.33
11
Serbia
43
17
18
64
59
59
1.37
12
11
Russia
37
17
14
64
44
57
1.54
13
Poland
31
15
11
44
40
50
1.61
14
Mexico
49
12
13
24
52
89
49
14
15
Hungary
32
15
14
87
57
48
1.5
16
Czech Republic
33
12
16
47
49
41
1.24
17
Austria
29
12
13
43
47
40
1.38
18
Portugal
23
12
39
22
39
1.7
19
Belgium
36
10
17
46
63
39
1.08
11
20
Chile
29
14
34
45
33
1.14
21
Switzerland
29
14
38
52
33
1.14
22
Paraguay
27
10
10
30
38
31
1.15
23
Romania
21
30
32
29
1.38
24
Denmark
16
27
24
26
1.62
25
USA
29
17
32
56
26
0.9
26
Korea Republic
28
15
28
61
23
0.82
27
Croatia
13
15
11
20
1.54
28
Cameroon
20
17
34
19
0.95
29
Scotland
23
12
25
41
19
0.83
30
Bulgaria
26
15
22
53
17
0.65
31
Turkey
10
20
17
16
1.6
32
Japan
14
12
16
15
1.07
33
Peru
15
19
31
15
34
Ghana
10
14
1.56
35
Republic of Ireland
13
10
10
14
1.08
36
Northern Ireland
13
13
23
14
1.08
37
Nigeria
14
17
21
14
38
Colombia
13
14
23
11
0.85
39
South Africa
11
16
10
1.11
40
Costa Rica
10
12
21
10
41
Morocco
13
12
18
10
0.77
42
Ecuador
1.29
43
Norway
1.12
44
Australia
10
17
0.9

87
Rank
Conf
Team
MP
GF
GA
Pts.
Avg. Pts.
Part.
45
Senegal
1.6
46
47
German DR
1.33
Algeria
12
0.89
48
Saudi Arabia
13
32
0.62
49
Ukraine
1.4
50
Cote d Ivoire
1.17
51
Tunisia
12
17
0.58
52
Wales
1.2
53
Iran
18
0.56
54
Cuba
12
1.33
55
Slovakia
56
Slovenia
10
0.67
57
Korea DPR
21
0.57
58
Jamaica
59
Honduras
0.5
60
New Zealand
14
0.5
61
Greece
15
0.5
62
Angola
0.67
63
Israel
0.67
64
Egypt
0.5
65
Kuwait
0.33
66
Trinidad and Tobago
0.33
67
Bolivia
20
0.17
68
Indonesia
69
Iraq
70
Togo
71
Canada
72
United Arab Emirates
11
73
China PR
74
Haiti
14
75
Congo DR
14
76
El Salvador
22
Overall matches played
772
Overall goals scored
2208
MP
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts.
Matches played
Wins
Draws
Losses
Goals for
Goals against
Points
Avg. goals per match

Conf
1
2
3
4
5
6

2.86
Confederation
UEFA
CONMEBOL
CONCACAF
AFC
CAF
OFC
88
Graphics
FIFA World Cup matches played by the participating teams
Bosnia and Herzegovina are debutants at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

89
Average goals scored per match at the FIFA World Cup by the participating teams
Bosnia and Herzegovina are debutants at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

90

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Contents

Participating Teams ..............................................................................................................................................4

FIFA Communications & Public Affairs - Documentation

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

Greece (GRE) .................................................................................................................................56

FIFA Communications & Public Affairs - Documentation

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

FIFA Communications & Public Affairs - Documentation

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

Whos the Boss?

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Vahid HALILHODZIC (BIH)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Alejandro SABELLA (ARG)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Ange POSTECOGLOU (AUS)

FIFA Communications & Public Affairs - Documentation

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

List of coaches of the participating teams continued

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Marc WILMOTS (BEL)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Safet SUSIC (BIH)

Brazil (BRA) host

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Luiz Felipe SCOLARI (BRA)

FIFA Communications & Public Affairs - Documentation

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

List of coaches of the participating teams continued

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Volker FINKE (GER)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Jorge SAMPAOLI (ARG)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Jose PEKERMAN (ARG)

FIFA Communications & Public Affairs - Documentation

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

List of coaches of the participating teams

Costa Rica (CRC)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Jorge Luis PINTO (COL)

Cte dIvoire (CIV)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Sabri LAMOUCHI (FRA)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Nico KOVAC (CRO)

FIFA Communications & Public Affairs - Documentation

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

List of coaches of the participating teams

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Reinaldo RUEDA (COL)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Roy HODGSON (ENG)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Didier DESCHAMPS (FRA)

FIFA Communications & Public Affairs - Documentation

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

List of coaches of the participating teams

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Joachim LOEW (GER)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience

Akwasi APPIAH (GHA)

Previous FIFA final competitions experience