France will fancy their chances to progress through Group E.
ECUADOR
Head coach Reinaldo Rueda. He must be the sage of all the coaches in Brazil, having worked as a university professor back home in Colombia. But he hasn’t done a bad job in football, guiding Honduras to the World Cup four years ago and now doing the same with Ecuador.
How they qualified Beat Uruguay in the penultimate match to secure the fourth and last automatic spot in South America. But that was their only victory in the last six group games as they limped over the line.
Most valuable player Felipe Caicedo. The former Manchester City player must take on the burden of scoring his country’s goals after they suffered the tragic loss of forward Christian Benitez, who died from a cardiac arrest in Qatar.
Prospects Write them off at your peril. Lack of household names shouldn’t count against them and knowledge of the conditions could ensure passage to the last 16 at the expense of the Swiss.
FRANCE
Head coach Didier Deschamps. For a mere ‘water-carrier’, Deschamps hasn’t done too badly! Given that name by Eric Cantona, the midfielder captained his country to success at France 98 and Euro 2000.
His aim is to restore pride for Les Bleus and build a team to win on home soil at Euro 2016.
How they qualified Had the dubious task of facing Spain, and a 1-0 home defeat to the World and European champions sent them into the play-offs. Disaster was looming after a 2-0 loss in Ukraine but they recovered to win 3-0 on a glorious night in Paris.
Most valuable player Paul Pogba. One of the finest young players in world football. Slipped through Manchester United’s hands to become a star at Juventus, where he has won successive Serie As.
The 21-year-old was the captain and driving force in his country’s World Under-20 triumph last summer, and is now on the radar of all the leading clubs in Europe.
He is a box-to-box type in the Patrick Vieira mould, with the all-round package of good physique, technique and an eye for goal.
Prospects The French are quietly confident after the shambles of South Africa 2010. From almost not qualifying to a near-perfect draw, the mood has changed completely. Winning the group is important to set up a quarter-final push.
HONDURAS
Head coach Luis Fernando Suarez. The Colombian is already a hero in Ecuador after taking them to the last-16 in 2006, and is now at the World Cup with a second nation.
How they qualified Finished third in the CONCACAF final group stage for the second World Cup running.
Most valuable player Jerry Bengtson. For Honduras to succeed, one player has to do something very special and at the London Olympics, Bengtson was that man.
He scored three times, including the winner against Spain, as the Central American side made it to the quarter-finals,
He has been struggling to get a game for his MLS club side, New England Revolution, but delivered for his country in the qualifiers and he will link up with Carlo Costly in attack.
Prospects Arguably one of the weakest of the 32 nations, their presence makes the group look accessible for the other three.
SWITZERLAND
Head coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. This will be a last hurrah for the gilded German as he retires after the Finals.
Won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, but has spent the last six years in charge of the Swiss. There will be few permutations unknown to Hitzfeld, given that he’s a qualified mathematician.
How they qualified Qualified comfortably from a weak group. The Swiss were unbeaten, and a 4-4 home draw with Iceland was only time the pulse quickened.
Most valuable player Xherdan Shaqiri. Born in the former Yugoslavia to Albanian parents, he moved to Switzerland as a youngster, and impressed so much at Basel that he was snapped up by Bayern Munich.
Has a deadly left-foot, first seen when he scored against England in 2010 while still a teenager. Expected to provide the guile Switzerland lacked in 2010.
Prospects They will be well-organised, but goals could be a problem.
Report by John Barrett and Adam Lanigan
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