Croatia
Coach: Mirko Jozic
Main players: Robert Jarni, Bosko Balaban

Jarni, at 33, is at the veteran stage but the Las Palmas defender is a key element of the national side. Started with Hajduk Split and later played for Italy's Bari, Torino and Juventus and then moved to Spain with Betis before a short spell with Real Madrid. Played at USA 94 for Yugoslavia, then starred as the Croats came third in Balaban, 23, came to England's Aston Villa from Dinamo Zagreb in August but is struggling to win a place.

But at international level has hit six goals in 12 games. Made debut a year ago against Slovakia.

World Cup record: 1 participation
Best result: 3rd
Qualification: 1st in group 6 with 18 points (5 wins, 3 draws, 0 defeats, 15 goals for, 2 goals against) ahead of Belgium, Scotland, Latvia and San Marino.

Denmark
Coach: Morten Olsen
Main players: Ebbe Sand, Jan Heintze

Sand played at France 98 and plays for Schalke in Germany. Has 10 goals in 33 internationals. Made debut April 1998 in defeat at home to Norway. Won three Danish league titles (1996, 97, 98) with Brondby.

Before France 98 Sand suffered a testicular cancer scare but he recovered and has had no major health problems since then. Defender Heintze of PSV Eindhoven is Mr Experience in the side at 36 with more than 60 caps. Part of the squad which flopped at Euro 2000.

World Cup record: 2 participations
Best result: Quarter finals
Qualification: 1st in group 3 with 22 points (6 wins, 4 draws, 0 defeats, 22 goals for, 6 goals against) ahead of the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Iceland, Northern Ireland and Malta.

England
Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson (Swe)
Main players: David Beckham, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard

Owen, who turns 22 on December 14, has been in superlative form this year, despite a season punctuated by injury. Has scored 14 goals in 32 England games. remembered above all for the effort against Argentina at France 98. Made international debut in February 1998 against Chile. Got off the mark against Morocco three months later. English young player of the year in 1997, he fired England into the finals with a brilliant hat-trick in Munich to see off group rivals Germany.

Beckham, 26, hauled England into the finals with his last-minute freekick against Greece. A Londoner, he joined Manchester United in 1992 and has now won 47 caps, scoring six goals. Made his international debut on September 1, 1996 against Moldova and scored at France 98 against Colombia. Helped United win the European Champions League in 1999 and his deadball accuracy and tailor-made crosses are a hugely effective feature of England's play. Coach Eriksson has made him skipper and he is revelling in his new responsibilities. Sent off against Argentina in 1998 but the villain he was made on that occasion now has firm hero status.

Owen's clubmate Gerrard, just 21, has shot to fame with combative performances from midfield in the past year and helped Liverpool to win a cup treble last season. Has quickly become a regular with England, scoring once in eight games - but could have had more caps had it not been for back and hamstring problems. English Young Player of the Year in 2001. A ferocious tackler, he has superb vision and maturity. Allows Beckham space to move out to his favoured right flank.

World Cup record: 10 participations
Best result: Winner (1966), 4th
Qualification: 1st in group with 17 points (5 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, 16 goals for, 6 goals against) ahead of Germany, Finland, Greece and Albania.

France
Coach: Roger Lemerre
Main players: Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Marcel Desailly

Zidane is acclaimed as the best player in the world and first laid claim to that title with his two goals in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil. Became the world's most expensive footballer when he joined Spanish giants Real Madrid from Italy's Juventus in a 65-million-dollar transfer earlier this year. Has three times been voted Europe's top player and was the key to France's 1998 title to which they added the Euro 2000 win.

Henry was a feature in the Monaco side which won the 1997 league title and then went off to Juventus, where he failed to settle - unlike former clubmate Trezeguet after him. Arsene Wenger took him to Arsenal where the former winger has blossomed into a highly mobile goalscoring striker with searing pace. Scored three times at France 98.

Trezeguet, who has Argentine origins, shot to fame with Monaco, with whom he won the league title in 1997 and 2000. Scored once in six matches at France 98. Joined Juventus after Euro 2000 success gained at Italy's expense. Made debut the night Stade de France was inaugurated on January 28, 1998 in a 1-0 win over Spain. Nicknamed "Trezegol".

Desailly, 33, was born in Ghana but made his name at Nantes and then won the European Cup with Marseille before spending five years at AC Milan. Moved to Chelsea 18 months ago. Now has 89 caps (three goals). Played in every match at France 98 in tandem with the now retired Laurent Blanc.

World Cup record: 10 participations
Best result: Winners (1998), 3rd (1958, 1986), 4th
Qualification: Qualified as holders

Germany
Coach: Rudi Voller
Main players: Oliver Kahn, Michael Ballack, Gerald Asamoah

Keeper Kahn is at the peak of his career with European and world champions Bayern Munich. Started off at Karlsruhe. Made full German debut in June 1995 in win over Switzerland and now has 41 caps. Regarded as best keeper in the world at present. In France 98 and Euro 96 squad but didn't play. World and European champion this year with Bayern and has won four German league titles.

Ballack has rocketed to prominence with fine showings in offensive midfield for Bayer Leverkusen. Was the hero of the play-off against Ukraine by scoring in both legs - two in the home match. Now has six goals in 21 matches for Germany. Came to Bayer in 1999 from Kaiserslautern, where he won a league title three years ago.

Striker Asamoah is the first black African to don the united Germany shirt (though two sons of US GIs - Erwin Kostedde and Jimmy Hartwig did play for West Germany in the 1970s.) The 23-year-old was born in Ghana but has become naturalised. Plays for Schalke 04, who just missed the league title last season. Now has seven caps (one goal). Scored on May debut against Slovakia. Born in Ghanaian town of Mampong but arrived in Germany a decade ago.

World Cup record: 14 participations (1934, 1938, 1994, 1998 as Germany; 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990 as West Germany) Best result: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990), finalists
Qualification: 2nd in group 9 behind England with 17 points (5 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, goals for 14, goals against 10) ahead of Finland, Greece and Albania. Qualified following playoff victory over Ukraine (1-1 and 4-1)

Italy
Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni
Main players: Paolo Maldini, Alessandro del Piero, Francesco Totti

Maldini, son of former coach Cesare, came to prominence in Euro 88 and a rock in defence ever since. Last year set a new Italian record when winning his 113th cap and now has 117. Has won three European Cups with Milan, where he has played since 1984.

Del Piero has netted 15 goal in 42 matches for the azzurri but has been hampered by injury in recent seasons. Made debut in March 1995 in a 4-1 win over Estonia. Won Champions League with Juve in 1996.

Totti, 25, has four goals in 23 internationals having made his debut in October 1998 in a home win over Switzerland. AS Roma skipper and Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni says he will make Totti the heart of his team as he gives the squad character. Arrived at Roma as a schoolboy and scored twice at euro 2000.

Del Piero, an artisan in the Juventus side and freekick-taker extraordinaire booked Italy's ticket to World Cup Finals as his freekick earned the victory over Hungary which ensured qualifications for the finals. Now looking the part again after earlier injury troubles.

World Cup record: 14 participations
Best result: Winners (1934, 1938, 1982), finals (1986, 1994), 3rd
Qualification: 1st in group 8 with 20 points (6 wins, 2 draws, 0 defeats, 16 goals scored, 3 goals against) ahead of Romania, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania.

Poland
Coach: Jerzy Engel
Main players: Emmanuel Olisadebe, Jerzy Dudek

Olisadebe took Polish nationality last year and then moved to Greece's Panathinaikos on a long-term loan deal. He was one of Poland's star turns in the qualifying campaign.

Dudek has become first choice keeper at Liverpool following his summer move from Dutch side Feyenoord for 6.3 million dollars.

World Cup record: 5 participations
Best result: 3rd (1974, 1982), quarter finals
Qualification: 1st in group 5 with 21 points (6 wins, 3 draws, 1 defeat, 21 goals for, 11 goals against) ahead of Ukraine, Belarus, Norway, Wales, Armenia.

Portugal
Coach : Antonio Oliveira
Main players: Luis Figo, Fernando Couto, Rui Costa

Figo is at 29 at his peak and is ready to conquer the world, even if his chuief target is the Champions League with Real Madrid. Has 72 caps with 21 goals scored for Portugal, for whom he has now been a regular for a decade. Won Europe's European Ballon d'Or in 2000 and has two Spanish league titles. Joined Real last year for 56million dollars - that only eclipsed by the 64.9million paid to Juventus for Zinedine Zidane this year.

Stylish defender Couto has six goals in 70 internationals and started off with Porto before high-profile moves to Parma and Barcelona but he was in and out of the side at Lazio won the Italian league a year ago. Starred in his country's run to the Euro 2000 semis which ended in acrimonious defeat by France.

Rui Costa has bagged 18 goals in nearly 60 appearances for Portugal and has starred for six seasons at Fiorentina. Helped Portugal to the 1991 World Youth Cup and the Euro 2000 semis as one of the tournament's major stars.

World Cup record: 2 participations
Best result: 3rd
Qualification: 1st in group 2 with 24 points (7 wins, 3 draws, 0 defeats, 33 goals for, 7 goals against) Ireland, Netherlands, Estonia, Cyprus, Andorra.

Ireland
Coach: Mick McCarthy
Main players: Roy Keane, Robby Keane, Shay Given

Roy Keane is a tough-tackling, combative midfielder who has led Manchester United to a host of honours. Signed for 5 million dollars in 1993 from Nottingham Forest. Suspect temperament has led to several red cards but will to win is unquestioned. Robbie Keane came to prominence at Wolves, then Coventry, before a short spell at Inter Milan. Leeds paid 16 million dollars for him last year.

Shot-stopper Given has won his battle for a regular first team place at Newcastle and was one of the stars of the Irish qualifying campaign which saw them see off Iran in the Europe-Asia play-off.

World Cup record: 2 participations
Best result: Quarter finals
Qualification: 2nd in group 2 to Portugal with 17 points (7 wnis, 3 draws, 0 defeats, 23 goals for, 5 goals against) ahead of Netherlands, Estonia, Cyprus, Andorra). Qualified following victory in Europe-Asia play-off against Iran (2-0, 0-1).

Russia
Coach: Oleg Romantsev
Main players: Alexandre Mostovoi, Viktor Onopko, Vladimir Bestchastnykh

Midfielder Mostovoi has played 40 internationals, half of which were for the old Soviet Union. He started out at Spartak Moscow and then moved west to join Portugal's Benfica. In recent years he has strutted his stuff for Celta Vigo in Spain.

Onopko is a wise old head at the back with 90 caps. Has spent the past four seasons with Oviedo in Spain.

Best
chastnykh started off with Spartak Moscow in their renowned youth academy, then moved to Werder Bremen in Germany. Moved to Spain in 1996 to Racing Santander before returning to Spartak last summer of 2001. The 27-year-old forward is a regular on the Russian side.

World Cup record: 1 participation as Russia (1994), 7 as Soviet Union
Qualification: 1st group 1st with 23 points (7 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, 18 goals for, 5 goals against) ahead of Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Faroe Isles and Luxembourg.

Spain
Coach: Jose Antonio Camacho
Main players: Raul, Fernando Hierro, Fernando Morientes

Raul, still only 24, has 19 goals in 43 internationals and has terrorised defences across Europe with Real. Made international debut on October 9, 1998, in goalless draw at the Czech Republic. Winner of Champions League titles in 1998 and 2000. In Real first team at 17 years old.

Morientes, 25, has been hampered by recent injuries but forms a devastating partnership with Raul at Real Madrid, gaining two Champions League titles. At international level he has not pinned down a regular slot, however. Arrived at Madrid from Real Zaragoza in 1997 and has a termination clause in his contract worth around 100 million dollars.

Hierro will be 34 by the time the finals come round but still cuts a dash as a central defender cum defensive midfielder. Has scored 26 goals in 78 internationals - an appearances record for Spain - following debut in September 1989 against Poland. Has won three Spanish league titles with Real, where he has spent 12 seasons since arriving from Valladolid.

World Cup record: 10 participations
Best result: Semi-finals (1950), quarter finals
Qualification: 1st in group 7 with 20 points (6 wins, 2 draws, 0 defeats, 21 goals scored, 4 goals against) ahead of Austria, Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Liechtenstein.

Sweden
Coach: Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback
Main players: Fredrik Ljungberg, Henrik Larsson

Ljungberg has forced his way into the Arsenal side since arriving from Halmstad three years ago. Has won 30 caps, scoring two goals. Won a 1997 Swedish league title. Scored against Manchester United just nine days after signing for Arsenal - and repeated the dose last weekend.

Dubbed the "new Brolin" after Tomas Brolin, who helped the team to third place in 1994. The formerly dreadlocked Larsson may have turned 30 but is the scourge of defenders and not just in Scotland, whom he joined from Feyenoord in 1997. Has scored 21 times for Sweden in 64 games. But only found the target once in five games in 1994 finals. Came back from double leg fracture in 1999 to lead Celtic to league title last season. Scored eight times in the qualifiers.

World Cup record: 9 participations
Best result: Finalist (1958), 3rd
Qualification: 1st in group 4 with 26 points (8 wins, 2 draws, 0 defeats, 20 goals for, 3 goals against) ahead of Turkey, Slovakia, Macedonia, Moldova, Azerbaijan

Slovenia
Coach: Srecko Katanec
Main players: Zlatko Zahovic, Marinko Galic

Zahovic has never played club football in his homeland but is a national hero who has netted 27 goals in 55 internationals. Won a league title with Yugoslav side Partizan Belgrade before three Portugese league titles (1997, 98, 99) with FC Porto. Scored six times in ten Euro 2000 qualifiers for Slovenia and three more in the finals. Moved to Greek club Olympiakos but fell out with the side and moved on to Valencia./p Has a devastating first touch and an unerring eye for goal.

Defender Galic has won more than 50 caps and won a Croatian league title in 1997 with Croatia Zagreb before moving on to Maribor for two Slovenian titles.

World Cup record: 1st participation
Qualification: 2nd in group 1 behind Russia with 23 points (7 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, 18 goals for, 5 goals against) ahead of Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Faroe Isles, Luxembourg. Qualified following play-off victory against Romania

Turkey
Coach: Senol Gunes
Main players: Hakan Sukur, Tugay

Hakan Sukur is one of Europe's great predatory strikers averaging a goal every other game in nearly 60 internationals. The helped to turn Galatasaray into one of the continent's big names and won the UEFA Cup with them in 2000. But has been in cold storage this year at Inter Milan. Dubbed the 'Bull of the Bosphorus'.

Midfielder Tugay Kerimoglu came over from Galatasaray to Rangers but did not establish himself in Glasgow and joined Aston Villa. Played at Euro 2000 but only on the fringes of the squad.