SPORTS> Team News
A look at all 32 teams
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-04 11:09
GROUP C

Argentina


Fourteenth appearance. Best performances: Winner in 1978 and 1986.

Key Player: Teenage striker Lionel Messi has been a revelation in world youth tournaments, and now he might be a catalyst at the highest level.

Coach: Jose Pekerman.

Outlook: Few teams face more pressure than Argentina after the 2002 debacle. Messi could be a sensation, but he'll need help from the more-seasoned Hernan Crespo, Juan Roman Riquelme and Juan Pablo Sorin. Another first-round exit would be devastating for this nation.

Ivory Coast


First appearance.

Key Player: Didier Drogba, who played a prominent role for English Premier League champion Chelsea and is among the world's top forwards.

Coach: Henri Michel.

Outlook: Probably the best team from Africa this year, but that could mean little with the powerful Dutch and Argentines in the group. Still, this is one of the most promising outsiders in the field, and Drogba must be watched every minute by opposing defenses.

Netherlands


Eighth appearance. Best performance: Runner-up in 1974 and 1978.

Key Player: Edwin van der Saar needs to be steady to balance what could be a formidable attack.

Coach: Marco Van Basten.

Outlook: When the Dutch make the tournament -- they were absent in 2002 -- they are a threat. The Netherlands should score even without Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the Dutch league's top scorer who wasn't chosen for the squad.

Serbia-Montenegro


First appearance (as Yugoslavia made semifinals in 1930).

Key Player: Defender Mladen Krstajic is the anchor of the stingy defense that will be tested often in this division.

Coach: Ilija Petkovic.

Outlook: After beating out Spain in its qualifying group and allowing only one goal, the Serbs showed they can play defense. They'll need to find some offense to survive this difficult group, and striker Mateja Kezman, who had five qualifying goals, must produce.

GROUP D

Angola


First appearance.

Key Player: Forward Fabrice Akwa scored the goal that catapulted Angola into the tournament, and he's the main threat.

Coach: Luis Oliveira Goncalves.

Outlook: The opener against Portugal could be a grudge match, and the Portuguese have been known to stumble early. Still, Angola, ranked 57th, will be hard-pressed to get anywhere in this division.

Iran


Third appearance, never has advanced.

Key Player: Ali Daei, whose experience at this level will be called on often.

Coach: Branko Ivankovic.

Outlook: Iran finally has some players who have gotten steady work at bigtime clubs, making this team unlikely to get intimidated. Still, the Iranians aren't on the level of Mexico or Portugal, so advancing would be a major upset.

Mexico


Thirteenth appearance. Best performances: Quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986.

Key Player: Jared Borgetti, a striker for Bolton in the English Premier League, scores most of his nation's big goals. He had 14 in qualifying.

Coach: Ricardo Lavolpe.

Outlook: Borgetti has to carry the attack along with Guillermo Franco for a team that rarely finds the big goal in the World Cup. Rafael Marquez of Barcelona is one of the world's best defenders. The Mexicans should make the second round without a lot of trouble.

Portugal


Fourth appearance. Best performance: Third in 1966.

Key Player: Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the main force during qualifying and provides some fresh blood to a withering team.

Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Outlook: Scolari led Brazil to the title in 2002 and now has gone from the premier program in the world to this group of underachievers. He has a bevy of veterans who have not performed well in the World Cup, but if he can't get them to produce in a group they could win, who can?