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12. Chile
Few nations have such a clear philosophy as Chile, and they are thriving on it. The hard-pressing, dynamic style will make them highly watchable and will unsettle a lot of sides more used to the sedate pace of international football. Alexis Sánchez and Arturo Vidal add a dash of genuine quality to the general energy. JW
13. England
Uncertainty over the goalkeeper, uncertainty over the centre of defence and no goals in their past two games: any feelgood factor over qualification didn't last long. Not since 1982 have England entered a World Cup with fewer expectations, but in Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Jack Wilshere and Ashley Cole there is at least the ghost of a decent side. JW
14. Croatia
There are questions over the back of midfield and the full-back positions, and Mario Mandzukic is likely to be suspended for the first two group games, but this is a Croatia side studded with quality. Had it not been for Igor Stimac's disastrous reign, they may have challenged Belgium for automatic qualification; much depends now on whether Niko Kovac can restore a sense of stability. JW
15. USA
Jürgen Klinsmann has the USA playing some decent football but away defeats against Jamaica, Costa Rica and Honduras suggest the side lack confidence and there hasn't been a significant improvement since the 2010 tournament, when the USA reached the second round. Their progress is heavily dependent upon a good draw. MC
16. Russia
As one Russian columnist put it, after the champagne football of Guus Hiddink's day, Russia are now playing whisky football, based on the earthy qualities of pragmatism and a solid defence. Sergey Ignashevich and Vasily Berezutsky, once the weak spot, have emerged as strengths, and the goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev is hinting he is at last back to form after his broken leg. JW
17. Japan
Few sides have such technically gifted midfielders: Makoto Hasebe and Yasuhito Endo control the centre, while Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda provide creativity. There's also constant overlapping from Yuto Nagatomo and Atusto Uchida, but Japan suffer from a lack of raw quality in both penalty areas – something the clever tactics of the former Serie A title winner Alberto Zaccheroni can't disguise. MC
17. Switzerland
Surprisingly ranked seventh in the world despite falling at the group stage in 2010 and failing to reach Euro 2012, Switzerland have Napoli's Gokhan Inler as their star player. There's also a promising generation emerging – Granit Xhaka, Valentin Stocker, Pajtim Kasami and Xherdan Shaqiri are all highly talented youngsters – but Switzerland are the weakest of the seeded sides. MC
19. Bosnia-Herzegovina
The only debutants at the tournament combine a rich array of attacking talent with defensive flaws. Edin Dzeko is a fine leader of the line and Miralem Pjanic has developed over the past year into a player who can control games from the flank, but a soft centre is likely to hold them back. JW
20. Nigeria
Steven Keshi is a magnificently thick-skinned coach, who has somehow sailed through being unpaid for seven months and having federation members openly plotting against him with his dignity intact. Emmanuel Emenike is a fine, explosive forward and Mikel John Obi enjoys a freer role too that he plays at Chelsea, but politics could still get in the way. JW
21. Ghana
With Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Dede Ayew, Ghana have the players to repeat the quarter-final placing of 2010, but there remains always a question of focus. Too many players have missed too many games on flimsy pretexts to convince that this is a team that has the togetherness and drive to make the most of its talent. JW
22. Ivory Coast
This golden generation has been drinking in last-chance saloon for so long that last orders have been called and they're trying to persuade a bouncer to let them into a mediocre final-hope club. After difficult groups in 2006 and 2010, Didier Drogba and co probably deserve a kinder draw this time, but there is little in Sabri Lamouchi's coaching to inspire confidence. JW
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