GERMANY

Fixtures

Germany v Saudi Arabia June 1 Sapporo 8.30pm
Germany v Republic of Ireland June 5 Ibaraki 8.30pm
Germany v Cameroon June 11 Shizuoka 8.30pm

Coach: Rudi Voller

Record: 1938 First round; 1974 Second Round; 1962, 1994, 1998 Quarter finals; 1958 Fourth place; 1934, 1970 Third place; 1982, 1986 Runners up; 1954, 1974, 1990 champions

FIFA Ranking: 11

Germany's record speaks for itself but they come into this tournament under a cloud after a series of injuries ruled out Sebastian Deisler, Memhet Scholl and Jens Novotny, depriving the team of flair and invention. Germany bounced back from the humiliation of that loss at home to England in qualifying by demolishing Ukraine but then lost to Wales.
Many people are writing the German team off as potential winners, and some are suggesting they might not get past the group stage of the tournament. Let's remember, though, Euro 96 – they reached the final with a raft of injuries, yet still managed to win the competition.
Upfront, however Bierhoff is past his best and Neuville and Jancker do not instill fear in the world's best defences, look out for Klose to get a few starts. Much will depend on Bayern-bound Michael Ballack and keeper Oliver Kahn.

On the sidelines

J- League Kyoto Purple Sanga's German coach Gert Engels thinks Germany will win again. We don't. Prediction: Second round Auf Wiedersehen.

The squad

Goalkeepers
23 Hans-Jorg Butt (Bayer Leverkusen) Age 27, 2 caps
1 Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich) Age 32, 44 caps
12 Jens Lehmann (Borussia Dortmund) Age 32, 14 caps
Defenders
18 Jorg Bohme (Schalke 04) Age 28, 7 caps
15 Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund) Age 22, 7 caps
2 Thomas Linke (Bayern Munich) Age 32, 33 caps
21 Christoph Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund) Age 22, 5 caps
3 Marko Rehmer (Hertha Berlin) Age 30, 27 caps
4 Frank Baumann (Werder Bremen) Age 26, 10 caps
6 Christian Ziege (Tottenham Hotspur) Age 30, 65 caps
Midfielders
13 Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich) Age 25, 22 caps
10 Lars Ricken (Borussia Dortmund) Age 25, 17 caps
22 Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen) Age 25, 7 caps
8 Dietmar Hamann (Liverpool) Age 28, 39 caps
16 Jens Jeremies (Bayern Munich) Age 28, 32 caps
5 Carsten Ramelow (Bayer Leverkusen) Age 28, 25 caps
19 Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen) Age 28, 9 caps
Forwards
14 Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04) Age 23, 10 caps
20 Oliver Bierhoff (Monaco, France) Age 34, 64 caps
17 Marco Bode (Werder Bremen) Age 32, 33 caps
9 Carsten Jancker (Bayern Munich) Age 27, 25 caps
11 Miroslav Klose (Kaiserslautern) Age 23, 11 caps
7 Oliver Neuville (Bayer Leverkusen) Age 29, 30 caps

CAMEROON

Fixtures

Cameroon v Republic of Ireland June 1 Niigata 3.30pm
Cameroon v Saudi Arabia June 6 Saitama 6pm
Cameroon v Germany June 11 Shizuoka 8.30pm

Coach: Winfried Schafer

Record: 1982, 1994, 1998 First Round; 1990 Quarter finals

FIFA Ranking: 17

African champions Cameroon look to have the best chance of the African teams to do well in 2002. An uncompromising defence with real quality in midfield from the likes of Real's Geremi and Arsenal's Lauren. Mboma, a fan favorite in Japan after his spell in the J-League with Gamba Osaka and Mallorca's Eto'o provide a quality combo upfront.

On the sidelines

Cameroon's squad arrived in Japan six days late after squabbles over players' bonuses but didn't look too jet-lagged in having the better of a 2-2 draw with England in a friendly in Kobe.
FIFA will not allow the team to wear their new sleeveless kit during matches.

The squad

Goalkeepers
1 Alioum Boukar (Samsunsport, Turkey) Age 30, 46 caps
16 Jacques Songo'o (Metz) Age 38, 68 caps
22 Idriss Kameni (Juventus) Age 17, 2 caps
Defenders
4 Rigobert Song (Cologne) Age 24, 65 caps
5 Raymond Kalla (Extramadura) Age 27, 56 caps
3 Pierre Wome (Bologna) Age 23, 52 caps
13 Lucien Mettomo (Manchester City) Age 25, 21 caps
6 Pierre Njanka (Strasbourg) Age 27, 31 caps
Midfielders
2 Bill Tchato (Montpellier) Age 27, 22 caps
15 Nicolas Alnoudji (Rize Sport, Turkey) Age 22, 15 caps
19 Eric Djemba-Djemba (Nantes) Age 21, 5 caps
17 Marc Vivien Foe (Lyon) Age 27, 56 caps
12 Lauren (Arsenal) Age 25, 21 caps
7 Cyrille Ndo (Al Khaleej, Saudi Arabia) Age 25, 21 caps
23 Daniel Ngom Kome (Numancia) Age 21, 11 caps
8 Geremi Njitap Fotso (Real Madrid) Age 23, 48 caps
20 Salomon Olembe (Marseille) Age 21, 47 caps
14 Joel Epalle (Panahaiki) Age 24, 25 caps
Forwards
9 Samuel Eto'o (Real Mallorca) Age 22, 36 caps
10 Patrick Mboma (Parma) Age 31, 48 caps
11 Pius Ndiefi (Sedan) Age 26, 18 caps
18 Patrick Suffo (Sheffield United) Age 23, 26 caps
21 Joseph-Desire Job (Middlesbrough) Age 24, 35 caps

IRELAND

Fixtures

Ireland v Cameroon June 1 Niigata 3.30pm
Ireland v Germany June 5 Ibaraki 8.30pm
Ireland v Saudi Arabia June 11 Yokohama 8.30pm

Coach: Mick McCarthy

Record: 1994 Second round; 1990 Quarter Finals

FIFA Ranking: 15

Can this be Ireland's year? Remaining unbeaten through their qualification campaign, knocking out Holland and only missing out on an automatic spot to Japan/Korea by virtue of goal difference, the Irish would have felt hard done by not being involved in this summer's finals. The squad looks very strong from the goalkeepers to the strikers. Goals can come from the defence and midfield as well as from the forwards. If Group F is the Group of Death, then Ireland's Group E is the Group of Serious Illness: Germany and Cameroon will not be pushovers, even the Saudi team won't just lie down, we predict. Will it come down to goal difference to see which two teams progress to the Round of 16? Roy Keane's absence will no doubt be missed. Lacking a first class central defender and striker could prove to be Ireland's downfall if the teamwork the Irish are renowned for doesn't hold together. The quarter finals are a realistic target for the team and who knows what will happen up to and beyond that. As for Mick McCarthy, he has said that he intends to enjoy himself at the finals no matter what happens and you can be sure of one thing, there will be plenty of Guinness drunk in the bars of Dublin, Cork, Tokyo and Seoul should the Irish get that far.

Profile by Dave Russell

On the sidelines

FIFA did not allow Ireland to replace their captain Roy Keane as his withdrawal from the squad was not due to injury.

The squad

Goalkeepers
1 Shay Given (Newcastle United) Age 26, 39 caps
16 Dean Kiely (Charlton Athletic) Age 31, 6 caps
22 Alan Kelly (Blackburn Rovers) Age 33, 34 caps
Defenders
2 Steve Finnan (Fulham) Age 26, 15 caps
3 Ian Harte (Leeds United) Age 24, 40 caps
4 Kenny Cunningham (Wimbledon) Age 30, 38 caps
5 Steve Staunton (Aston Villa) Age 33, 98 caps
14 Gary Breen (Coventry City) Age 28, 43 caps
15 Richard Dunne (Manchester City) Age 22, 14 caps
18 Gary Kelly (Leeds United) Age 27, 45 caps
20 Andy O'Brien (Newcastle United) Age 22, 5 caps
Midfielders
6 Roy Keane (Manchester United) Age 30, 58 caps (withdrew)
7 Jason McAteer (Sunderland) Age 30, 47 caps
8 Matt Holland (Ipswich Town) Age 27, 19 caps
11 Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland) Age 25, 33 caps
12 Mark Kinsella (Charlton Athletic) Age 29, 28 caps
21 Steven Reid (Millwall)Å@Age 21, 5 caps
23 Lee Carsley (Everton) Age 28, 19 caps
Forwards
9 Damien Duff (Blackburn Rovers) Age 22, 25 caps
10 Robbie Keane (Leeds United) Age 21, 33 caps
16 David Connolly (Wimbledon) Age 24, 33 caps
17 Niall Quinn (Sunderland) Age 35, 88 caps
19 Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace) Age 23, 7 caps

SAUDI ARABIA

Fixtures

Saudi Arabia v Germany v June 1 Sapporo 8.30pm
Saudi Arabia v Cameroon June 6 Saitama 6pm
Saudi Arabia v Ireland June 11 Yokohama 8.30pm

Coach: Nasser Al Johar

Record: 1998 First round; 1994 Second round

FIFA Ranking: 34

The media folk in Britain laughed their heads off when they considered Saudi Arabia's chances against Ireland. The sons of the desert might have the last laugh, though. They defeated Senegal 3-2 in their last friendly before the Finals, Senegal's goals both coming by way of the penalty spot. Captain Sami al-Jaber and Ibrahim al-Suwaid are only two of the dangermen their opponents will have to contain. Nevertheless, Japan is a rainy country in June.

Forecast: Back to sunni climes, and don't spare the camels.

On the sidelines

Saudi's ace striker Sami Al-Jaber plans to retire after the World Cup finals.
Caps, goals, ages and spellings of the players' names cannot be completely confirmed.

The squad

Goalkeepers
1 Mohammed Al-Duay (Al-Hilal) Age 29, 93 caps
22 Mohammed Al-Khojali (Al-Nassr) Age 29, 12 caps
21 Mabrouk Zayed (Al-Ittihad) Age 23, 1 cap
Defenders
4 Abdullah Sulaiman Zubromawi, Age 28, 115 caps
12 Ahmed Dokhi Al-Dossary (Al-Hilal) Age 25, 32 caps
5 Mohsen Al-Harthy (Al-Nassr) Age 26, 67 caps
13 Abdullah Sulaiman (Al-Hilal) Age 28, 49 caps
6 Fouzi Al-Shihri (Al-Ahli) Age 22. 2 caps
23 Mansur Al-Thakafi (Al-Nassr) Age 23
2 Mohammed Abdel Ghani (Al-Ahli) Age 26, 73 caps
6 Fouzi Al Shehri (Al-Ahli) Age 22, 2 caps
3 Redha Tukar (Al-Shabab) Age 26, 5 caps
Midfielders
19 Omar Al-Ghamdi (Al-Hilal) Age 22, 0 caps
16 Khamis Al-Ouwairan (Al-Ittihad) Age 34
10 Mohammed Al-Shalhoub (Al-Hilal) Age 21, 0 caps
18 Nawaf Al-Temayat (Al-Hilal) Age 25, 29 caps
17 Abdullah Al-Waked (Al-Shabab) Age 26, 0 caps
8 Mohammed Nour (Al-Ittihad) Age 24, 16 caps
14 Abdel Aziz Al-Khathran (Al-Shabab) Age 19, 0 caps
Forwards
11 Obeid Al-Dossary (Al-Ahli) Age 26, 81 caps
9 Sami Al-Jaber (Al-Hilal) Age 29, 95 caps
20 Al-Hassan Al-Yami (Al-Ittihad) Age 30, 0 caps
7 Ibrahim Al Shahrani (Al-Ahli) Age 27, 59caps
15 Abdullah Al-Dossary (Al-Hilal) Age 24, 20 caps