The power to score goals poses problems

COLOMBIA

QUALIFYING in relative comfort and playing the finals in South America should be an advantage to José Pekerman’s side.

In Falcao they have a born goalscorer, allied to the creative talents of his Monaco teammate James Rodriguez pulling the strings in midfield.

Defensively, however, Colombia may have problems.

GREECE

Goals have been a problem and the pressure will be on Georgios Samaras and veteran Dimitris Salpingidis to deliver up front, particularly if Greece can keep things tight at the back, as they have done while qualifying, marshalled by Portuguese coach Fernando Santos.

IVORY COAST

The Elephants possess plenty of goal threat from Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Wilfried Bony and Yaya Toure, but have struggled for success at major tournaments.

Remarkably, though, the Ivorian Football Federation (IFF), an organisation not known for their patience, didn’t pull the plug, but if Sabri Lamouchi fails to guide the team to the second round at the World Cup it’s difficult to see the IFF remaining patient.

JAPAN

Stormed to qualification in their pool and Alberto Zaccheroni has moulded them into a strong squad, but three defeats out of three at the Confederations Cup questions their top-level credentials.

Zaccheroni has mainly stuck with players he knows, but there are concerns over some of his star names.

The main question now will be who will play in front of the likely attacking midfield trio of Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki.

The Elephants possess plenty of threat but have struggled for success