Cameroon
Manager: Paul Le Guen
Best: Quarter-finals (1990)
The World Cup just wouldn't be the same without the Indomitable Lions and their sense of fun, flair and fearlessness that first exploded onto the international scene in 1990. Yet they left it until the final day of nail-biting qualifiers to get their tickets to Africa's first World Cup. Set fair for their sixth appearance in the tournament, they'll be spearheaded by the simply awesome striker Samuel Eto'o, who has had a new lease of life thanks to scoring nine goals in qualification and being handed the captaincy by French manager Paul Le Guen. The key to their prospects will be the defensive abilities of Arsenal's Alexandre Song and Tottenham's Sébastien Bassong and Benoît Assou-Ekotto, and the ability of Marseille midfield supremo Jean Makoun to tee up goals for Eto'o — or score them himself.
Player to watch: In addition to getting a second wind for his country, Cameroon's fans should thank Samuel Eto'o's recent club manager, Inter Milan's all-conquering Jose Mourinho (now at the helm at Real Madrid), for the improvement in the striker's play. On his day, simply too hot for any defense to handle.