2. Netherlands
How they qualified: Winning their group in European qualifying
Last time: Runners-Up, lost 1-0 to Spain after extra-time
FIFA Ranking: 9
What are their chances in Brazil? Apart from 2002, where they failed to qualify at all, the Dutch have typically qualified for major tournaments with a great deal of ease and this year has been no different. Winning every home game without conceding a single goal, their away record has been almost as good, two 4-1 wins, one 2-0, and, their only dropped points, a surprise 2-2 draw in Estonia last month. Experienced former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager Louis van Gaal took over after a disappointing Euro 2012 and has only lost one game, a friendly to neighbours and rivals Belgium in his first game in charge. Van Gaal last managed the Dutch during their failed attempt to qualify in 2002, so his international record is not strong, but he's doing everything in his power to turn that around now. Unlike predecessor Bert van Marwijk, whose aggressive, almost thuggish, tactics led to the Netherlands featuring in their third World Cup Final in 2010, van Gaal has always been an advocate of the more traditional Dutch total football style. This should mean that the Dutch are a more entertaining watch in Brazil, but whether it will result in more of a challenge from the greatest country never to win the tournament remains to be seen. Wesley Sneijder was very much the lynchpin of Holland's route to the final in 2010, but, since then, his contract disputes with Inter and move to Turkey have meant that he's not really the player he was three years ago. However, in Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, van Gaal has options of strikers with proven international scoring records. Meanwhile, Arjen Robben is playing better than he ever, despite his typically selfish style, winning the Man of the Match award in May's Champions League Final. Van Gaal has continued the legacy of his great Ajax team of the 1990s, developing and introducing a new generation of young players. Danny Blind, his former Ajax captain, and Patrick Kluivert, that team's star striker, have been appointed to his coaching staff and have helped introduce a new set of youngsters from the Netherlands' big three, PSV, Feyernoord and Ajax One of these is Blind's son, 23 year old left back Daley Blind who made his international debut earlier this year. Blind won Ajax's Player of the Year award last year and has the potential to be as important to the team as his father was. Expect the Dutch to challenge, but, like Italy, they may not quite have what it takes to win the whole thing.