Ghana go into their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals in a group containing three of the top 12 teams in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Despite being one of the seeded teams, the draw has hardly been kind to Italy, who find their path to glory obstructed by the high-flying Czech Republic and a USA side intent on proving that their quarter-final finish in 2002 was no fluke. The tussle for the top two spots promises to be thoroughly absorbing.

ITALY
With three FIFA World Cups™ to their name, Italy are rightly held up as one of the great football nations. Their first triumph was way back in 1934 at the second ever global showcase, held on Italian soil. Four years later in France, they became the first team to successfully defend their crown and their third title was secured in 1982 in Spain. Germany 2006 will mark Italy's 16th appearance at a FIFA World Cup finals, making Sweden 1958 the only finals they did not grace with their presence. A new generation emerged, all eager to seize their opportunity. Between summer 2004 and autumn 2005, Lippi gave debuts to nine players - Cristian Zaccardo, Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini, Daniele De Rossi, Manuele Blasi, Mauro Esposito, Luca Toni, Alberto Gilardino and Vincenzo Iaquinta – and together they accounted for eight of the 15 goals scored by Italy on the road to Germany.

FIFA world ranking: No. 12
Player to watch:
Luca Toni, forward. After nine seasons on Italy’s footballing periphery, Luca Toni rocketed to the centre of attention with great goalscoring form. Tall, with great control on the ball and excellent finishing skills, Toni has become Italy’s number one striker in Serie A and the national team. After helping Palermo win promotion to Serie A, he struck 20 goals in his first year at the top level. Though some people called him a one-hit wonder, he proved them wrong by scoring 31 times in the following season at Fiorentina to win the European Golden Shoe.

CZECH REPUBLIC
After two 1-0 play-off wins over Norway, Karel Bruckner’s team have booked their place at Germany 2006 - the first time that this relatively new country will be taking part in the biggest sporting event on the planet. Their refreshing brand of attacking football saw them finish top scorers of the European qualifying phase, with Jan Koller second highest scorer overall on nine goals (two behind Portuguese striker Pauleta). Alongside old warhorses such as Koller, Nedved and Karel Poborsky, a new generation of top-class players has been evolving. Milan Baros, Tomas Rosicky and goalkeeping star Petr Cech all added fine performances in the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign to a successful showing in Portugal, surpassing the already high expectations in them. With this fine blend of youth and experience, the Czech Republic must aim high for their first FIFA World Cup participation. Repeating, if not surpassing, the success of their Euro 2004 run to the semi-finals is no doubt be their aim.

FIFA world ranking: No. 2
Player to watch:
Petr Cech, GoalKeeper. Cech must be considered the finished article as a goalkeeper, although a spell as a striker early in his career means he is no slouch with the ball at his feet either. He is a imposing presence out on the field, never afraid to bark orders at his fellow defenders and commanding his area with aplomb, but away from the pitch is a retiring personality who shuns the trappings of stardom. However, should the Czechs lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy this summer, his preference for a quiet life could be seriously put to the test.

GHANA
For Ghana, a place on world football’s greatest stage is long overdue. They have won four CAF African Cup of Nations titles – in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982 - and twice captured the FIFA Under-17 World Championship. Moreover, they have produced some of Africa’s most talented footballers down the years - men like Osei Koffi, Abdulrazak Karim, Ben Acheampong, Afriye and George Al Hassan, in addition to 1990s stars Abedi Pele and Anthony Yeboah. Ironically, their success comes at a time when they do not have as many big names but instead a youthful team with a disciplined approach fostered by coach Dujkovic, who offered an early statement of his no-nonsense approach by excluding former captain Samuel Kuffour from the squad.

FIFA world ranking: No. 50.
Player to watch:
Michael Essien, midfielder. If the saga of his drawn-out transfer to Stamford Bridge dominated the headlines back at home, Essien’s importance to Ghana was never more evident than at this year’s CAF African Cup of Nations in Egypt, where his injury-enforced absence left a huge void in the midfield of a Black Stars side unable to progress beyond the group stage. Now Essien, so instrumental in helping his country qualify for their first FIFA World Cup, will travel to Germany with the hopes of a nation resting squarely on his broad shoulders.

USA
Consistent play, comprehensive preparations and a slew of talented players – many of whom helped see them through to the quarter-finals at Korea/Japan 2002 – ensured the United States can look forward to a fifth consecutive appearance on the world's biggest stage at Germany 2006. Led by Donovan, Reyna and McBride, the Americans beat Portugal in their opener before knocking out Mexico in the second round to reach the quarter-finals where they lost to Germany. With a host of new players and the old guard from Korea/Japan still largely intact, the USA will be keen to improve on their performance of 2002 when they arrive in Hamburg – the German city they have selected as their home base – in the summer of 2006.

FIFA world ranking: No. 5.
Player to watch:
Landon Donovan, midfielder. In 1999, a 17-year-old Landon Donovan picked up the Golden Ball for best player at the FIFA U-17 World Championship in New Zealand, and soon afterwards he earned his first call-up to a United States national team training camp. Returning to Germany for the FIFA World Cup, Donovan will no doubt be desperate to display his worth in a country where he suffered his most significant growing pains. But unlike 2002 in East Asia, he is no longer the young pup but one of the leaders of the US team at the ripe old age of 24.

GROUP SCHEDULE
June 12 - Italy vs. Ghana at Hanover, 2 p.m.; USA vs. Czech Republic at Gelsenkirchen, 11 a.m.

June 17 - Italy vs. USA at Kaiserlautern, 2 p.m.; Czech Republic vs. Ghana at Cologne, 11 a.m.

June 22 - Czech Republic vs. Italy at Hamberg, 9 a.m.; Ghana vs. USA at Nuremberg, 9 a.m.