Algeria

Algeria face England, Slovenia and the United States in Group C [EPA]

No team qualified for South Africa 2010 with as much drama as Les Fennecs, whose bus was attacked on arrival for a qualifier in Cairo and who beat North African heavyweights Egypt in a subsequent playoff in Khartoum, sparking a diplomatic standoff between the two countries.

Egypt got their revenge at the Africa Cup of Nations but it is Algeria, with their smattering of Europe-based stars like Karim Ziani and Madjid Bougherra, who fly south this summer. 

Coach Rabah Saadane led the team at their second World Cup appearance in 1986 and has positioned his players firmly in the underdog category – which may well suit their proud and combative style.

Goalkeepers:

Fawzi Chouachi (ES Setif), Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Rais M’bohi Ouheb (Slavia Sofia).

Defenders:

Laifaoui Abdelkader (ES Setif), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers), Carl Medjani (Ajaccio), Rafik Halliche (Nacional Madeira), Anther Yahia (Bochum), Habib Belaid (Boulogne-sur-Mer), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce).

Midfielders:

Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth), Mehdi Lacen (Santander), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Adlane Guedioura (Wolverhampton), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes), Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg) Karim Matmour (Monchengladbach).

Strikers:

Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens), Rafik Saifi (Istres).