What to Expect: GROUP D

Germany:
Games: vs. Australia June 13, King Senzangakhona, Durban); vs. Serbia (June 18, Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth); vs. Ghana (June 23, Soccer City, Johannesburg)

How they qualified: Germany thoroughly dominated their European qualifying group with eight wins and two ties. They conceded only five goals while scoring 26. They beat Russia twice (Russia's only two losses in qualifying), which secured their position in the top spot over the Russians, who finished four points behind.

World Cup History: Germany has been a World Cup powerhouse throughout their existence. They have made 17 appearances at the finals and have won twice; in 1954 and twenty years later in 1974. They have also finished as runners-up on four occasions. In the previous World Cup, they finished in third.

Player to Watch: Miroslav Klose alongside Lukas Podolski up front, makes for a very formidable pair of strikers. Klose, who scored five goals at the World Cup in 2006, plays for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga and led Germany with four goals in qualifying, while only playing in four games. Klose has an uncanny ability to find the back of the net. A natural goal-scorer both in the air and with his feet, Klose is another feared striker around the World.

Prediction: 2-1; Lose to Argentina in quarterfinals

Australia:
Games: vs. Germany (June 13, King Senzangakhona, Durban); vs. Ghana (June 19, Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg); vs. Serbia (June 23, Mbombela, Nelspruit)

How they qualified: Australia went 6-0-2 in their final round in the Asian qualifying. Their back four was a force to be reckoned with as they only allowed one goal in eight games while scoring twelve. The socceroos, as they are often referred, relied on veterans, consistency in the back, and intelligent play to fight off their Asian opponents in qualifying.

World Cup History: Having switched to the Asian Confederation in recent years, Australia now has an expectation of qualifying for the World Cup. Previously, the nation has only qualified twice; first in 1974 and most recently in 2006 where they made it out of group stage only to lose, controversially, to the eventually champions, Italy.

Player to Watch: Tim Cahill is a starting midfielder for Everton FC of the English Premier League. He led Australia in qualifying with three goals and is the backbone of their offense. He has the abilities of a striker but is an energetic and passionate force in the midfield and he works between the boxes winning fierce tackle after fierce tackle. Australia has a group of solid soccer players, but Cahill most definitely stands above the rest and is a fan favorite both for his international and club team.

Prediction: 0-2-1, do not advance from group play

Serbia:
Games: vs. Ghana (June 13, Loftus Versfeld, Tshwane/Pretoria); vs. Germany (June 18, Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth); vs. Australia (June 23, Mbombela, Nelspruit)

How they qualified: Serbia shocked the French by winning their European qualifying group by a point. They finished 7-2-1, barely ahead of second place France. Serbia lost early to France but was able to tie them later in qualifying, and with some help from a faltering France side, they dominated Romania 5-0 to clinch a World Cup bid in South Africa.

World Cup History: As Yugoslavia for most of their history, they qualified nine times, including a semi-finals appearance in 1930. In 2006 as Serbia-Montenegro, they failed to advance out of group play, a disappointing performance that they hope to make up for in South Africa this summer.

Player to Watch: Milan Jovanovic, a prolific striker for Standard Liege in Belgium, scored seven goals in European qualifying games for Serbia. He will pressure defenses from start to finish. Though he will soon undergo a minor knee surgery, Jovanovic is expected to be back in game shape by mid January.

Prediction: 2-1, lose to England in the round of 16

Ghana:
Games: vs. Serbia (June 13, Loftus Versfeld, Tshwane/Pretoria); vs. Australia (June 19, Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg); vs. Germany (June 23, Soccer City, Johannesburg)

How they qualified: Ghana limped through the second round of African qualifying before winning there first four games in the final stage of African qualifying, securing the second African spot behind South Africa, the hosts.

World Cup History: As one of the most successful teams in African soccer history, it is odd that this is only Ghana's second World Cup appearance; their second in a row, in fact. At the 2006 World Cup, Ghana defeated the United States in group play to advance on the back of midfield standout Michael Essien. They eventually lost in the round of 16 to Brazil.

Player to Watch: Michael Essien is one of those dream center-midfielders that has the ability to win hard tackles, create for others, and score on his own. His tirelessness on the pitch allows him to forcefully attack from any part of the field. A member of Chelsea FC of the English Premier League, Essien dominates on both international and club levels. Expect a star performance in South Africa next summer.

Prediction: 1-1-1; do not advance from group stage