Here's my team-by-team preview for the tournament, complete with ill-judged predictions.
Feel free to add your own...
GROUP AFRANCE 
Odds: 20/1
Only qualified thanks to Thierry Henry's blatant handball in the playoff against Ireland. Potty manager Raymond Domanech, who has been known to select players based on their star sign, sprung a surprise by leaving out Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. Have had a nightmare build-up but the draw could've been worse.
Prediction: Quarter-finals
You've got to hand it to him...
MEXICO 
Odds: 100/1
Have a consistent record of making the knockout stages but the squad looks thin, with only five recognised midfielders selected. Struggled in qualifying until manager Sven Goran Eriksson was sacked.
Prediction: Group stage
SOUTH AFRICA 
Odds: 150/1
Probably the weakest host nation in the tournament's history, they didn't even qualify for this year's African Cup of Nations. However, overwhelming home support could be enough to get them through the group. Have hit form at the right time, coming into the finals on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run.
Prediction: Second round
URUGUAY 
Odds: 125/1
Winners of the first ever World Cup, they only qualified for this one after beating Costa Rica in the playoffs. Will need striker Diego Forlan firing on all cylinders if they are to make any impact. Do have the consolation of having the nicest looking shirts in the tournament, though it could look like the players are made of Blu-Tac if you've had a few too many ales.
Prediction: Group stage
I've got Blu-Tac on my finger...
GROUP BARGENTINA 
Odds: 8/1
Have one of the best squads on paper, with stars like Messi and Tevez but also have the handicap of being managed by Diego Maradona. Their talent should be enough to get them through the group but they could come unstuck against more organised teams and tactically-astute managers.
Prediction: Quarter-finals
Maradona: Definitely not on drugs anymore...
GREECE 
Odds: 200/1
Shock winners of Euro 2004, this is their first World Cup since 1994. Will be difficult to break down but may struggle for goals.
Prediction: Group stage
NIGERIA 
Odds: 150/1
Finding their form after a few years in the wilderness. Don't have the star names of the past but will fancy their chances of making the knockout stages. Could be the best of the African sides.
Prediction: Second round
SOUTH KOREA 
Odds: 300/1
Qualifying for their seventh World Cup in a row. Reached the semis on home soil in 2002 but have made little impact during their other finals appearances, winning just one game. Ex-Middlesbrough striker Lee Dong-Gook is an amusing inclusion in the squad. His only Boro goals came against Northampton and Mansfield. Argentina might be a slightly tougher test.
Prediction: Group stage
Career highlight: Scoring against Mansfield.
GROUP CALGERIA 
Odds: 600/1
Appearing for the first time since 1986. Came through a torrid qualifying campaign that culminated in a tense playoff victory over African champions Egypt. They have a chance in this group but will still start as underdogs.
Prediction: Group stage
ENGLAND 
Odds: 7/1
Couldn't have asked for a much better draw. Fabio Capello has worked wonders after the team's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 under Steve McClaren. Stormed through qualifying, winning nine of their ten matches. Start the tournament as third-favourites behind Spain and Brazil. Will hope to avoid the penalty shoot-out misery that has plagued them in so many tournaments before. Anything less than the semis would be seen as a disappointment this time. Steven Gerrard takes over the captaincy after Rio Ferdinand's knee injury and John Terry's naughty antics.
Prediction: Semi-finals
He's not the captain, he's a very naughty boy...
SLOVENIA 
Odds: 400/1
In the finals for the second time after surprise win over Russia in playoffs. Lost all three games in their only previous appearance in 2002.
Prediction: Group stage
UNITED STATES 
Odds: 80/1
Will be hoping to repeat their shock 1950 win over England but the games against Slovenia and Algeria are arguably more important. Always go better when the tournament is played outside Europe. Almost won the Confederations Cup last year, beating Spain in the semis before blowing a two-goal lead against Brazil in the final.
Prediction: Second round
TOUCHDOWN!
GROUP DAUSTRALIA 
Odds: 150/1
Reached the knockout stages under Guus Hiddink four years ago, where they were unlucky to lose to eventual winners Italy. Have a very tough task this time but will be looking at a possible mouthwatering clash with England in the last 16.
Prediction: Group stage
GERMANY 
Odds: 14/1
The World Cup's most consistent team, having reached at least the last eight of every tournament since 1954, lifting the trophy on three occasions and finishing as runners-up four times. They should extend that run here but may lack the quality to go all the way, especially with Michael Ballack ruled out through injury. Never write them off, though.
Prediction: Semi-finals
Who says Germans have no sense of humour?
GHANA 
Odds: 80/1
Were the only African side to reach the knockout stages in 2006. Reached the final of this year's African Cup of Nations but will have to do without Michael Essien and may find the group too tough.
Prediction: Group stage
SERBIA 
Odds: 66/1
Will be desperate to improve on their miserable 2006 campaign, where they lost every game, including a 6-0 thumping at the hands of Argentina. Topped their qualifying group ahead of France and have enough to progress but England could be waiting in the second round...
Prediction: Second round
GROUP ECAMEROON 
Odds: 125/1
The first African team ever to reach the quarter-finals in 1990, they haven't managed to reach the knockout stages since then. They'll fancy their chances this time but the match against Denmark could prove crucial. Star player Samuel Eto'o threatened to quit the side after his performances came under fire, but he soldiered on bravely and showed his critics who's boss by getting sent off in a warm-up game against Portugal.
Prediction: Group stage
I sure showed them...
DENMARK 
Odds: 150/1
Have never failed to make it out of the group stage. Won their qualifying group ahead of Portugal and Sweden. Could make the last 16 but it would be a surprise if they went any further.
Prediction: Second round
JAPAN 
Odds: 400/1
Reached the last 16 at home in 2002 but have struggled in their other finals appearances. Confidence won't be high as they come into the finals on the back of four successive defeats. Have a chance in this group but likely to come up short again.
Prediction: Group stage
NETHERLANDS 
Odds: 12/1
Generally regarded as the best footballing nation never to win the World Cup. Have been developing their young side for some time. Should make the quarter-finals but inexperience could be their downfall. Arjen Robben has joined the tournament's growing injury list after knackering his hamstring in a warm-up game against Hungary.
Prediction: Quarter-finals
"I wish yours were this big."
"I want a divorce."
GROUP FITALY 
Odds: 14/1
Won their fourth title in 2006 after Zinedine Zidane had been sent off for sticking the nut on Marco Materazzi. Haven’t looked great since then and a number of their stars have been axed. Don’t look convincing but they rarely do. Few have tipped them to repeat their success but they tend to perform better when the pressure is off.
Prediction: Quarter-finals
NEW ZEALAND 
Odds: 3000/1
Have qualified for the first time since 1982 after a campaign that saw them go up against the might of Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, before a playoff victory over Bahrain.. Arguably the weakest side in the tournament. Were outclassed at last year's Confederations Cup.
Prediction: Group stage
New Zealand celebrate winning a corner
PARAGUAY 
Odds: 80/1
Led for much of the South American qualifying campaign before fading on the run-in. Lost to England four years ago and went out in the group stage. Have a great chance of making the knockout stages this time but have never reached the quarter-finals.
Prediction: Second round
SLOVAKIA 
Odds: 400/1
Have qualified for the first time since the break-up of Czechoslovakia. Won a tricky qualifying group that included the Czech Republic, Poland and Northern Ireland. Face a crunch game with Paraguay.
Prediction: Group stage
GROUP GBRAZIL 
Odds: 5/1
Heading up the so-called “Group of Death.” Will be happy to get points on the board early against North Korea. Could have the pleasure of dumping Portugal out in the first round, though could end up facing Spain in the last 16 if things go awry. Should be there or thereabouts yet again as they go for a record sixth title. Amusingly, Ronaldinho was left out of the squad just after being made a star of Nike’s World Cup ad campaign.
Prediction: Runners-up
Robinho reacts like anyone else would to hearing the ice-cream van
IVORY COAST 
Odds: 33/1
Have a nightmare draw for the second World Cup in a row. Would have a good chance of qualifying from any of the other groups but have to start with a must-win game against Portugal. They suffered a further blow when Didier Drogba suffered a broken arm in a warm-up game, just after being made a star of Nike’s World Cup ad campaign.
Prediction: Group stage
NORTH KOREA 
Odds: 2000/1
Have qualified for the first time since 1966, when they beat Italy at Ayresome Park and led Portugal 3-0 in the quarter-finals before losing 5-3. A repeat of that performance looks highly unlikely. Could end up parking the bus in front of goal to try and achieve results.
Prediction: Group stage
PORTUGAL 
Odds: 28/1
Recovered from a slow start in qualifying to reach the playoffs, where they beat Bosnia. Reached the semis in 2006 after beating England on penalties but Spain could send them home early this time if Brazil haven’t already done so. Incidentally, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the stars of Nike’s World Cup ad campaign. If I were him, I’d be very worried (and rich).
Prediction: Second round
Portugal will need more than shadow puppetry to reach the semi-finals
GROUP HCHILE 
Odds: 66/1
One of the most improved sides in South America, having qualified for the first time since 1998. Reached the last 16 then, losing to Brazil and a repeat could be on the cards. Few star names in the squad but who needs star names when you have Waldo Ponce?
Prediction: Second round
The name's Ponce. Waldo Ponce. No really, it is...
HONDURAS 
Odds: 1000/1
Have qualified for the first time since 1982 thanks to an excellent home record which saw them win eight of their nine home games during the qualifying campaign but they only won two out of nine away from home and may struggle to make an impact here.
Prediction: Group stage
SPAIN 
Odds: 9/2
Ended their tournament jinx with Euro 2008. Won all ten qualifying matches and start as favourites to win the trophy. However, they are undoubtedly the World Cup’s biggest underachievers, having failed to reach the semi-finals since 1950. They were strongly fancied four years ago, storming through the group stage, only to crumble against France in the last 16. But this Spanish team seems to have both quality and determination. They’ve lost only once in the last three years and will take some stopping in South Africa.
Prediction: Winners
SWITZERLAND 
Odds: 200/1
Recovered from an embarrassing defeat to Luxembourg to win their qualifying group ahead of Greece. Haven't reached the quarter-finals since hosting in 1954 and unlikely to do so this time.
Prediction: Group stage
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It was originally written for the university website but the editor is very slow when it comes to putting stuff up, so I've put it here just so it will actually be read before the tournament starts.
