. . . v Germany World/European ranking: 3/3. Ireland's record against them: P16 W5 D4 L7 F21 A25

International pedigree: Won six major championships between 1954 and 1996 gaining, in the process, a reputation for being unwriteoffable and producing some of the game's greatest ever players. Ireland's record against them is actually quite good, although most of the better results came a rather long time ago. In just three competitive meetings, all in the last 10 years, they have beaten Ireland once with the two remaining games drawn.

Recent form: Haven't won any of the last seven World or Continental championships, but keep qualifying and have two second and two third place finishes in the last decade. Currently top a Euro 2012 qualification group that includes Austria and Kazakhstan with seven wins from seven games.

Star turns: Where to start? Perhaps with members of the new generation like Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos who have started to make their mark over the last couple of years.

Prospects: Will be considered by neutrals as certainties to top the group.

. . . v Faroe Islands

World/European ranking: 112/45

Ireland's record against them:P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 4 A 0

International pedigree: None to speak of really despite having played various unofficial international games all the back to 1930 or so. Recognition and participation in major competitions came much later and being drawn with the Austrians will bring back some happy memories given that they beat them 1-0 in their very first competitive match back in 1990.

Recent form: Significantly improved under Brian Kerr who took over at a time when the team was finding it especially difficult to spring a surprise on anyone. Beat Lithuania during his first campaign and Estonia in the current one during which they have also drawn with Northern Ireland; hence their fifth seeding.

Star turns: Goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen is at Manchester City while Joan Simun Edmundsson will be hoping to finally get a look in at Newcastle United this season.

Prospects: The first aim will be to justify the seeding by finishing above Kazakhstan, but they could well play a part in the qualification race by upsetting one of the group's middle ranking sides at home.

. . . v Sweden

World/European ranking: 19/13

Ireland's record against them: P8 W 3 D 1 L 4 F 12 A 13

International pedigree: Some strong showings in the early days of the World Cup including a second place finish on home soil back in 1958. Strongest period by some distance since was the early '90s when they made the semis of both a European Championship and World Cup.

Recent form: Have tended to qualify for tournaments, making it to five of the last eight, but missed out a trip to South Africa after finishing a point adrift of Portugal in a group topped by Denmark. Currently second, three points behind the Netherlands and three ahead of Hungary, in the race for a place in Ukraine and Poland. They were well beaten away by the Dutch while their biggest win has been a 5-0 hammering of Finland at home.

Star turns: Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to divide opinion, but big clubs keep buying him and he has five goals in five games in the current campaign. Johan Elmander will also be a familiar face.

Prospects: Will start as slight favourites to finish second ahead of Ireland.

. . . v Kazakhstan

World/European ranking: 126/49

Ireland's record against them: the two sides have never played each other

International pedigree: Not much. Having been pretty peripheral to things in the days of the Soviet Union, they had a few years, starting in 1996 as members of the Asian Confederation where they failed to make much of an impact. Since 2002, they've made a similar lack of impact in Europe.

Recent form: On the face of it, the long trip to Astana should help them to make life difficult for a few visitors, but it's rarely worked out like that. Serbia were beaten 1-0 during the Euro 2008 qualifiers, but in the campaign for Worlc Cup 2010 all six of their points came from wins over Andorra, while the three they have collected this time around are courtesy of a victory over Azerbaijan.

Star turns: That might be putting it strongly as just three of the squad's regulars play abroad with the best of them, defender Sergei Karimov at Duisberg in Germany.

Prospects: Will hope to get something out of the games with the Faroese and perhaps, at a stretch, one of the others at home.

. . . v Austria

World/European ranking: 66/35

Ireland's record against them: P 12 W 2 D 2 L 8 F 14 A 33

International pedigree: Medium sized cheeses in the early days when they managed fourth (1934) and third (1954) place finishes in the World Cup, but have not scaled anything like those heights since. Their record against Ireland, though, is actually better than any other side's in the group with five wins and one draw in six competitive encounters. The most recent of those meetings was in the Euro '96 campaign when they won both games 3-1.

Recent form: Haven't qualified for anything since France 98 and when they co-hosted the Euro 2008 managed just one point in their group. Finished third in each of their last two World Cup qualifying campaigns, but well off the pace both times. This time they're fourth in Group A with seven points from six games, including a 4-4 draw in Belgium.

Star turns: The likes of Christian Fuchs (Schalke 04), Martin Harnik (Stuttgart) and striker Marc Janko (FC Twente) are all decent players.

Prospects: If they seriously challenge for second it would be a surprise.