Group A

Al-Nassr

Who: Founded 1955; Saudi Arabian championships - 22.

How: Al Nassr's mere presence in Brazil is indicative of the contrived nature of the tournament. The Riyadh club are not even current Saudi Arabian champions, never mind champions of Asia. The latter, though, is a title Al Nassr won in 1998 after beating South Korea's Pohang Steelers; but along the way the Saudis caused controversy in Asia by winning a previous two-legged play-off with the aid of Hristo Stoichkov. The Bulgarian was signed on a two-match contract and scored the decisive goal. At the time of Al Nassr's success, FIFA had not mentioned that a trip to Brazil was one of the prizes.

Key Man: Possibly Moussa Saib, just signed from Tottenham.

Weaknesses: - Only one Saudi international, Ibrahim Mater.

Manager's Assessment: "Our ambition is to leave a good impression," - Milan Zivadinovic.

Odds: Transcontinental.

Corinthians

Who? - Founded 1910; Brazilian championships - 2.

How? - Named after the English amateur side, Corinthians are another of the participants not to be their continent's current champions - in fact they have never won the South American championship, the Libertadores Cup - and were invited into the tournament by the Brazilian Federation, which as host nation has that right. Yet they are the current Brazilian champions, as they were in 1998, and their presence in Sao Paolo ensures a proper atmosphere at their games at least. Their strength is attacking and Colombian captain, Freddy Rincon, should be a familiar name from the past two World Cups. Edilson has a big reputation and is a Brazilian international.

Key Man: Luizao - striker and top scorer in Brazil last season with 21 goals.

Weaknesses: Defending could be their undoing, there is an over reliance on goalkeeper Dida, soon to join AC Milan.

Manager's Assessment: "The evening meal looks wonderful, but we have to have lunch first," - Oswaldo de Oliviara.

Odds: Alex Ferguson's outsiders.

Raja Casablanca

Who? - Founded 1949. Moroccan championships - 6.

How? - As winners of the African Champions' League, Raja have every right to be in Sao Paolo. They have emerged in the 1990s as the strongest side in Morocco and FIFA's highest ranked African Nation at 25th - winning five league titles. The development came after the club merged with rivals, Olympique, but Raja were still most unexpected victors over Tunisia's Esperance to get here. That was only a month ago, the culmination of six matches in which Raja conceded only two goals.

Key Man: Goalkeeper Mustapha Chadli, part of Morocco's squad in France '98.

Weaknesses: While the defence only conceded two on the way here, the attack scored only four.

Manager's Assessment: "Just qualifying for Brazil is an absolute bonus," - Fullone.

Odds: Oceanic.

Real Madrid

Who? - Founded 1902; Spanish championships - 27.

How? - If asking who Real Madrid are is a silly question, then asking how they came to be here is not. The pedantic answer is that Real won the Intercontinental Cup the year before last, but it does the tournament no harm to have the most famous Spanish side present. It seems, though that those connected with Madrid would rather be at home sorting out domestic difficulties, but the lure of hard cash may be significant for a club with debts of £75 million. Having sacked John Toshack, Vicente Del Bosque is their 55-year-old caretaker and has been with the club since signing as a player in 1973.

Key Man: Nicolas Anelka. Don't laugh, there are the first tiny signs that the moody one may just be beginning to settle.

Weaknesses: Apart from possible disinterest in the competition, confidence is low.

Manager's Assessment: "The trip to Brazil gives us the chance to regroup, to get away from the pressure at home," - Del Bosque.

Odds: A few.

Group B

Necaxa

Who? - Founded 1923. Mexican championships, 3.

How? - Another club who are here as legitimate contenders after winning the Concacaf title, albeit via a narrow victory over a Costa Rican side hardly of international repute. But Necaxa should not be under-rated, especially by their first opponents, Manchester United, as the evidence tends to point to the Mexico City club, as the survivors.

Owned by the telecommunications giant, Televisa, Necaxa are the unfavoured twin of the company's two teams, the other being America. Despite this, and crowds of less than 5,000, Necaxa have won three Mexican titles in the past five seasons. The heat will not be a problem.

Key Man: Alex Aguinaga is the undoubted star, an intelligent playmaker from Ecuador.

Weaknesses: A team growing old together.

Manager's Assessment: "The veteran soldiers are willing to help the younger players to mature," - Raul Arias.

Odds: Shortening.

Vasco Da Gama

Who? - Founded 1898; Brazilian championships - 3

How? - Via FIFA's sleight of hand Vasco are here instead of Palmeiras, the current champions of South America - which is why they faced Manchester United in Tokyo just over a month ago. The political shenanigans that saw Vasco favoured once then occurred again when Romario was allowed to rejoin his first club after the self-imposed FIFA deadline.

His return has overshadowed Palmeiras's discontent and decent performances would eradicate all memory of it presumably, but Vasco are unpredictable as personified by the volatile Edmundo. He has patched up his differences with the 35-year-old Romario and their battle with Jaap Stam on Saturday could be a tournament highlight. In mid-field Felipe is a special dribbler.

Key Man: Edmundo - if he is in the mood.

Weaknesses: Defensively Vasco are vulnerable, although there have been recent recruits there.

Manager's Assessment? "We've been preparing for this all season. Our thoughts have all been focused on becoming the first club to win this new title," - Antonio Lopes.

Odds: Edmundo and Romario.

South Melbourne

Who? - Founded 1959. Australian championships - 8.

How? - The Australians arrived in Rio as champions of Oceania after qualifying by beating a Fijian side in September. That does not suggest a convincing pedigree and that has been reflected in media coverage at home where the victory received barely a mention. There has been much annoyance about that at this club of Greek origins, though of greater concern to coach Ange Postecoglu has been Melbourne's prosaic recent form. The winners of the last two Australian titles are struggling and by the time they face Manchester United next Tuesday, they may be looking homeward.

Key Man: Paul Trimboli - highly rated at home but failed a trial with Manchester City five years ago.

Weaknesses: Basic quality of personnel.

Manager's Assessment: "Hopefully we can do ourselves justice," - Postecoglu.

Odds: Continental.

Manchester United

Who? - Founded 1878; English championships - 12.

How? - By hook and by government crook United are in Brazil when Alex Ferguson wanted them to be in Salford. At least the reigning European champions are not here by default, unlike some sides, but the controversy they left behind in Britain will not be forgotten quickly.

And maybe other problems are just beginning, because the heat and humidity in Rio are breath-stifling. Roy Keane will not be charging from box to box in these matches and the climate represents a real threat to United, particularly against Necaxa and Vasco. On the other hand, this is a club with four titles secured in the past year.

Key Man: David Beckham - may get the opportunity, and the space, to play in central midfield.

Weaknesses: No Paul Scholes - and the weather.

Manager's Assessment: "We want to win every tournament we go in for," - Ferguson.

Odds: Hot favourites, perhaps too hot.