This evening we see Brazil and Croatia get the showpiece of football underway – but who will be the stars of the tournament?
On Wednesday we looked at Groups A and B, but in the second part of our Ones to Watch series it is time to look at eight more potential stars.
Group C:
Colombia – James Rodriguez
Rodriguez joined Monaco from Porto last summer in a joint £60m deal with Joao Moutinho.
Playing alongside fellow Colombian, Radamel Falcao, the 22-year-old recorded the most assists in Ligue 1 last season.
22 Caps/4 goals (as of 2 June)
Greece – Konstantinos Mitroglu
Despite a disappointing £11m move to Fulham in January, in which he made only three appearances, Mitroglu will be Greece’s main attacking threat.
The 26-year-old is the only Greek player to have scored a hat-trick in the Champions League, doing so against Anderlecht in October last year.
30 Caps/8 goals (as of 2 June)
Serge Aurier of Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast – Serge Aurier
Starting out as a defensive midfielder before being converted to a right back, Aurier has emerged as a replacement for the long-serving Emmanuel Eboue.
The 21-year-old is renowned for his forays forward, scoring six goals for Toulouse in Ligue 1 last season.
7 Caps/0 goals (as of 2 June)
Japan – Shinji Okazaki
Following a move to Mainz last summer, the 28-year-old striker went on to score 15 goals in the Bundesliga.
Okazaki also boasts a prolific record for his country and is Japan’s fourth-highest goalscorer of all time.
74 Caps/38 goals (as of 2 June)
Group D:
England – Raheem Sterling
The 19-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool last season, scoring 10 goals.
Although he made his England debut in 2012, Sterling did not win a second cap until two years later, picking up the man of the match award against Denmark.
3 Caps/0 goals (as of 2 June)
Uruguay – Diego Godin
A crucial component of Atletico Madrid’s La Liga-winning side, Godin also scored in the club’s Champions League final defeat.
The 28-year-old made his international debut aged 19 and was part of the Uruguay team which came fourth at the last World Cup.
76 Caps/3 goals (as of 2 June)
Ciro Immobile was top scorer in Serie A
Italy – Ciro Immobile
The 24-year-old was the top scorer in Serie A last season as Torino finished in seventh place.
He did not make his international debut until March of this year and is still looking for his first goal for Italy.
2 Caps/0 goals (as of 2 June)
Costa Rica – Joel Campbell
Campbell joined Arsenal in 2011 but was immediately sent out on loan after failing to gain a work permit.
He enjoyed his best spell to date with Olympiakos last season, scoring a brilliant solo goal against Manchester United in the Champions League.
31 Caps/9 goals (as of 2 June)
