Ivory Coast and Japan get their World Cup campaigns underway in Recife on Sunday and will both feel that they have a good chance of progressing from Group C.

South American conditions make Colombia, who face Greece tomorrow, favourites to qualify, but Ivory Coast in particular will be optimistic of advancing from a wide-open pool.

The African nation's Premier League representatives will be hoping to make up for disappointing displays at the last two World Cups which have seen them fail to go any further than the group stage.

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, 36, is still their talismanic captain, but Manchester City's Yaya Toure is now largely the driving force behind a powerful team with plenty of attacking quality.

Lille forward Salomon Kalou, sought-after Swansea City frontman Wilfried Bony and ex-Arsenal winger Gervinho, who has been rejuvenated by a move to Roma, are all options for Sabri Lamouchi.

Japan have several familiar names in their ranks too. Shinji Kagawa may be struggling to get his Manchester United career going, but he is still a shining light in Alberto Zaccheroni's side.

He and Keisuke Honda, who recently moved to AC Milan, will be the creators in the final third, while full-backs Yuto Nagatomo and Atsuto Uchida, of Inter Milan and Schalke respectively, will provide the width.

Evergreen Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo, 34, still has an important role to play for the country which he has represented a record 144 times, with his most recent five caps all resulting in wins.

Japan topped AFC qualification league B to secure their place in Brazil, while Ivory Coast eventually ensured their place at the tournament with a 4-2 win over Senegal in a two-legged playoff.

Recent form

Ivory Coast: WLDDWD

Japan: WWWWWD

Possible starting lineups

Ivory Coast: Barry; Zokora, Kolo Toure, Bamba, Boka; Ya Konna, Tiote, Yaya Toure; Gervinho, Kalou, Drogba

Japan: Kawashima; Uschia, Yoshida, Konno, Nagamoto; Endo, Hasebe; Kagawa, Honda, Kiyotake; Okazaki

Sports Mole says: 2-1