WORLD CUP: GROUP E

EVER since the days of Johann Cruyff and Total Football - the Netherlands' answer to Brazilian magic - there has been a haughty superiority about the Dutch that has not always been reflected by their achievements at international level. The originators of the term "player power", it is almost as if this self-destruct button was a convenient excuse for their own technical failings.

At least money, a source of unrest in previous tournaments, should not be a problem now with most of their players earning more than enough to satisfy anyone's greed at many of the leading clubs around Europe. Their race problem which, we were told, was their undoing at Euro 96, has also been resolved. So this time there can be no excuses for failure - other than the long-standing injury to Dennis Bergkamp, of course.

On the face of it, this team does not look very different to the one swept aside by England in Euro 96 two years ago, but many of them - Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert - do seem to be in better form. In midfield they have so many talented players - none more so than that complete footballer Ronald de Boer - that even Marc Overmars' place in the starting line-up cannot be guaranteed.

The Dutch should qualify from a group in which their old Low Country rivals Belgium (whom they beat home and away in the qualifiers) pose the greatest threat.

Belgium give the impression of having come together more since the qualifiers. Even in the play-offs against the Republic of Ireland they appeared to have improved, as one might expect under a relatively new coach, the weird and wonderful Georges Leekens. Up front they have an abundance of quality that must be the envy of Europe, particularly now that Luc Nilis has found his touch at this level.

As for the Mexicans, Claudio Suarez is still there but it is Hugo Sanchez they most need. Qualification from the Concacaf group is no endorsement of quality and yet Mexico still managed to draw six of their 10 games.

South Korea represent a more lively and interesting challenge and as co-hosts of the 2002 World Cup they will be bursting to equip themselves creditably. The gap between Asian football and the best of the rest of the world is closing and while another victory of the magnitude of North Korea's over Italy in '66 is still some way off, a first World Cup finals win for the South at the fourth time of asking must be close at hand.

NETHERLANDS

Previous appearances: 6 (1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994)

Best performances: Runners-up 1974, 1978.

Record: P25, W12, D6, L7

1 Edwin Van der Sar Ajax

2 Michael Reiziger Barcelona

3 Jaap Stam PSV Eindhoven

4 Frank De Boer Ajax

5 Artur Numan PSV Eindhoven

6 Wim Jonk PSV Eindhoven

7 Ronald De Boer Ajax

8 Dennis Bergkamp Arsenal

9 Patrick Kluivert Milan

10 Clarence Seedorf Real Madrid

11 Philip Cocu PSV Eindhoven

12 Boudewijn Zenden PSV Eindhoven

13 Andre Ooijer PSV Eindhoven

14 Marc Overmars Arsenal

15 Winston Bogarde Barcelona

16 Edgar Davids Juventus

17 Pierre Van Hooijdonk Nottm Forest

18 Ed De Goey Chelsea

19 Giovanni Van Bronckhorst Feyenoord

20 Aron Winter Internazionale

21 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink Leeds

22 Ruud Hesp Barcelona

Coach: Guus Hiddink

WATCH OUT FOR...

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink just might have a good World Cup. A year ago he was playing in the Portuguese League for humble Boavista. Now, after 16 Premiership goals in his first season with Leeds United, he is going to France 98. He was the only uncapped player in the party when coach Guud Hiddink named his squad, but has since done well in warm-up friendlies. With Patrick Kluivert hardly in peak form, Hiddink may well turn to Hasselbaink, or Nottingham Forest's Pierre van Hooijdonk, in his search for a reliable partner for Dennis Bergkamp.

BELGIUM

Previous appearances: 9 (1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994)

Best performance: Semi-finalists 1986 (4th).

Record: P29, W9, D4, L16

1 Filip De Wilde Anderlecht

2 Bertrand Crasson Napoli

3 Lorenzo Staelens Club Bruges

4 Gordan Vidovic Mouscron

5 Vital Borkelmans Club Bruges

6 Franky Van der Elst Club Bruges

7 Marc Wilmots Schalke 04

8 Luis Oliveira Fiorentina

9 Mbo Mpenza Standard Liege

10 Luc Nilis PSV Eindhoven

11 Nico Van Kerckhoven Lierse

12 Philippe Vande Walle Aalst

13 Dany Verlinden Club Bruges

14 Enzo Scifo Anderlecht

15 Philippe Clement Genk

16 Glen De Boeck Anderlecht

17 Mike Verstraeten Germinal Ekeren

18 Gert Verheyen Club Bruges

19 Eric Van Meir Lierse

20 Lokonda Mpenza Standard Liege

21 Danny Boffin Metz

22 Eric Deflandre Club Bruges

Coach: Georges Leekens

WATCH OUT FOR...

Belgium's top two forwards could challenge Chile's Salas and Zamorano for the accolade of the tournament's best striking partnership. Nilis is a stylish and technically gifted marksman who can produce goals from impossible angles and is lethal from set pieces. A deadly finisher but also an excellent crosser of the ball, he was voted the best player in the Dutch League after moving to PSV from Anderlecht two years ago. Oliveira is a fast, creative Brazilian-born striker who can shrug off the tightest marker. Between them they should keep the Mpenza brothers, who did well against England in Casablanca last month, on the bench.

MEXICO

Previous appearances: 10 (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1994)

Best performances: Quarter-finals: 1970, 1986.

Record: P33, W8, D7, L18

1 Jorge Campos UNAM

2 Claudio Suarez Sanchez Guadalajara

3 Joel Sanchez Guadalajara

4 German Villa America

5 Duilio Davino America

6 Marcelino Bernal Monterrey

7 Jesus Ramirez Guadalajara

8 Alberto Garcia Aspe America

9 Ricardo Pelaez America

10 Luis Garcia Atlante

11 Cuauhtemoc Blanco Necaxa

12 Oswaldo Sanchez America

13 Pavel Pardo Atlas

14 Raul Lara America

15 Luis Hernandez Necaxa

16 Isaac Terrazas America

17 Francisco Palencia Cruz Azul

18 Salvador Carmona Toluca

19 Braulio Luna UNAM

20 Jaime Ordiales Toluca

21 Jesus Arellano Guadalajara

22 Oscar Perez Cruz Azul

Coach: Manuel Lapuente

WATCH OUT FOR

Manuel Lapuente fears for his job security - with good reason. "I am the one with my neck on the chopping block here," Lapuente said earlier this year, after he had taken over as national coach in mid-November last year from Bora Milutinovic, who is now with Nigeria. A series of poor results against humble opposition since then has added to the pressure he faces. Lapuente, who is in his second spell in charge of the national team, will surely be fired if Mexico fail to reach the second round. He looks and dresses like the sort of gentleman one finds sitting in the corner of pubs in County Cavan, and not at all like a Mexican.

SOUTH KOREA

Previous appearances: 4 (1954, 1986, 1990, 1994)

Best performance: Never beyond first round.

Record: P11, W0, D3, L8

1 Kim Byung-ji Ulsan Hyundai

2 Choi Sung-yong Sangmoo

3 Lee Lim-saeng Puchon SK

4 Choi Young-il Pusan Daewoo

5 Lee Min-sung Pusan Daewoo

6 Yoo Sang-chul Ulsan Hyundai

7 Kim Do-keun Chunnam Dragons

8 Noh Jung-yoon NAC Breda

9 Kim Do-hoon Vissel Kobe

10 Choi Yong-soo Sangmoo

11 Seo Jung-won Strasbourg

12 Lee Sang-hun Anyang LG

13 Kim Tae-young Chunnam Dragons

14 Ko Jong-soo Suwon Samsung

15 Lee Sang-yoon Chunan Ilhwa

16 Jang Hyung-seok Ulsan Hyundai

17 Ha Seok-ju Cerezo Osaka

18 Hwang Sun-hong Pohang Steelers

19 Dae Il-jang Chunan Ilhwa

20 Hong Myung-bo Bellmare Hiratsuka

21 Lee Dong-gook Pohang Steelers

22 Seo Dong-myung Sangmoo

Coach: Cha Bum-Kun

WATCH OUT FOR...

Regarded as the finest libero in Asia, South Korea's Hong Myung-bo will be looking to clinch a lucrative move to Europe by impressing in France. The 29-year-old, currently plying his trade in Japan with Bellmare Hiratsuka, is the reported target of Barcelona, among others. The Catalan club are said to have offered almost pounds 5m for Hong. "I am glad to know Barcelona want me," he said, modestly. If he does move to Europe, Hong is likely to become the highest paid South Korean athlete anywhere in the world, surpassing the baseball pitcher Park Chan-ho, who has signed for the Los Angeles Dodgers on a contract worth almost pounds 2m for the 1998-99 season.