PHOTOS: Stars touch down in Brazil ahead of World Cup

Image: Members of Germany's national soccer team exit their plane upon arrival in Salvador
Photographs: Angelo Pontes/Reuters

Germany arrived in Brazil to launch their World Cup campaign.

-Football World Cup

Germany begin as favourites in Group G to top the group thanks to a side whose defensive backbone is complimented by one of the most dynamic attacking forces in the tournament, with the likes of Mario Goetze, Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos orchestrating matches.

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Tags: Thomas Mueller , Mario Goetze , Mesut Ozil , Toni Kroos , PHOTOS

PHOTOS: Stars touch down in Brazil ahead of World Cup

Image: Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas (bottom) and his teammates exit their plane upon arrival at the international airport in Curitiba
Photographs: Rodolfo Buhrer/Reuters

Reigning FIFA World Cup champions Spain arrived in Brazil on Sunday evening.

Bookmakers rank traditional powerhouses Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Spain as the top teams to win the Cup, but many punters see Belgium as the smart bet to become the first European side to win the tournament on South American soil.

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Tags: Brazil , PHOTOS , Spain , FIFA , South American

PHOTOS: Stars touch down in Brazil ahead of World Cup

Image: France's national soccer team players Patrice Evra,left, and Mathieu Debuchyarrive at their hotel, ahead of the 2014 World Cup, at Ribeirao Preto
Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters

Les Bleus have landed in Brazil ahead of their opening World Cup match against Honduras this coming Sunday.

In theory, France, enjoying a revival under Didier Deschamps, are clear favourites to finish top in Group E while Honduras, who have never won a match at the World Cup, are given little hope of progressing.

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Tags: Honduras , Didier Deschamps , PHOTOS , Brazil , Bleus

PHOTOS: Stars touch down in Brazil ahead of World Cup

Image: Gianluigi Buffon of Italy's national soccer team arrives at Rio de Janeiro's international airport
Photographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters

Italy begin their Group D campaign against England in Manaus on Saturday, and there is a growing desire in Italy for the exciting Immobile to feature in the starting line-up even though Prandelli prefers AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli.

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Tags: Mario Balotelli , AC Milan , PHOTOS , Italy , Prandelli

PHOTOS: Stars touch down in Brazil ahead of World Cup

Image: Netherlands national soccer team arrive
Photographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters

Robin van Persie and Nigel de Jong of the Netherlands national soccer team arrive at Rio de Janeiro's international airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

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Tags: Robin van Persie , Nigel de Jong , Rio de Janeiro , PHOTOS , Stars

PHOTOS: Stars touch down in Brazil ahead of World Cup

Image: US team arrives
Photographs: Nacho Doce/Reuters

US men's national soccer team players arrive at the Guarulhos airport ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Sao Paulo.

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Tags: PHOTOS , Sao Paulo , Stars , Brazil , US

PHOTOS: Stars touch down in Brazil ahead of World Cup

Image: Cameroon's squad arrive
Photographs: Ricardo Morae/Reuters

Cameroon's national soccer team players Samuel Eto'o, Alexandre Song and Nicolas Nkoulou arrival in Galeao Aerial Base ahead of the 2014
World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.

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Tags: Alexandre Song , Nicolas Nkoulou , Galeao Aerial Base , Rio de Janeiro , PHOTOS

PHOTOS: Stars touch down in Brazil ahead of World Cup

Image: Ecuador's national soccer team arrives at the international airport in Porto Alegre
Photographs: Edison Vara/Reuters

The erratic French, efficient Swiss, flying Ecuadoreans and hard-tackling Honduras promise to turn Group E into one of the most unpredictable at the World Cup.

Tags: PHOTOS , Stars , Honduras , Brazil

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