Star player:
Marek Hamsik.

Previous appearances:
None.

How they qualified 
UEFA
Northern Ireland (h)     2-1
Slovenia (a)                 1-2
San Marino (a)              3-1
Poland (h)                   2-1
Czech Republic (a)        2-1
San Marino (h)             7-0
Czech Republic (h)        2-2
Northern Ireland (a)      2-0
Slovenia (h)                  0-2
Poland (a)                    1-0

Chances:
World Cup debutants who possess plenty of individual talent as well as team spirit, but a lack of past finals pedigree could undermine their hopes of progress.

Strange but true
Marek Hamsik was the victim of a car jacking in Napoli last year during which he was relieved of his expensive Rolex watch. In response, Napoli fans set up a Facebook page apologising to their hero- and a few days later the watch was turned.