Incredible to think that one of these powerful footballing nations won't make it past the group stages this year.
Group D's fourth team Costa Rica, aren't to be discounted either.
Uruguay captain Diego Lugano - a 92-times capped stalwart of the national team - says it's integral Uruguay gets a good result in its first group game against Costa Rica.
"It is the first game which is obviously always the most difficult for us and for them also because it is the game where we should obtain the three points," he said.
"Surely our opponents are probably super motivated for this first game against Uruguay. No doubt it will be the most difficult and the most important game, that is what we have been thinking about for some time now."
England go to the World Cup this year with a new wave of youth supporting the likes of old hands Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Stephen Gerrard.
The country's talented pool of debutantes includes Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge.
England manager Roy Hodgson insists the pressure in Group D won't be on his men, but rather on Italy, who failed to make it past the group stages at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"They will be under a lot of scrutiny and pressure. Everyone in Italy will expect them to not only to beat us but everyone in the group," he said.
"They will be expected to beat us and the other teams in our group and they will be expected to be up there amongst the favourites. That's a lot of pressure to accept."
"But I don't honestly think there are many teams or coaches who go into a World Cup without feeling the pressure to perform well. You don't work as hard and suffer the things we do to qualify, to then not expect not to have pressure to continue the good work."
Italy go to the World Cup finals looking to equal the record of hosts Brazil and lift the trophy for a fifth time.
Coach Cesare Prandelli insists his starting XI will be decided on a game-by-game basis.
"The idea is to have a changeable formula, like we had at the Confederations (Cup), we will not have a rigid formula, one that cannot be changed, we want the ability to change but also to be determined and precise because there are the first two phases to get through. We will work on this with the team as even during matches there can be changes."
And lastly, Costa Rica: Having landed themselves a nightmare group, Costa Rica hope a blend of tactical stability and technical energy will help them to pull off a shock in Brazil.
Bryan Ruiz, the elegant Fulham forward currently on loan at PSV Eindhoven, captains the side, while Arsenal wide player Joel Campbell supplies pace and invention from wide areas.
Add to that Cristian Bolanos and outstanding goalkeeper Keilor Navas.
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