Ricardo Carvalho added to Chelsea’s injury woes when the English Premier League title-chasers said the defender could be out of action for at least a month.

Centre-half Carvalho suffered ankle ligament damage during Chelsea’s 5-0 win away to basement club Portsmouth, a victory that left them just a point behind leaders Manchester United. If the injury is worse than first feared, Carvalho could miss the rest of this season.

“The club will be able to determine over the next 24 hours whether the injury requires corrective surgery, however we can confirm at this point that he’ll be out for at least four weeks.”

- A Chelsea club statement on Carvalho

“Chelsea can confirm that Ricardo Carvalho suffered ankle ligament damage in last night’s game against Portsmouth,” a club spokesman said Thursday. “The club will be able to determine over the next 24 hours whether the injury requires corrective surgery, however we can confirm at this point that he’ll be out for at least four weeks.”

Carvalho’s injury has left Chelsea with just two first-choice central defenders in Brazilian Alex and captain John Terry. The Portuguese international’s setback comes just days after right-back Branislav Ivanovic was ruled out for a month following a knee injury sustained during the 1-1 draw at Blackburn last weekend.

The Blues have been without left-back Ashley Cole (ankle), midfielder Michael Essien (knee) and right-back Jose Bosingwa (ankle) for much of the current season.

World Cup Record: Semi-final 1950

Manager: Vicente Del Bosque
Key Player: Fernando Torres
Qualified: 1st Uefa Group 5
Odds: 4/1

As far as World Cup appearances go Spain has so often flattered to deceive but now the perennial under-achievers have an opportunity to put the record straight in South Africa. Since winning the European Championship in 2008 they have continued their fluid one-touch brand of football and qualified from a group including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey and Belgium by winning every game. Their host of star players includes Fernando Torres, David Villa and Iker Casillas and they have only lost once under current manager, Vicente Del Bosque. If they continue to play as they have over the last two years Spain may finally fulfil their potential at a World Cup.

Fernando Torres

Age: 25
Position: Centre Forward
Club: Liverpool (England – Premier League)
Caps: 71 (23 goals)
Top Goal Scorer Odds: 12/1

Fernando Torres scored the winning goal in Spain’s European 2008 final against Germany and clinched their first major trophy since 1964. Since joining Liverpool he has netted 48 goals in 67 Premier league games. He is a prolific goal scorer who is skilful and can hold up the ball and always makes it difficult for opposition defenders. Born in Madrid in 1984, Torres joined his first team Parque 84 at the age of 5 years old. He went on to represent Spain at all youth levels and came through the youth ranks at Atletico Madrid (214 apps, 82 goals) before moving to Anfield in 2007. Spain has many star names Villa, Xabi, Alonso to name a few but in Torres they have a natural born goalscorer.

World Cup Record: Quarter-Final 1934, 1938, 1954

Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Key Player: Alexander Frei
Qualified: 1st Group 2 Asia
Odds: 150/1

South Africa 2010 will be Switzerland’s ninth appearance at the tournament with three quarter-finals their best performance to date. A sluggish start to this campaign included a hugely embarrassing defeat at home to Luxembourg, but German coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, turned things around and the Swiss topped a group which included the likes of Greece, Latvia and Israel. In 2006 Switerland created two unwanted records on their way to a last 16 exit: they became the only team to be eliminated from the tournament without conceding a goal and the only team to fail to score a single goal during a penalty shoot-out (against Ukraine).

Alexander Frei

Age: 30
Position: Centre Forward
Club: Basel (Switzerland – Swiss Super League)
Caps: 71 (40 goals)

Switzerland’s all-time record goal scorer with a record of 40 goals in 71 games, Frei is the captain and focal point of the team. Now back at his home town club in Basel, he had spells in France with Rennes and latterly with German club Borussia Dortmund. Frei created a stir in 2004 after cameras caught him spitting at Steven Gerrard during the Euro 2004 tournament. He later showed his contrition by adopting a llama at Basel zoo.

World Cup Record: Semi-Finals 1930

Manager: Bob Bradley
Key Player: Landon Donovan
Qualified: 1st CONCACAF
Odds: 66/1

This will be the ninth time the United States has reached the World Cup finals, although their best performance remains the third place spot they secured in the first World Cup in Uruguay 1930. A fairly straight-forward qualifying campaign saw the Stars and Stripes finish top of the CONCACAF section ahead of Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica. A number of the US squad will be familiar to Premier League fans with the likes of Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, Jonathan Spector, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey all playing in England’s top division. The USA will have good memories of South Africa when they return in 2010, having reached the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup there.They lost the final 3-2 to Brazil but on the way shocked European Champions Spain with a 2-0 win.

Landon Donovan

Age: 28
Position: Centre Forward/ Attacking Midfielder
Club: LA Galaxy (USA – MLS)
Caps: 120 (42 goals)

Hit the headlines in the summer of 2009 after criticising LA Galaxy team-mate, David Beckham for his commitment (or lack of) to the MLS team. However, Donovan’s career deserves more than a mere mention as a sidenote in a Beckham escapade. At 28 he has already notched up 120 caps and more than 40 international goals and his consistency helped Galaxy to the MLS Final in 2009 – although they lost on penalties to Real Salt Lake. Donovan also spent 4 seasons with German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen from 2001-2005 and a short spell on loan at Bayern Munich in 2009. Playing either as an outright striker or a link between the front men and midfield, Donovan’s drive and leadership will form the backbone of the USA’s World Cup assault.

World Cup Record: Won 1930 & 1950

Manager: Oscar Tabarez
Key Player: Diego Forlan
Qualified: 5th, South America (beat Costa Rica in play-off)
Odds: 100/1

Uruguay made it to South Africa via their now customary appearance in the play-offs having finished fifth in the South American qualifying zone. Only missing out on automatic qualification after losing at home to Argentina in their final match, so it was that they went to the play-offs again for the third consecutive time, defeating Costa Rica 2-1 on aggregate. Winning six, drawing six and losing six, they scored 28 goals – a tally bettered only by the top two, Brazil & Chile. Diego Forlan led the way with seven while Ajax winger Luis Suarez & veteran Sebastian Abreu both hit five. Mainly due to their often brutal displays back in Mexico ‘86, ‘La Celeste’ have always had a reputation among European observers for a somewhat uncompromising approach to the game. This label is probably now a little unfair toward the country which produced such sublime talents as Enzo Francescoli & Alvaro Recoba, and with the emphasis now placed firmly on attack, the class of 2010 now have the opportunity to make their mark.

Diego Forlan

Age: 30
Position: Striker
Club: Atletico Madrid
Caps: 60 (22 goals)

Still remembered in England chiefly for his less than successful stint at Manchester Utd, Forlan’s subsequent move to Spain saw him twice crowned La Liga’s top scorer. 105 goals in 185 games for Villarreal & Atletico Madrid is a much more accurate reflection of his abilities. Often playing against highly competitive sides from South America, his international record of 22 in 60 stands comparison with anything else in the game. A stunning volley against Senegal in 2002 was one of the highlights of the tournament, and his team-mates will be looking for more of the same in South Africa.

World Cup Record: Group Stages 1998, 2002

Manager: Carlos Alberto Parreira
Key Player: Steven Pienaar
Qualified: Hosts
Odds: 125/1

South Africa will be hoping that the tradition of hosts exceeding expectations continues when they become the first African country to stage the finals. The Rainbow Nation has appeared only twice at the finals – in 1998 and 2002 – after returning to the international stage in 1992 following political expulsion by FIFA. Their 1-0 defeat of Slovenia in the Group stages of 2002 remains their sole win at the tournament. Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has returned to manage the side for a second time, but two goalless draws – with Japan and Jamaica – since his return have not provided much evidence that they will improve their record this time around.

Steven Pienaar

Age: 27
Position: Midfielder
Club: Everton (England – Premier League)
Caps: 43 (2 Goals)

After winning the Dutch Title in 2002 and 2004 with Ajax, Pienaar moved to German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in 2006. Brought in to replace Tomas Rosicky, Pienaar never settled in Germany and he moved on to Everton in January 2007. Deployed mainly on the left of midfield, the 27-year-old has become one of the most consistent performers at Goodison Park, excelling in the absence of Spanish star Mikel Arteta. He made his South Africa debut in 2002 in a 2-0 win over Turkey and his dynamic displays will be central to the host nation’s hopes of advancing from the Group Stages.

World Cup Record: Groups Stage 2002

Manager: Matjaz Kek
Key Player: Milivoje Novakovic
Qualified: 2nd Group 3 Europe, Play-offs
Odds: 200/1

Relative newcomers to the international stage having been formed in 1992 following the break-up of Yugoslavia, Slovenia will be making their second appearance at a World Cup finals – they failed to win a game in their only other showing in Japan/Korea 2002. Lost out to local rivals, Slovakia, in Qualification Group 3, but still impressed in taking the scalps of more seasoned World Cup nations Czech Republic and Poland. Furthered their reputation in the two-legged play-off when putting out heavy favourites Russia on away goals. One of the best defences in European football, they may have a busy time in South Africa.

Milivoje Novakovic

Age: 30
Position: Centre Forward
Club: Cologne (Germany – Bundesliga)
Caps: 36 (13 goals)

A late developer at international level, Novakovic didn’t make his Slovenia debut until the age of 27. His club career was beginning to take on the appearance of that of a journeyman, moving between Austrian teams Mattersburg and LASK Linz and then onto Bulgarian outfit Litex Lovech before finally settling at German Bundesliga 2 side Cologne in 2006. He was top scorer in the division during his first season and helped Cologne to promotion in 2008. Novakovic was on the scoresheet five times during Slovenia’s World Cup qualifying campaign and his contribution will be vital in South Africa.

World Cup Record: 1st Appearance

Manager: Vladimir Weiss
Key Player: Stanislav Sestak
Qualified: 1st Europe Group 3
Odds: 250/1

Slovakia (formed 1993) has never qualified for the World Cup as an independent nation. They qualified from a difficult group including the Czech Republic and Slovenia and finally booked their place in South Africa by beating Poland 1-0 away in a must win match. Despite the impressive fashion in which they won their group Slovakia’s lack of tournament experience is a worry. Head coach Vladimir Weiss has said his side is determined and never gives up and this inner steel will be needed in South Africa. With players like Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik they have the ability to cause an upset or two.

Stanislav Sestak

Age: 26
Position: Forward
Club: Vfl Bochum (Germany-Bundesliga)
Caps: 29 (10 goals)
Top Goal Scorer Odds: 125/1

Stanislav Sestak has scored vital goals during Slovakia’s qualification for South Africa including two goals in two minutes in an important home tie against Poland. His final tally for the group stages was six goals. Sestak currently plays in the German Bundesliga with Vfl Bochum having scored 25 goals in 67 appearances. As a player who is not afraid of the big stage and with his proven record, Slovakia has a key player who can have a huge influence on games.

World Cup Record: 1st Appearance as Serbia
Manager: Radomir Antic
Key Player: Dejan Stankovic
Qualified: 1st Uefa Group 7
Odds: 66/1

Serbia will be appearing at the World Cup independently for the first time in South Africa. They go full of confidence after topping a qualification group containing 1998 World champions France. Serbia’s squad features players that are represented in all major European leagues. They include Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan) and Nikola Zigic (Valencia). Coach Radomir Antic has turned around Serbia’s fortunes since taking charge in 2006 and has recently signed a contract to take him through to 2011. Under his tutelage they have become a highly-organized unit with experience and skill throughout the squad. The emphatic style in which they clinched qualification beating Romania 5-0 in Belgrade suggests they have the ability to challenge any team at international level.

Dejan Stankovic

Age: 31
Position: Midfield
Club: Inter Milan (Italy-Serie A)
Caps: 85 (13 goals)

His international debut was for Serbia and Montenegro in 1998 and now he is captain of the re-formed Serbia (2006). Stankovic played in the 2006 World Cup but they lost all their games in the Group Stage to Argentina, Holland and the Ivory Coast. A versatile player who can play any midfield role he is also known for his powerful shooting ability. Stankovic played in and captained all but one of Serbia’s qualifying games. Has a wealth of experience having played for Red Star Belgrade, Lazio and current club Inter Milan and his shooting ability has bought him 89 career goals. His knack of scoring important goals could be vital in South Africa.

World Cup Record: Semi-Finals 1966, 2006
Manager: Carlos Queiroz
Key Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Qualified: European Play-Offs
Odds: 25/1

Portugal faced a difficult task during qualification, just managing to finish 2nd in their group behind Denmark. This forced them into a play-off where they managed to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina. In Carlos Queiroz they have an experienced manager who cut his teeth as Sir Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man at Manchester United. Most of the later games were played without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo but Portugal still boasts a team of world stars including Deco, Simao and Ricardo Carvalho. Portugal fall into the category of under-achievers – their biggest disappointment is losing the final of Euro 2004 on home soil to Greece – and until they win a major tournament there will always be question marks over their mental attitude and resilience..

Cristiano Ronaldo

Age: 24
Position: Winger, Forward
Club: Real Madrid (Spain-La Liga)
Caps: 68 (22 goals)
Top Goal Scorer Odds: 14/1

World and European player of the year in 2008, the mere sight of Ronaldo flying down the wing has defenders quaking in their boots. Add to his speed and skill a very high goal ratio – he scored an incredible 42 goals in the 2007/8 season for Manchester United – and you have pretty close to the complete player. His recent move to Real Madrid made him the highest paid player in the world although niggling injuries have meant his first season in the Spanish capital is yet to take off. Portugal will hope he can stay fit and focused for his second World Cup appearance as he is one of the few genuine match-winners in World football.