(05-18) 20:47 PDT -- As the World Cup draws near, it's time to take a closer look at the 32 teams, spread over 8 groups, that will head to South Africa to compete for the title. Today, we start a four-part series that will run every Wednesday, running up to the tournament's start on June 11. Each week, we'll analyze two groups, or eight countries.

GROUP A

France: As if the French didn't have enough controversy over a much-criticized coach and roster selection, three front-line players were cited last month in a police investigation of a prostitution ring in Paris. Franck Ribery, Sidney Govou and Karim Benzema were not charged - they will merely be witnesses in a criminal trial - but the incident put Les Bleus in negative light and may have cost Benzema his spot on the team.

Ribery, the Bayern Munich standout facing a separate damaging issue (suspended for Saturday's Champions League final due to a red-card send-off), was named to the 30-man preliminary roster along with Govou, a forward for Lyon. Although Benzema is coming off an unimpressive season with Real Madrid, some feel he was sacrificed for the sake of acknowledging the scandal.

Coach Raymond Domenech has been savagely criticized by media and former players in his homeland for years, making it somewhat astounding that he's still in charge. The talent is there, however, including dynamic goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, the back-four combination of Patrice Evra and Bacary Sagna, and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka.

Mexico: Coach Javier Aguirre calls this "the best Mexican team ever," and don't miss the show if that's even close to the truth. Keep an eye on 21-year-old sensation Javier Hernandez, recently signed by stately Manchester United, and left-footed winger Giovani dos Santos, a 20-year-old who made a large impression at Barcelona.

Then there's the fabled Cuauhtemoc Blanco, still causing havoc in the box at the age of 37. Blanco was cut from the '06 World Cup team, became a high-priced talent in Major League Soccer and actually retired from the Mexican team, but returned when Aguirre replaced the ill-suited Sven-Goran Eriksson.

There was a time when few Mexican stars ventured overseas, but the current team could have as many as 10 players who compete on top teams in Europe. Count on them getting through the first round, which they have done in the last four World Cups.

Uruguay: Seasoned fans fondly recall 1950, when Uruguay stunned host-nation Brazil before some 200,000 fans in the Maracana stadium to decide the World Cup title. Many lean years ensued, and the Uruguayans are longshots to get out of the first round, but it will be worth watching dynamic strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez in action.

Barcelona is reportedly taking aim at Suarez after his 30-goal outburst in just 26 matches for Ajax in the Netherlands' premier league, and Forlan starred at Atletico Madrid after an unsuccessful two-year run with Manchester United. A lethal left-foot finisher, Forlan led all La Liga scorers last year with 32 goals.

South Africa: This is a joyous but brutal assignment for the host nation, and few give Bafana Bafana (as the team is known) any chance to advance. A recent set of FIFA rankings appraised them as only the 20th-best team in Africa, and cynics claim only some shady hometown refereeing (it's been known to happen in past World Cups) can put them on even terms with any team in this group.

Players to watch: Everton's star midfielder Steven Pienaar and West Ham striker Benni McCarthy. Names to remember (no joke): defender Innocent Mdledle and midfielder Surprise Moriri.

GROUP B

Argentina: Such an abundance of talent. Forever skeptical of coach Diego Maradona, critics are lamenting the absence of Inter Milan's Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti, as well as Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago, from the preliminary roster. Fans are disturbed, as well, that it took a last-ditch victory over Uruguay to secure fourth place in the South African qualifying.

Perhaps all anxiety will vanish when Lionel Messi finds the back of the net - the first of many goals forecast for the wondrous Barcelona player. Messi has plenty of help, too, with world-class midfielder Javier Mascherano and strikers Carlos Tevez, Diego Milito and Gonzalo Higuain, the last of whom is said to blend best with Messi's talents.

And how good is Messi? "I wouldn't compare him to anyone in the world," said Spanish star Xavi Hernandez, "because that other player would come off so badly. Messi is just so far ahead."

Nigeria: A coach named Lars Lagerback led Sweden past Nigeria in the 2002 World Cup, and the Super Eagles never forgot. Just three months ago, despite the fact that Lagerback's Swedes failed to qualify this time, Nigeria hired him to replace native coach Shaibu Amodo. The move may smack of desperation, but in this group, Nigeria has an excellent chance to survive.

The team has considerable Premier League influence with Everton's Victor Anichebe, Joseph Yobo and Ayegbeni Yakubu, along with Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel. But the team's best-known player is Nwankwo Kanu, listed as 33 years old in a recent ESPN report, said to be officially 37 in the Nigerian files, and rumored to be 42. He'll be welcome if he flashes any of the form he once displayed for Arsenal.

South Korea: Watch most any Manchester United game, and you're bound to see excellence from midfielder Park Ji-sung, who has always fit well on that star-studded roster. He helped the South Koreans score a morale-lifting 2-o victory over Ecuador in a warm-up match over the weekend.

Traditionally, this is a rigidly well-organized team built on seniority and experience, so it will be interesting to see if two 21-year-olds get a chance to expand on their U.K. experience - winger Lee Chung-yong (Bolton) and midfielder Ki Sung-yeung (Celtic). Some feel the team will be overmatched unless it allows the youth movement to thrive.

Greece: This is the country that lodged some indelible memories with its Euro 2004 title, but the times have changed. Although some of those players remain, the team's attack is somewhat stodgy, and goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias said the competition looks so daunting, "We can't make any predictions. Just our participation might be considered a success."

Featuring mostly home-based talent, the Greeks have only a few players who have made an impact in the top European leagues, including Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Liverpool) and Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin), the team's top scorer in qualifying with 10 goals.

Next Wednesday: Groups C and D

The first of a four-part series that will appear on Wednesdays. Next week: Group C, which includes the U.S., and Group D.

E-mail Bruce Jenkins at bjenkins@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle