Bundesliga stars at the World Cup
There will be 79 German-based footballers playing for national teams in Brazil over the next month. Many of them, like Dante, Kevin-Prince Boateng, or Arjen Robben play a crucial leadership role for their national teams.
Cameroon's Bundesliga connection
The Bundesliga has the second highest number of representatives at the World Cup, behind the English Premier League. Striker Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, still on contract at Mainz until the summer, smashed home the equalizer in the recent friendly against Germany. Joel Matip of Schalke is the second representative from the Bundesliga playing for the Lions.
Croatian trio
Bayern Munich's Mario Mandzukic has a point to prove this tournament: he's looking to change clubs, despite scoring 18 goals. He'll need to be content with Wolfsburg's Ivica Olic pushing for a starting place, as well as Olic's team-mate from the Wolves, Ivan Perisic. These are three of 79 Bundesliga players heading to Brazil.
Mexican powerhouse
Only one player from Mexico's confirmed squad plays his football in Germany. Bayer Leverkusen's loanee Andres Guardado, the 27-year-old left-back, has only played for the Werkself four times since arriving from Spain. Still, Guardado is a technically gifted player who is regarded as an important figure for the national team.
Brazil's Bundesliga pair
The Brazilians are being lead by Dante and Luiz Gustavo. The Bundesliga players one from Bayern and one from Wolfsburg, should be regular starters for the hosts in the summer. Central defender Dante has grown in stature and maturity since moving to Bayern, starring in last summer's Confederations Cup win.
Dutch trio
Arjen Robben has barely come close to being as much of a team-player as he is now at Bayern. Is the Dutch tradition of individualism over? Robben will be crucial to driving the Dutch to success. He's joined in Brazil by Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Augsburg's Mr. Consistent, Paul Verhaegh.
Australia relies on Bundesliga experience
Mitch Langerak is the second in line to support Roman Weidenfeller at Dortmund, but he attracts lots of attention back home. He's also the only top-flight player following the injury to Robbie Kruse in January. Ben Halloran, who plays for Fortuna Düsseldorf in the second division, and Matthew Leckie of FSV Frankfurt are also part of the 23-man Socceroo squad.
Spanish star
Spain are the undisputed kings of world and European football at the moment. Yet, there's only one of them who plays in the Bundesliga: Javi Martinez. The defensive-midfielder moved for a record transfer fee from Athletic Bilbao two years ago and his role will only grow stronger under compatriot Pep Guardiola at Bayern.
Colombian striker
It has been Adrian Ramos' biggest season in football. Sixteen goals later for Hertha Berlin and he's now a Borussia Dortmund player. But first, his national team is back at the World Cup - their first since the tragedy of Andres Escobar in 1994. Ramos, without Radamel Falcao, is the national team's main frontman.
Greek defender
While Sokratis was nudged through the back door when he joined from Werder Bremen, he has been unquestionably one of Dortmund's best performers throughout the season. A World Cup berth is his just reward for excellent domestic displays and he flies the Bundesliga flag in the Greek camp.
Ivory Coast takes four
Didier Ya Konan's 39 career Bundesliga goals have propelled to him to a place as one of the country's main strikers. With Didier Drogba bowing out, the time couldn't be better for Ya Konan, one of four German-based players, to shine. The others are Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Costant Djakpa (Frankfurt), Matthias Bolly (Düsseldorf).
The Japanese seven
The Samurai Blues have seven German-based players following a huge influx of J-League players finding a home in Germany. Shinji Okazaki scored 16 goals for Mainz this season, and looks to solve the nation's striker crisis, along with Yuya Osako (Cologne). The other Germany-based players heading to Brazil are Hiroshi Kiyotake, Makoto Hasebe, Gotoku Sakai, Hiroshi Sakai and Atsuto Uchida.
Italy's new Bundesliga star
Until recently there would have been no Italians at the World Cup who play in the Bundesliga. Now, however, Ciro Immobile, the top scorer last season in Serie A has joined Borussia Dortmund. Immobile scored 22 goals last season for Torino, prior to his 19 million euro move ($25.73 million) to Germany.
Costa Rican lone wolf
Ask most German football fans who the Costa Rican Bundesliga representative is, then you may stump one or two. Junior Diaz of Mainz largely plays second-fiddle to Jo-Hoo Park, yet he's an established national team player with the Central Americans.
Switzerland's Bundesliga XI
Germany's near neighbors have no fewer than 11 World Cup reps. One of the recent additions is Valentin Stocker who completed a shock move to Hertha Berlin last month. Stocker is accompanied by: Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, Josip Drmic, Diego Benaglio, Yann Sommer, Ricardo Rodriguez, Johan Djourou, Tranquillo Barnetta, Gelson Fernandes and Admir Mehmedi.
Ecuador's lone rep
The Ecuadorians have been at three of the last four World Cups. The one player travelling from Germany is Stuttgart's combative midfielder Carlos Gruezo. The 19-year-old has only three caps for his national team.
Ibisevic leads Bosnian contingent
Bosnia and Herzegovina are participating at the World Cup for the first time since the country's secession from Yugoslavia. It has taken time - but the fruits are beginning to appear with Vedad Ibisevic spearheading a team of eight Germany representatives, also including Emir Bicakcic, Emir Spahic, Sejad Salihiovic, Sead Kolasnic, Jasmin Fejzic from Aalen and Mensur Mujdza of Freiburg.
Germany dominated by Bayern
Germany's domestic talent pool was reduced to 16 following the ankle injury to Marco Reus that ruled him out of the tournament. Nine of those selected play for Bayern Munich, for example, Thomas Müller. For many, Christoph Kramer from Borussia Mönchengladbach is the surprise inclusion.
One man from Portugal
Vierinha Freitas of Wolfsburg is Portugal's only Bundesliga representative at the World Cup. The right-midfielder will be looking to help his side overcome the Germans in the first week of the tournament.
Ghanaian pair
Kevin-Prince Boateng leads Ghana to another World Cup, as they look to build upon the quarter-final spot at the last tournament in 2010. Boateng's influence and experience is crucial in a relatively youthful team. Hoffenheim's Afriyie Acquah, who spent last season with Parma, is also in the squad.
German-Americans represent!
Coached by former German World Cup winner Jürgen Klinsmann, the USA have a host of German-Americans in their ranks. Firstly, and most excitingly, is teenage Bayern Munich attacker Julian Green. There's also John Anthony Brooks of Hertha Berlin, Fabian Johnson, who's moving to Gladbach, and Timothy Chandler, a Frankfurt summer signing after Nuremberg were relgated.
Belgian contingent
Belgian's current team are known as "The Golden Generation." Blessed with superb talent and three players from the Bundesliga, they are many people's dark horse tip to win the World Cup. Kevin de Bruyne has excelled since moving to Wolfsburg from Chelsea via Bremen, and could be the key to the Reds' success.
Korean Bundesliga stars
Five South Koreans will head from Germany to Brazil for the world's biggest football event. Captain Koo Ja-cheol has yet to shine in Mainz, while Park Jo-hoo was a late call-up. There's also Son Heung-min, Ji Dong-won from Dortmund and Hong Jeong-ho of Augsburg.