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Rickie Lambert’s arrival at Anfield has taken the number of World Cup-bound players in Liverpool’s squad up to 12.

It is a figure which only six clubs in the world - Napoli, Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern Munich - can better.

The Reds will have six men on duty for England, two for Uruguay and one each from Spain, Belgium, France and Ivory Coast.

Some will return heroes, others might not even kick a ball in the competition. Here is a profile of the 12.

Steven Gerrard (England)

Born: May 30, 1980 in Whiston (age 34)

Caps/goals: 110/21

Profile: This will be Gerrard’s six major tournament with England and he is yet to make it beyond the quarter-final stage. But Euro 2010 was a personal triumph as he was named in the Uefa Team of the Tournament.

Expectation: Gerrard is the elder statesman and figurehead of a young, vibrant squad. As such, the expectation levels on England - and the skipper - have lowered to more realistic levels. Another run to the quarter-final stages would be considered a decent effort.

Glen Johnson (England)

Born: August 23, 1984 in Greenwich (age 29)

Caps/goals: 51/1

Profile: Won his first cap 11 years ago and recently passed the half-century mark, making him one of the most experienced players in England’s squad.

Expectation: Injury to Kyle Walker means Johnson had no genuine rivals for the right-back berth, but he needs to win over those who question his consistency and defensive ability. A certain starter, barring injury.

Jordan Henderson (England)

Born: June 17, 1990 in Sunderland (age 23)

Caps/goals: 9/0

Profile: A supremely consistent season at club level means Henderson could well be catapulted into England’s starting XI for the first game against Italy, partnering Gerrard in midfield.

Expectation: After a fairly quiet display against Peru, Henderson knows he needs to up his game - or the calls for Jack Wilshire to start will grow louder. His famed stamina will be a key asset in the heat and humidity of Brazil.

Raheem Sterling (England)

Born: December 8, 1994 in Kingston, Jamaica (age 19)

Caps/goals: 3/0

Profile: The new kid on the block, Sterling was fast-tracked into Roy Hodgson’s squad on the back of some scintillating performances for the Reds last season which saw Brendan Rodgers hail him as the most exciting young player in Europe.

Expectation: Similar to Ross Barkley, a real wild card member of the squad. He will be desperate to be given a chance from the start but Roy Hodgson may prefer to use him as an impact sub.

Daniel Sturridge (England)

Born: September 1, 1989 in Birmingham (age 24)

Caps/goals: 11/4

Profile: England’s red-hot centre-forward tore Premier League defences to ribbons in partnership with Luis Suarez last season and seems to have emerged as Roy Hodgson’s first-pick centre-forward.

Expectation: Sturridge has proved he can get goals if played in his preferred position through the middle. This is his chance to show he can do it consistently on the world stage. Don't shunt him out wide, Roy - let him loose through the centre.

Rickie Lambert (England)

Born: February 16, 1982 in Kirkby (age 32)

Caps/goals: 4/2

Profile: This week he signed for his boyhood club. Next week he goes to his first World Cup. Liverpool’s most recent acquisition, still a newcomer at international level, must think he is living in a dream but he deserves to be on the plane to Brazil.

Expectation: Liverpool’s Plan B could turn out to be England’s Plan B. Unlikely to start but may be needed to come off the bench and change tight games late on.

Simon Mignolet (Belgium)

Born: March 6, 1988 in Sint-Truiden (age 26)

Caps/goals: 14/0

Profile: With Champions League finalist Thibaut Courtois in such fine form for Atletico Madrid last season, the Reds no.1 will find himself on the bench for the competition's dark horses.

Expectation: Mignolet will have to be content with featuring only in an emergency, but Belgium should win Group H before elimination against Germany or Portugal in the second round.

Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast)

Born: March 19, 1981 in Bouake (age 33)

Caps/goals: 107/6

Profile: Toure's participation was in doubt after contracting malaria, but he should be fit for their opening game against Japan. But coach Sabri Lamouchi has preferred Sol Bamba and Didier Zokora – now converted to centre back – since taking charge.

Expectation: The 33-year-old will hope to be fit for what should be his last World Cup, and will hope to dislodge the recognised centre back pairing. But he may only have three games to do so, with Japan and Colombia looking strong.

Sebastian Coates (Uruguay)

Born: October 7, 1990 in Montevideo (age 23)

Caps/goals: 12/1

Profile: Suffered a knee injury playing for Uruguay against Japan in August 2013, but still finds himself in the squad as back-up to Diego Godin and Diego Lugano.

Expectation: To protect Suarez's knee in training! Coates may not get too much time from the bench, but he'll hope his Uruguay side can qualify from a difficult group.

Luis Suarez (Uruguay)

Born: January 24, 1987 in Salto (age 27)

Caps/goals: 77/38

Profile: Suarez has found himself as one of the biggest stories pre-tournament after suffering a knee injury on international duty. But providing he is fit for Uruguay's opening game with Costa Rica, Suarez could be set to torment defences in his indomitable fashion alongside Edinson Cavani.

Expectation: To remain fit, healthy and score plenty of goals. Suarez will be relied upon to fire Uruguay out of the group – if he performs, it could very well be at England's expense.

Pepe Reina (Spain)

Born: August 31, 1982 (age 31)

Caps/goals: 31

Profile: On-loan Reds stopper spent the past season at Napoli and finished third, but he will once more be the understudy to Iker Casillas while maintaining the squad's strong morale.

Expectation: With Holland and Chile in Spain's first two games, qualification may not be fully assured so an appearance against Australia isn't guaranteed. But the current holders have the ability to retain the trophy, with semi-finals the minimum expectation.

Mamadou Sakho (France)

Born: February 13, 1990 in Paris (age 24)

Caps/goals: 18/2

Profile: Sakho became a national hero with his two goals at home to Ukraine to help France qualify for the finals. Now appears to have cemented his place in central defence alongside Laurent Koscielny, despite the emergence of Raphael Varane.

Expectation: Sakho should play every minute of the tournament and will more than capable of keeping out Ecuador and Honduras in order to qualify with Switzerland. Could surprise a few people and make the final four.

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