World Cup: Group G Preview

Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Ahh, the Group of Death. Every World Cup has one, and this one has the look of a classic. Boasting two of FIFA’s top three ranked teams alongside Africa’s best—not to mention a complete unknown quantity in North Korea—this group appeals hugely to the neutral fan. Brazil are favored to top the group, but let’s not forget that whoever finishes second here will likely earn a date with Spain, so chances are the entire pack are eyeing that top spot. Expect some emotional, energetic stuff played by some of the best players in world football today.

FIFA Ranking: 1

Coach: Dunga (Brazil)

World Cup Appearances: 18 (Best finish: Winners – 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)

Intro: Brazil are the perennial World Cup favorite, and after disappointment in Germany four years ago, the Selecao is particularly hungry this year. Much has been said about a shift in style from their free-flowing joga bonito to a stiffer, more organized—and let’s just say, European—style of play. And that’s not a bad thing. Dunga’s side is conceding fewer goals but still has offensive flair in bucket loads, courtesy of Kaká, Luis Fabiano, Robinho, et al. Brazil are the only team to have won the World Cup on every continent it’s been held so far. They’ll want to add Africa to their collection this summer.

WATCH:BRAZIL: TEAM PROFILE

WATCH:BRAZIL: ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP

BUY: BRAZIL JERSEY

Star Power: Kaká [WATCH: PLAYER PROFILE] continues to pull the strings as the creative engine of the midfield. He’s also a team leader of sorts, bringing a sober, evangelic element to a traditionally “playful” squad. Inter fullback Maicon is undoubtedly the best player in that position in the world right now. The scoring burden falls to Luis Fabiano, whose speed, creativity and technical ability helped him finish as leading scorer in last year’s Confederation’s Cup.

MLS Connection: Though left off the World Cup squad following a poor season with Juventus, midfielder Diego recently expressed a desire to play in MLS. “I love America... the MLS has some good players and a league that is growing,” he said.

FIFA Ranking: 105

Coach: Kim Jong-Hun (North Korea)

World Cup Appearances: 2 (Best finish: Quarterfinals – 1966)

Intro: Little is known about North Korea as a country, and perhaps even less is known about its national team. Only three squad members play professionally outside of the cagey communist country: forward Jong Tae-Se and midfielder An Yong-Hak, who both play in Japan, and Hong Young-Jo, who plays in Russia. What is known, though, is that North Korea are capable of some steely defending. The Chollima conceded just seven goals in 16 qualifying matches, when they often played with five defenders. If they have any success in South Africa, it will come from the counterattack, but you can’t help but fear that this team is going to suffer some heavy defeats.

WATCH: NORTH KOREA: TEAM PROFILE

WATCH:NORTH KOREA: ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP

Star Power: Goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk is known for his outrageous and acrobatic saves, which he’ll need to produce in this group. A proven goalscorer at both club and international level, Japanese-born Jong Tae-Se [WATCH: PLAYER PROFILE] is fondly known throughout the J-League as “the Asian Wayne Rooney.” The transition from back to front goes through speedy midfielder An Yong-Huk.

FIFA Ranking: 27

Coach: Sven-Göran Eriksson (Sweden)

World Cup Appearances: 1 (Best finish: 2nd Round – 2006)

Intro: The Ivory Coast remain Africa’s great hope for a world champion—it’s just too bad they were thrown into the Group of Death. That said, they suffered the same misfortune in 2006 when they shared a group with the Netherlands and Argentina, and they still found a way into the knockout round. The Elephants are all about attacking, and boasting some of the top offensive players in world football, including Didier Drogba, who rejoined the squad despite breaking his arm recently. The appointment of the cool-headed Eriksson could, at the very worst, stifle that famed attack—or at the best, inject some much-needed organization and stability.

WATCH: IVORY COAST: TEAM PROFILE

WATCH:IVORY COAST: ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP

BUY: IVORY COAST JERSEY

Star Power:Didier Drogba [WATCH: PLAYER PROFILE], if fit, is one the top three forwards in Europe, if not the world. Boasting speed, craft and fearlessness, Drogba’s Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou, plays the wing with an eye to going forward relentlessly. Anchoring the middle is Barcelona’s versatile holding midfielder Yaya Toure, who is at the top of his field defensively but can also provide an offensive threat.

MLS Connection: Sven-Göran Eriksson’s longtime right-hand man was New York Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe. The duo most recently worked together at Manchester City, the Mexican national team and Notts County.

FIFA Ranking: 3

Coach: Carlos Quieroz (Portugal)

World Cup Appearances: 4 (Best finish: 3rd place – 1966)

Intro: Portugal scraped into the tournament by winning a playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina following an underwhelming qualification campaign. Though they boast the world’s most expensive player in Cristiano Ronaldo, they tend to gel better without him and seem more balanced. When Ronaldo is off his game—which, on the international stage, is surprisingly often—they lean heavily on their veteran core of Ricardo Carvalho, Paolo Ferreira and Deco. Unfortunately, Portugal will have to do without key contributor Nani, who will be out of the Cup with a shoulder injury. Expect the Seleccao das Quinas to continue in South Africa doing what they do best: Utilizing a stubborn defense and moving forward via a lightning-quick counterattack.

WATCH: PORTUGAL: TEAM PROFILE

WATCH:PORTUGAL: ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP

BUY: PORTUGAL JERSEY

Star Power:Cristiano Ronaldo[WATCH: PLAYER PROFILE] may be inconsistent, but given the opportunity, he can score from anywhere. You can bet good money that he’s got a handle on that infamous adidas ball, too. Playing in what is likely his last World Cup, midfield general Deco will want to end his international career on a high note, especially following a middling season with Chelsea. Also at the tail end of his career is Deco's Chelsea teammate Ricardo Carvalho, who is rated as one of the best center backs in the game and a key element in Portugal's counterattack game.

MLS Connection: Head coach Carlos Quieroz spent the 1996 MLS season at the helm of the NY/NJ MetroStars before stints as Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United.

Group Dynamics: What’s fascinating about this group is there are four major soccer playing styles represented: Ivory Coast’s all-out power attack, Portugal’s defend-and-counter approach, Brazil’s flair-through-the-flanks and North Korea’s … well, who knows—defending in numbers? Whichever teams progress from the group will be a testament to their playing philosophy.

The group is bookended by classic matchups. The first match could see a likely battle for second place when the Ivory Coast face Portugal, while the final match, Portugal vs. Brazil, could decide the group winners.

Don’t Miss This Match: Portugal vs. Brazil, 6/25, 10 am ET

This match not only promises some top-notch soccer (Ronaldo vs. Kaká, anyone?), but also the game comes late enough in the round-robin to be a potential tussle for first. Nobody wants to face Spain in the early knockout stages, making this not so much a must-win, but a prefer-to-win.

Full Schedule (all times ET)

June 15: Ivory Coast vs. Portugal (10 a.m.); Brazil vs. North Korea (12:30 p.m.)

June 20: Brazil vs. Ivory Coast (12:30 p.m.)

June 21: Portugal vs. North Korea (7:30 a.m.)

June 25: Portugal vs. Brazil (10 a.m.), North Korea vs. Ivory Coast (10 a.m.)

MLSsoccer.com Prediction

1. Brazil

2. Ivory Coast

3. Portugal

4. North Korea