World Cup Group G Preview

And now we've arrived at the infamous Group of Death. The loaded group includes a tournament favorite (Brazil), a team with one of the top couple players in the world (Portugal), a talented African team (Ivory Coast) and a team no one knows anything about, perhaps even themselves (North Korea). This group features two FIFA World Players of the Year, the winningest team in World Cup history, a 2006 semifinalist and two English Premier League scoring champs. I guess to be the best, you might as well have to beat the best.


Brazil
This is not the same Brazilian team you're used to, and it's driving Brazilian fans nuts. No Ronaldinho. No Ronaldo. Still some flair, but nothing like what we're used to. Instead, this is a balanced team that relies as much on a tough defense as it does a beautiful, explosive offense. And the fans hate it. In some sense, Brazilians would rather lose and look good than win and look like a normal soccer team. But, if it wins it all, then maybe they'll change their minds. And make no mistake, Brazil can win it all. The Brazilians won the Confederations Cup and breazed through qualifying, but the Olympic team struggled. In 2009, though, Brazil played eight games against teams ranked 16th or higher in the current FIFA rankings, and went 8-0. So, don't worry too much about Brazil. Somehow, my guess is it will be OK.
Coach: Dunga. The captain of Brazil's 1994 title team took over after his country tanked in the quarterfinals of the 2006 tournament. A tough defensive midfielder as a player, he's implemented a tough, defensive mindset to go along with the usual creative offense, and it's clearly worked. And while fans aren't sure what to make of it, if Brazil wins the title, who cares?
Players to Watch
Kaka: In 2006, Kaka was called upon to play a more defensive role, leaving people wondering about the hype surrounding him. In 2007, he was the FIFA World Player of the Year. So, yeah, he's good. While he's not as flashy as some of the great Brazilians in the past, he's every bit the guy the offense goes through. The real issue is if he gets hurt, because there isn't anyone nearly at the Real Madrid star's level to take on his role.
Maicon: One of the best defenders in the world, Maicon is not afraid to come forward and attack, and is one of the team's top free kick takers. He's one of three members of the back line who play at Inter Milan.
Dani Alves: He may not start, but he'll play. A talented wing defender who makes a lot of runs forward, he's a threat every time he's on the field.
Gilberto Silva: He's like Dunga Jr. Silva is a tough defensive midfielder who is physical and slows down opposing offenses. Not especially fun to watch, but a winner who plays club ball in Greece.
Luis Fabiano: The top striker on the team, he led the team in scoring in qualifiers with nine, and scored five times in the Confederations Cup. In 36 matches with Brazil, he's scored 25 times. He also scores regularly for Sevilla in Spain, and it won't come as a surprise if he wins the Golden Boot.
Julio Cesar: An athletic, aggressive keeper, he absolutely dominated in qualifying. After leading Inter Milan to the Champions League title, he's now considered one of the world's best.
Robinho: There was a time when Robinho was considered the next big thing in Brazilian soccer. Now, he's a guy who just barely made the roster after failing at Manchester City and heading back to the Brazilian league just to get playing time. He may not factor at all in South Africa.
Nilmar: Seven years ago he made his debut at age 19, and then disappeared into a haze of injuries. Then he came back in September and scored three goals in qualifying against Chile with most of his fellow attacking players sidelined. Now he could be a key sub after really coming on in Spain for Villarreal.


Ivory Coast
Seems like this has been an emerging team forever, but in reality, Ivory Coast made its World Cup debut in 2006, where it didn't make it out of group play. The Elephants continued to progress though, cruising through qualifying and entering the African Cup as favorites. But they fell apart in the quarterfinals, raising more questions. Is this team as good as we all think it is? Ivory Coast is loaded with top-level European players and a high-profile coach, but also enormous pressure from the home continent. It doesn't help that things seem to be conspiring against it. First, for the second-straight World Cup, it was placed in the Group of Death. Then, superstar striker Didier Drogba - one of the world's top few players - broke his arm in a friendly against Japan and even if he's able to play, he won't be the same player. So clearly there's a lot going for Ivory Coast, and plenty working against it. In a few days, we'll see which side wins out.
Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson. Eriksson is best known for having led England to the last two World Cups. He then took over Mexico and was run out of the country after nearly causing El Tri to fail to qualify. He then got this gig in March and will be asked to put a product out there that lives up to the potential everyone knows it has. He's got the experience to do it.
Players to Watch
Didier Drogba: He may well be the greatest African player ever. He's certainly the face of this World Cup, even after breaking his arm. He has 44 goals in 67 games for Ivory Coast, including six in qualifying, and is nearly impossible to defend without several players surrounding him. Fast, big, strong, he's been ridiculously good at Chelsea and along with Lionel Messi is probably the most popular player in the tournament. Here's hoping that he's healthy enough to give us a glimpse of what he can do.
Kolo Toure: He's the best of a fairly weak defense for the Ivory Coast. He's been especially cold lately, both for his country and for Manchester City. With the talent in this group, he'll have to be at his best for Ivory Coast to have a chance.
Salomon Kalou: Teams very well with Drogba up front, no surprise given that they're teammates at Chelsea. A very fast attacker who comes in from the flanks, he'll try to open things up for Drogba.
Gervinho: A creative attacker who'll play opposite Kalou, he scored 13 goals for his French club this season and completes the dangerous Ivory Coast front line. His name makes him sound Brazilian, but he's all about the Coast.
Yaya Toure: One of the top midfielders in the world, he's big and strong and able to attack or drop back into defense. The Barcelona star controls the middle of the field and feeds his talented forwards.
Souleymane Bamba: Great name but pretty inexperienced, he'll team with the very-experienced Kolo Toure at center defense and try to hold off attack after attack.
Boubacar Barry: Maybe the biggest key - besides Drogba's health - to Ivory Coast's success. And he's not all that good, having struggled to even find playing time for his club in Belgium. Maybe his team will score so many goals, it won't matter.
Arthur Boka: Was the started at left back but hardly played for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga and may have been replaced in the lineup for his country.
Siaka Tiene: Probably the guy who will replace Boka on the back line, he plays in France.


North Korea
It's said that North Korea President Kim Jong-il is involved in the running of the team, and even provides advice at halftime. Kinda goofy. Besides that, not a lot is known about this team, as it rarely plays outside of Asia, doesn't have much media coverage, doesn't have many players who play outside North Korea and is considered a longshot. North Korea only qualified for one other World Cup, and that was in 1966, when it shocked Italy and advanced out of group play. This team barely qualified and has almost no offense, just defending like nuts and I guess hoping for an own goal to settle the difference. But in a group loaded with offense, maybe a extreme defensive team has a shot.
Coach: Kim Jong-hun. He's adored by the public just for getting the team to South Africa. Besides that, no one knows much about him. He almost never gives interviews and gives all the credit to Kim Jong-il (smart move). Apparently, he really believes in defense. It's believed that he does in fact exist, also.
Players to Watch
Jong Tae-se: I guess this guy is the team's best player. He's actually a South Korean citizen who was born in Japan, and he's known as the Asian Wayne Rooney. He scored twice in a recent draw with Greece, and he'll need to do that again for North Korea to have a shot.
Hong Young-jo: He's the captain and the only guy who doesn't play in Asia, he sees some time for a low-level Russian team. He's very devoted to North Korea and is said to not know what his salary is. He did score four times in qualifying, so there's that.
Ahn Young-hak: Another guy born in Japan, he's pretty experienced (relatively speaking), having played in Japan and South Korea. A good passer and probably a decent guy.
Kim Myong-won: OK, so get this, it's great. He's usually a forward or midfielder, but North Korea wanted to add another attacking player to the roster. So they listed him as a keeper. Ooops. Teams are required to list three keepers on the roster, and he's the third, which means he's not eligible to do anything except play keeper, which he doesn't play. Kind of a stupid rule, and kind of a stupid mistake.


Portugal
One of the most accomplished teams of the decade, having qualified for every World Cup and Euro Championship in the last 10 years. But that almost came to a crashing halt when Portugal nearly failed to qualify, winning just once in its first five games before pulling off six wins in its lats seven to get in. Of course, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo missed a lot of qualifying, but a team this talented should have been able to overcome that a bit easier. Ronaldo is back and fairly healthy and leads a team with outstanding attacking players and a strong backline. If it can survive this group, it could make some real noise in the knockout stage.
Coach: Carlos Queiroz. A very experienced coach but also very unpopular with players and fans because he's so defensive minded, and it didn't help that his team struggled so much in qualifying. In fact, it's a bit of a surprise he's still got a job. Was once the top assistant at Manchester United and two deades ago led Portugal to back-to-back World Youth Cups. If he can pull this team together, they could go a long way. If not, he's sure to be out of a job.
Players to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo: The 2008 World Player of the Year is considered among the top couple players in the world though his rep took a hit a bit when he struggled so much in qualifications. It helps that he's regarded as the best looking guy in the tournament. It's unclear where the attacking Real Madrid star will play but wherever he is, he's sure to make a big impact with his ability to score from anywhere.
Pepe: Traditionally a center defender, he was moved up to midfield and has played great, providing defensive presence and a bridge to the front line. But the Real Madrid player blew out his knee in December so he may not be healthy when the tournament kicks off.
Deco: The 32-year-old will retire from international play after the tournament but, while slow, he still runs the show in the middle for Portugal. Born in Brazil, he starred at Barcelona before moving on to Chelsea and he'll try to make one last run.
Nani: I call my grandmother Nanny, so I'll try not to get too confused. An attacking midfielder who scored three times in qualifying, he had a breakout season for Manchester United and could be a breakout star in South Africa.
Simao: Probably will come off the bench at one of the midfield wings after playing well for Atletico Madrid.
Liedson: Another Brazilian-born player, he's the top striker for this team as he's strong in the air and is moving non-stop and will try to be a big threat in South Africa. His name translates to "Son of Lied."
Raul Meireles: A defensive midfielder who teams well with Pepe to slow things down and provide a counter attack for Portugal's fast wings.
Ricardo Carvalho: A veteran defender who, at 32, is hoping to win his first major trophy for his country. He has had success at Chelsea.
Paolo Ferreira: Another veteran defender from Chelsea, he's trying to do pretty much the same thing Carvalho is doing.