World Cup 2010 - Group G

Ivory Coast

Portugal

Brazil

DPR Korea

Group Strength
A tantalising battle between three teams, Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal, who love to exhibit the beautiful game. Any one of these teams will believe they can leave their mark on this competition. Brazil are perennial favourites while Ivory Coast are Africa’s best chance of success on home soil. Portugal, despite their recent problems, can also be viewed as a threat so long as Ronaldo is fit. North Korea pulled off a huge shock in 1966 when they beat Italy. Even gaining a single point from this group will be viewed as an even bigger shock.

Group Favourites
Brazil are probably considered the favourites based on history and experience at this level but there are no clear favourites to finish top of Group G. With players like Lucio, Julio Cesar, Kaka and Robinho, Brazil are understandably seen as the strongest team and for that fact alone they will be viewed as favourites. Recent form generally does not mean much coming into a World Cup tournament and neither Brazil nor Portugal have much form as of late, however, the Ivory Coast do not have enough class and experience to take advantage if the opportunity arises.

Battle for Second
The opening round of games could decide who qualifies alongside Brazil for the round of 16. Portugal face Ivory Coast on June 15th. This should make for an explosive start to the group but could possibly leave the final round of games as a damp squib. The winner of this game will accompany Brazil through to the second round. Didier Drogba, Yaya & Kolo Toure will be the leading Ivory Coast stars while Portugal will be calling on Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco and Pepe to get them through. A very tough match to call but I will trump for Portugal, despite the recent 0-0 draw against Cape Verde Islands, to qualify.

The Outsiders
North Korea are the underdogs in this group full of pedigree and star players. They could not have asked for a more difficult first game to kick-start their finals campaign than facing five time world champions Brazil, and things will only continue in a terrible vein from there. The threat that is probably coming from Kim Jong Il towards the team will make no difference as it is very possible that North Korea will finish bottom with no goals scored and a record number of goals conceded. Nobody will enjoy seeing that happen, and no doubt the people of North Korea won’t even know.

Going Forward
The runners-up for this group will face the winner of Group H, very likely to be Spain. If that is Portugal or Ivory Coast then it essentially means that they will have to face the number one and number two ranked nations in FIFA's current world ranking before a potential clash with Italy in the ¼ finals. Not necessarily the easiest of routes to World Cup glory. The group winner, however, will have a relatively straightforward second round match against Chile, Switzerland or Honduras before a potential ¼ final meeting with the Netherlands. No matter what, if a team from Group G goes on to win the tournament, which is a very real possibility, they will have done it the hardest way possible.






Fixtures
Ivory Coast – Portugal, June 15th, (15.00)
Brazil – North Korea, June 15th, (19.30)
Brazil – Ivory Coast, June 20th, (19.30)
Portugal – North Korea, June 21st, (12.30)
Portugal – Brazil, June 25th, (15.00)
North Korea – Ivory Coast, June 25th, (15.00)

Prediction
1st – Brazil
2nd – Portugal
3rd – Ivory Coast
4th – DPR Korea