FIFA World Cup Group G

Group G, the most eye-catching of the World Cup pools, will see three sides who could realistically be considered title contenders fighting it out for just two last-16 spots. Five-time winners Brazil lead the pack, closely followed by 2006 semi-finalists Portugal and the side widely regarded as the host continent's strongest, Ivory Coast. North Korea could be forgiven for just wanting to keep the score lines in single figures.

Brazil held the Jules Rimet trophy aloft most recently in 2002, two goals from striker Ronaldo seeing off Germany in the World Cup final in Yokohama. The time before that, in the USA in 1994, Dunga lifted the trophy as captain. In 2010, the former midfielder is back as coach of the national side, unsurprisingly among the favorites again. Looking at their squad, it's not hard to see why.

Inter Milan trio Julio Cesar, Maicon and Lucio should start at the back, while Spain-based Kaka and Luis Fabiano combine to lethal effect going forward. Fabiano is hot property in Europe, having scored nine goals as Brazil qualified for the World Cup and five more as they won the Confederations Cup a year ago. Kaka was judged the best player at that tournament, but has had an injury-hit season since his big-money move to Real Madrid. VfL Wolfsburg duo Josue and Grafite have made the cut, the latter chosen ahead of Adriano and Ronaldinho as an attacking option. Grafite is under no illusions about the task Brazil have ahead of them in just getting out of the group though. "It is a tough group, especially because of Portugal", the striker said. "The football there is like Brazilian football, the country has a lot of talent."

Opening game showdown

One of the players Grafite surely had in mind was Real Madrid forward, and most expensive footballer on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite failing to find the net in his seven appearances in qualifying, Ronaldo will carry the goal scoring burden in South Africa. Portugal limped through its qualifying campaign, eventually progressing via a play-off with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Coach Carlos Quieroz is widely unpopular in his homeland, where expectations are high after their 2006 showing. The fact that he's called upon Brazilian-born trio Pepe, Deco and Liedson should add further spice to what already promises to be a feisty colonial battle against Brazil on June 25 - the group stage finale.

Arguably the group's decisive game comes ten days earlier, when Portugal face Ivory Coast in Port Elizabeth. The Ivorians have a host of top European players, including the Toure brothers Kolo and Yaya, and, leading the way, African Footballer of the Year Didier Drogba. New coach Sven Goran Eriksson won't have had long to work with the players, but will be confident that the "Elephants," as they are nicknamed, can perform.

The draw has again made life difficult for the Ivory Coast, who failed to progress past Argentina and the Netherlands to the second round at their first World Cup in 2006. This year, if it can secure second spot in the group, it's very likely European champions Spain will be waiting in the last 16. "We have enough self-confidence and we know that we have nothing to lose," reassured Hamburg defender Guy Demel. "We have no pressure."

North Korea with a point to prove

Like the Ivory Coast, South Africa 2010 will be North Korea's second World Cup. Its first appearance came back in 1966 in England, where it shocked Italy 1-0 to reach the quarter finals. Once there, it met Portugal and went 3-0 up before four goals from Eusebio helped Portugal recover to win 5-3. Revenge in 2010, however, is an unlikely prospect. Coach Kim Jong-Hun has picked a squad containing just three players who play their club football abroad. Hong Yong-Jo, who plays for FC Rostov in Russia, will be relied upon to score the goals, but otherwise North Korea will probably just be celebrating its achievement in reaching the World Cup ahead of Iran and Saudi Arabia. Group G gives it little chance of a place in the second round.

Even with North Korea realistically just making up the numbers, three doesn't go into two. The battle between Brazil, Portugal and the Ivory Coast promises to be a fascinating one. This is the pick of the groups.

Author: Felix Hoffmann / tms
Editor: Matt Hermann