World Cup Predictions & Picks – Group G

Ranked number two overall just behind Spain to win it all, Brazil are this group’s rank favorites. The Samba Kings have qualified for 19 consecutive World Cups and have the most tournament titles with five. Anything less than bringing home number six, would be a complete failure. South Africa is familiar ground to the Brazilians, especially after having already experienced success on the same soil last summer, winning the Confederations Cup final against the United States. Head coach Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri, better known as Dunga, played for Brazil side in three editions of the global showpiece, but this will be Dunga’s first coaching role in the World Cup. Many fans and media attacked his lack of experience, but after victories in the 2007 Copa America and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, along with an impressive qualifying run to South Africa, many of the critics have been silenced. A lot of the recent media attention has also been on the absences of Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato from the 23-man roster. Although no one expected Pato to be in, a few held out hope for Ronaldinho. But as his form dipped so he did his chances of making the side. After the excess of the stars undermined Brazil’s Germany 2006 campaign, Dunga took over with the following philosophy – big names might win matches, but groups win titles. So far it has worked well. Maybe it’s due to the fact that the Brazilians are still stacked at every position and have a ton of extraordinary talent, starting with Real Madrid superstar Kaka and the deadly striking duo of Luis Fabiano and Robinho. Providing steady hands in between the pipes should Brazil’s tireless defense shut off for a second, will be Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Brazil finished their qualifying campaign on top of their group, after recording nine wins, seven draws and two defeats.

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After making it to the finals at UEFA EURO 2004 and then reaching the semifinals against France at Germany 2006, Portugal have qualified for its fifth World Cup appearance. Selecao das Quinas has put on many displays of fantastic football, but are yet to win a major tournament. The side is led by Mozambican-born Carlos Queiroz, who has served as an assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, as well as a short stint as head coach of Real Madrid. He first coached Selecao das Quinas from 1991 to 1993, but after a disappointing period during which he failed to lead them to either EURO 1992 or the 1994 FIFA World Cup, he was sacked. Now he will get his chance to win back the hearts and minds of the Portuguese fans with a magical run to this year’s finals. He will have plenty of weapons starting with Real Madrid star–skipper Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2008 FIFA World Player, who is hated by rival fans and loved at home, will no doubt rise to the occasion at South Africa 2010. He will be aided by midfield stars Deco, Simao and Pepe, along with defensive talisman Ricardo Carvalho, and Paulo Ferreira of Chelsea Fame. With one win from their first five group qualifying matches the side found themselves in early jeopardy of missing out on the 2010 finals, but turned things around scoring eight goals without reply in their last four group qualifiers to earn a playoff with the dangerous Bosnians. Portugal made short work of the Balkan nation winning both at home and away to clinch a comfortable 2-0 aggregate victory over both legs and easily finished second overall to Denmark in group play of European qualifying.

The group battle will come down to two sides, someone and the Ivory Coast. Côte d’Ivoire appears plenty capable of a deep run, and may have the best chance for an African team to win the World Cup. But they sure didn’t get a lot of luck in the draw, being drawn into the ‘Group of Death’ alongside Brazil and Portugal. Then the luck seemed to shift in their favor, facing a Portugal side that appears to be struggling a bit heading into this year’s competition in their first match. But that luck ran out again when striker Didier Drogba, went down with a broken arm during a collision with defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka in a friendly against Japan just one week before the start of the tournament. The injury may have broken the back of the continent’s best chance of winning the tournament, let alone getting out of the group stage. But even with the tough draw, the injuries and some coaching turmoil, the squad is still one not to be overlooked.
Current head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was given the helm just months before the start of this year’s finals, and he has done an excellent job getting the squad into top form. The side has a pile of world-class international talent throughout the starting XI. Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou, who will need to slip into the injured Drogba’s starting role, has received plenty of criticism but is still a potent striker. Other European stars include midfielder Yaya Toure of Arsenal and Sevilla’s Didier Zokora. They have more than 120 caps between them, and should be able to make up for their missing mate. The Côte d’Ivoire cruised through qualifying without losing a single match, and will know have a shot at proving they can win at the highest level of football.

North Korea is making its first World Cup appearance since making it to the last eight back in 1966. The squad did not return the international stage until 1999 and failed to qualify for the 2006 tournament. After spending nearly 30 years off the world stage, the Fightin’ IL’s have seen a recent rival, coming close to qualifying for Germany 2006 before successfully navigating the road to South Africa. While coach Kim Jong-Hun enjoyed great success during the qualifying rounds, he must have been disappointed to see his team drawn into the same group as Brazil, Portugal and the Ivory Coast. The 53-year old guided the side back to the world stage and will now be expected to take his squad to the pinnacle of world football. Given his squad largely consists of domestic-based players lacking in international experience, he will have to rely on a strong defensive approach to keep the team within striking distance of low scoring matches. The side’s most notable international is Jong Tae-Se, a striker plying his trade in Japan. Aiding him will be 27-year-old captain Hong Yong-Jo from Russia’s FC Rostov fame. The two will form a solid attacking force for the Fightin’ IL’s. Rounding out the notables are Korean-based midfielder Mun In-Guk who makes the team tick, while keeper Ri Myong-Guk’s safe hands and agility can be relied upon between the sticks. Korea DPR seemingly came from nowhere to storm into the Asian Zone’s final round of qualifying, where they defied sizeable odds to take one of the continent’s four automatic spots at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

As always the Brazilians will be one of the overall favorites, living up to the common quip about football –”The English invented it, the Brazilians perfected it.” The Samba Kings are a remarkable 20-1-3 in Cup play. They should easily walk away with top honors in the group with Portugal being their stiffest competition The Portuguese will have to use all of their experience and expertise to get out of a difficult Group G, with their opening match with Ivory Coast being the most critical. They should have enough to get by North Korea, but will most likely fall to Brazil. Many have seemingly jumped off the Ivory Coast bandwagon after the loss of star striker Didier Drogba, but what fans don’t seem to remember is that the Elephants have more weapons in their arsenal with which to obtain wins. With Portugal’s roster looking a bit shaky, the Ivory Coast definitely still have an outside chance of reaching the knockout stage. Finally, the only thing North Koreans’ can hope for — is doing better than South Korea.

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