| This is arguably the most exciting group of all. Brazil | | | | are hoping the Chelsea star will recover in time to play |
| need no introduction. They ae the South American | | | | at the World Cup, in South Africa. |
| kings of football. Five time winners Brazil are the most | | | | Then there is Portugal whose team has managed to |
| popular team with fans everywhere around the world. | | | | reach the last four of Germany 2006 and EURO |
| Portugal play a similar style of soccer as Brazil, and | | | | 2008. N. Korea are the weakest, though a fast |
| have semi-final entries in Euro 2008 and World Cup | | | | improving team, in the group. |
| 2006 to attest to their potential. | | | | Brazil's players won't lose much sleep over the |
| This time we have a new look Brazil under a new | | | | prospect of playing either Ivory Coast or N. Korea, |
| coach in Dunga. Dunga was a defender in the 1994 | | | | teams they haven't met before. Portugal is a different |
| cup winning team, and he has moulded the team in his | | | | story. In the solitary match the teams played in World |
| own defensive image, something that football fans in | | | | Cup 1966, the score card was 3-1, in Portugal's favour! |
| Brazil have not accepted willingly. | | | | But that was 44 years ago. |
| Brazil are known for their samba style of football, and | | | | Portugal have also beaten their famed rivals in a |
| it is not enough for them to win the cup; they must also | | | | couple of friendlies in the last few years, although Brazil |
| do it with their traditional style of play, if their fans are | | | | had the last laugh in 2008, handing out a 6-2 walloping. |
| to be satisfied, back home. That said, Dunga's team | | | | Portugal beat N.Korea in World Cup 1966, the only time |
| have been winning more often than not, and the coach | | | | these teams met. Ivory Coast have never played |
| is quite happy to grind out wins, regardless of how | | | | either of them. |
| they come. | | | | However, Nani's injury is a big blow for Portugal. Also, |
| Ivory Coast, arguably the strongest African | | | | Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't scored an international goal |
| representation at this tournament, have produced | | | | since 2008. |
| some exciting players who have starred for European | | | | My gut feeling is that this is the group that's going to |
| clubs. Chelsea's Drogba is perhaps the most eminent. | | | | give us an upset, or two! |
| Drogba's injury is the latest worry for his team who | | | | |