Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Players to Watch:
Kaka (Brazil)
Kim Jong-il, yes that Kim Jong-Il (North Korea)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Match to Watch:
Ivory Coast vs. Portugal
June 15, 10:00 A.M. (ESPN)
Predictions:
Ivory Coast vs. Portugal
June 15, 10:00 A.M. EDT (ESPN)
Three words: Group. Of. Death. It's a shame Portugal won't be getting out of this group, seeing as they're such gracious losers. Their fall will start with the game against the favorite sons of Africa, the Ivory Coast. While they may even take an early lead, Ronaldo's tendency to go AWOL when playing a team any more difficult than the St. Ignatius JV squad means that they will lack the spark and class needed to get out of this game with points and eventually out of this group.
Result: CIV 2 - 1 POR
Brazil vs. North Korea
June 15, 2:30 P.M. EDT (ESPN)
The last time North Korea saw action in the World Cup was 1966. During their trip to England, they made a run to the quarter finals, beating Italy and tying Chile along the way before losing to Portugal in a dramatic 5-3 match. While many people are quick to draw parallels between 1966 and 2010 - little is still known about or expected from this year's North Korean sqaud - they will not be able to make much of this group. Brazil will run them ragged.
Result: BRA 4 - 0 PRK
Brazil vs. Ivory Coast
June 20, 2:30 P.M. EDT (ABC)
This match has all the potential for being an incredible, classic group stage match. Both teams are the pride of their confederations and both play brazenly unapologetic attacking football. Expect goals but expect Brazil's experience to shine through.
Result: BRA 3 - 2 CIV
Portugal vs. North Korea
June 21, 7:30 A.M. EDT (ESPN)
The wheels will come off the Portugal party wagon during this match. Their tempermental attitude combined with their crippling inconsistencies will bring out the worst in the team as they face an opponent unlike any other they have met in the past 40 years. North Korea's compact defense will frustrate a Portugal side which will feel entitled to crush the groups least favorite team to advance. A goalless train wreck will result.
Result: POR 0 - 0 PRK
North Korea vs. Ivory Coast
June 25, 10 A.M. EDT (ESPN 2)
No matter what little consolation the North Koreans will take away from their point against Portugal, the reality will set in. They may have poured water into an already sinking Portugal boat, but King Makers this team ain't. The Ivory Coast will take the points in hopes of edging Brazil out of the top spot on goal differential.
Result: PRK 0 - 2 CIV
Portugal vs. Brazil
June 25, 10 A.M. EDT (ESPN)
Say what you want about Portugal, but they will certainly make the drama in this group compelling - and this group will have drama galore. When explaining why Brazil will win this game, I return to the fact that Portugal's focus point, the incredibly gifted Cristiano Ronaldo, simply does not deliver the goods (or often even the goals) during big games for either club or country. This becomes an systemic problem when the team is built around his skill ... which, with a once in a generation player like Ronaldo, it always is. Brazil may not win this World Cup (no Confederations Cup champion has ever won the World Cup the next year), they will win this match and make it a perfect 3-0 in group stage games.
Result: POR 1 - 2 BRA
Final standings:
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