Phil Lythell
Sport News 24/7Brazil top the bill in nightmare group
By Phil Lythell, on 9th December 2009, 17:41 UTC
The term 'Group of Death' always sounds as if it should be the title of a particularly dire Steven Seagal movie but instead is attributed on a quadrennial basis to an individual FIFA World Cup group. 2002 saw England draw Argentina, Sweden and Nigeria - with the South Americans exiting the tournament - while the Albicelestes then found themselves alongide Ivory Coast, Holland and Serbia-Montenegro in 2006.
This time it is their arch rivals Brazil that find themselves in a pickle as they have been pitted against Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea. The five-time winners should still be relevantly confident of going through but must be cursing England and Italy's luck who arguably got the most plum draws of all the seeded teams. The grace of Kaka, the thrust of Maicon and the penetration of Luis Fabiano should see them safely through to the next round but they will need to maintain their concentration throughout.
Portugal will be even more disappointed. After a troubled qualifying campaign that only just saw them overhaul Sweden to claim second place they were then drawn against the free-scoring Bosnia-Herzogovina in their playoff. They squeaked through with a 2-0 aggregate win but will have to improve massively if they are to make an impact on the tournament. Able to call on the sublime skills of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and an experienced back four, they will need big performances from them all to guarantee their place in the next round.
Ivory Coast must have spent the last four years routinely trashing every mirror they have come across as they find themselves in a horrible group for the second tournament in succession. Chelsea's Didier Drogba will need to be fresh and firing for them to have any hope of progressing but if he is then he might just be a contender for the Golden Boot. The Toure brothers and Didier Zokora will be names familiar to most but they do have a talented squad. They will definitely need it.
North Korea have made it to their first finals since 1966 where they famously dumped Italy out of the competition before being eliminated by Portugal in the quarter-finals by a 5-3 scoreline despite taking a 3-0 lead. There is no chance of them recreating this adventure - and you can quote me on that - but just being there will hopefully bring a bit of joy to a people that have lived under a brutally oppresive regime for more than half a century.
Prediction: Brazil to top the group with Ivory Coast bringing tears to Ronaldo's eyes.
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