Preview of Group G: two heavyweights vs two dark horses
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Considering their excellent form in 2009, as well as a fourth-place finish in Germany in 2006, Portugal will be aiming to win it all in South Africa. Their clash with Brazil will be one of the most eagerly-awaited contests of the group stages.
With their superb record of being the only country to contest every FIFA World Cup, being five-time winners, twice runners-up, Brazil will rightly be regarded as one of the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy in South Africa.
While the current team might not play the free-flowing football for which Brazil is traditionally renowned, they have the individual quality and the team ethic under coach Dunga who himself was a former World Cup winning captain in 1994.
The Brazilians have one of the world's leading playmakers Kaka, while strikers Luis Fabiano and Robinho are proven finishers at international level. If their opponents score one, Brazil have the ability to put five past them. Goalkeeper Julio Cesar anchors a stingy defense, with experienced defender Lucio patrolling the ground in front of him.
For Brazil, 2009 was a busy, but successful year. They lifted the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, winning every single match on their way to the title. They also won 14 of the 17 matches they played, lost only one and drew two others.
Under coach Dunga, a defensive midfielder in his day, Brazil came around slowly, but he now has them playing with confidence in his way. They will be tough to beat in South Africa.
A jinx reads: No team had won the Confederations Cup and won the World Cup the following year. However, this gives Brazil another opportunity to make more soccer history. Their group opener against DPR Korea will be another eye-catching game as the latter is still little known by the world.
DPR Korea qualified for the World Cup once previously, in 1966, and they shocked the world then by beating Italy 1-0 to win through to the quarterfinals. There, they took a 3-0 lead over a very strong Portuguese team, before exiting 5-3.
DPR Korea did very well to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals, showcasing strong defense. In 16 qualifying games, they had eight wins, two losses and six ties including two 0-0s with South Korea. Coach Kim Jong-hun managed to build a tight defensive system (sometimes even deploying a five-man back line), and their scoring relies on counterattacking at speed.
Their greatest strength is the lack of knowledge about them. A strong mental strength combined with remarkable stamina makes DPR Korea a tough team to break down. But their scoring is a weakness.
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