iSport World Cup Squad : Group G Toughest Of The Lot

The most awaited sports extravaganza of the year - the 2010 FIFA World Cup - is set off to kick in just over 96 hours with hosts South Africa playing Mexico in the first match of the tournament. The 32 participating countries have been divided into eight groups, each consisting of four teams. Read on to know why iSporter Akshay Iyer believes that Group G is the toughest of the lot.

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While most of the groups have clear favourites who are likely to advance to the Round of 16 in the lead-up to the World Cup, there is the perennial 'Group of Death', which is likely to be the cynosure of attention in the first round. In my opinion, Group G comprising Brazil, Portugal, Cote d'Ivoire and Korea DPR is by far the toughest of the eight groups. The flair and passion of the Brazilians, the pride of the Cote d'Ivoire players and the sheer talent of the Portugese are bound to ensure that if there is one group whose league matches are going to be closely followed it is the Group G matches.

Korea DPR isn't expected to cause too many problems to the other three teams, and while the North Koreans did well to qualify for their second World Cup finals appearance, they are in South Africa to mainly make up the numbers. That said, they could spring a surprise, but it seems unlikely that Korea DPR would be able to repeat or better their feat of a quarter-finals appearance at the 1966 World Cup.

Brazil, the most successful national football team in the history of the World Cup, with five titles to their credit (the last of which came in 2002), are the favourites to top the group. Brazil is currently ranked first in the FIFA rankings, and also has the distinction of being the only team to have played in all the World Cups. Brazil will also be looking to make up for their disappointing performance at the 2006 World Cup where they lost 0-1 to eventual runners-up France. Brazil had a good trial run for the 2010 World Cup by winning the 2009 Confederations Cup. The Brazilians were down 0-2 in the final against USA, but bounced back to win 3-2 and lift the Confederations Cup title.

The Brazilian squad for the 2010 World Cup has no place for stars like Ronaldo, Alexander Pato and Ronaldinho, but in Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Julio Baptista, Robinho and Grafite, the five-time world champions can give their opponents nightmares in the forward lines. Brazil also has a solid defence line in captain Lucio, Maicon, Daniel Alves and Thiago Silva; and the presence of Julio Cesar between the goal posts would be an intimidating sight for opposition forwards. Julio Cesar has had an excellent season with Champions League winners Inter Milan and is considered to be the top goalkeeper currently by many experts. Brazil has got match-winners in most positions and it will take a moment of genius from their opponents to get the better of Dunga's men.

Cote d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast failed to progress beyond the group stage in their maiden World Cup appearance (2006 World Cup in Germany), where they lost to Argentina and the Netherlands and beat Serbia and Montenegro. Cote d'Ivoire qualified directly for the 2010 World Cup finals after topping their group with 16 points from six matches in the African qualifiers. All the 23 players named in Cote d'Ivoire's squad for the World Cup play club football in Europe, and this makes them a force to be reckoned with.

Though their captain Didier Drogba is now a doubtful starter for the 2010 World Cup after undergoing surgery on a broken arm he sustained in a warm-up match against Japan last week, he hasn't been ruled out of the tournament just yet. Drogba is not only Cote d'Ivoire's captain, but he is also the leader of his country's forward line and he is coming off a terrific season for EPL champions Chelsea. If Drogba is forced to miss a part of or the whole tournament, Cote d'Ivoire still has a strong forward line in Chelsea's Salomon Kalou and Portsmouth's Aruna Dindane. In the midfield, the likes of Yaya Toure, Didier Zokora and Romaric will be a handful, while the defence line with players of the calibre of Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Guy Demel has the ability to quash any forward moves by the opposition.

Portugal, who finished fourth in the 2006 World Cup, round off Group G. The Portugese didn't have the best of times in the qualifying stages and managed to scrape through to the second round play-offs of the European qualification after finishing runners-up to Denmark in Group 1 of the qualification games. Portugal was seeded first in the second round play-offs of the UEFA World Cup qualification and defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-0 in the first leg, in Lisbon; and 1-0, in Zenica) to seal a berth in the 2010 World Cup. In Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugese have a captain who is undoubtedly among the best players in the world at the moment. Portugal also has experienced campaigners up front with Nani and Hugo Almeida as well as in the mid-field with the likes of Deco, Tiago, Simao and Raul Meireles. The defence line of Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho and Bruno Alves and first-choice goalie Eduardo can hold their own against the most attacking forward lines in world football.

Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire and Portugal can go in with any combination and still have impressive bench strength to dictate terms should the need arise. I expect Brazil to top the group and Korea DPR to bring up the rear end. I would pick Portugal as the second team to advance, though the expected absence of Drogba could motivate the Cote d'Ivoire players to pull out all the stops in South Africa. The stage is set and let's get ready for some exciting football action!