2010 FIFA World Cup: Group G Preview

This is being promoted as the Group of Death, but it is not. That title belongs to Group D, where all four teams are capable of advancing. Group G has three contenders and North Korea, who can't even fill out a roster correctly.

Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal can all make a deep run into the knockout round, but only two of them will advance and it will make for an entertaining group stage. But please do not declare this as the Group of Death.

Team Previews:

North Korea

Let's start with the team most likely not to earn a point in South Africa. This team can't even fill the roster out correctly. The top forward for North Korea, Kim Myong-Won, was named as a goalkeeper on the roster.

So now without their top scorer, it will be even more impossible for the North Koreans to score a goal.

Players To Watch:

Kim Myong-Won: He'll be watching the games from the bench and viewers at home will watch the cameras turn to Kim whenever North Korea misses a goal opportunity.

Jong Tae-Se: He has been given the nickname, "The Asian Wayne Rooney," so with that tag alone we should see if he plays anything like Rooney in South Africa.

Schedule: June 15 vs. Brazil, June 21 vs. Portugal, June 25 vs. Ivory Coast

Portugal

The Portuguese were struck a blow when Nani was ruled out of the World Cup due to injury a few days ago.

Just like the other major contenders that lost stars to injuries, Carlos Queiroz's squad has the depth to recover from the loss, the question is who steps up on the opposite side of Cristiano Ronaldo in the midfield.

Players To Watch:

Cristiano Ronaldo: Ronaldo is set to prove why he is the top player in the world. He failed to show why at the 2008 Euros and with the world watching again, Ronaldo needs to show why he is number one.

Pepe: Ronaldo's Real Madrid teammate has gotten a lot of attention around his fitness and should be ready to go. Pepe is one of a group of Brazilian-born players on the Portugal squad and it will be interesting to see how that match plays out.

Deco: The Chelsea midfielder had a lackluster campaign for the London club this season. Another of the Brazilian-born crop of players, he will be counted on to step up and be more of a threat than he was for Chelsea.

Schedule: June 15 vs. Ivory Coast, June 21 vs. North Korea, June 25 vs. Brazil

Ivory Coast

Before Didier Drogba's freak injury, the Ivory Coast was the favorite of the African nations to go far in the World Cup. Now, the attention has faded a little bit and that might be a good thing for Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad.

Players To Watch:

Salomon Kalou: Whether or not Drogba comes back, he will not be at 100 percent, so his Chelsea teammate will have to step up to the plate and do the bulk of the scoring for the Elephants.

Boubacar Barry: The Ivory Coast is known for its stars in the field, but in goal they need a strong performance, especially if they want to advance far in the tournament. Barry is the number one keeper and will have to big in the clutch.

Kolo and Yaya Toure: The Brothers Toure have been around club and international football for a long time and their experience will be key in South Africa. Kolo in defense and Yaya in midfield will be the leaders on the pitch with or without the captain Drogba.

Schedule: June 15 vs. Portugal, June 20 vs. Brazil, June 25 vs. North Korea

Brazil

Dunga has brought a defensive style of play to the Brazilian team and it has worked. With all the big names that the Brazilians have, of course a couple had to be left off the roster and Ronaldinho and Alexander Pato were the unlucky ones.

That being said, Dunga still has Luis Fabiano, Nilmar, Robinho and Grafite as his forwards and all are fully capable of scoring goals, so don't feel too bad for the Brazilians.

Players To Watch:

Luis Fabiano: The Sevilla forward is poised to make one of the biggest transfers in club football after the World Cup is over. A strong goal scoring performance will only help him earn big bucks this summer.

Michel Bastos: Bastos may not start in South Africa but he could be a super sub. Bastos had an extremely successful season with Lyon and will prove his worth on the international stage with quality time off the bench.

Elano: The midfielder dropped off a lot of people's radar when he left Manchester City for Galatasaray this season, but he is still a highly skilled player and could see a return to a major European club with a solid performance.

Schedule: June 15 vs. North Korea, June 20 vs. Ivory Coast, June 25 vs. Portugal

Group Prediction:

North Korea will be the punching bag of this group, so whoever slips up and takes only one point against North Korea will face a major setback. Brazil has to be the clear favorite with Portugal and Ivory Coast fighting for second, but this is the World Cup and you never know what will happen with three strong teams in one group.

Prediction: Brazil (first), Portugal (second)