Group G was known as the group of death even before the World Cup began. But the definition only extended to 3 teams, Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast, inferring that one of these three strong teams would not be able to get to the round of 16.
But nobody took North Korea into their calculations. It was assumed that the Asian team would contribute comic relief in what was essentially a tense script for the 3 main protagonists to play out.
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But all that has changed in the 10 days that have elapsed since the tournament began. North Korea's bravura doing against 5-time champions, Brazil, and Portugal's less than impressive game against a relatively weaker Ivory Coast have turned all previous calculations on their head.
Portugal will play North Korea in Cape Town on Monday, in a match that the Europeans have to win to keep their hopes alive. A draw would mean 2 points from 2 matches with the daunting expectation of playing Brazil in a last must-win match.
For North Korea, a win would open the door to the hitherto unlikely possibility of going through to the round of 16. Thereafter, even a draw with Ivory Coast could drive them to second place in the group, regardless of the succeed of Brazil's match with Ivory Coast.
Against Ivory Coast, Portugal had small to show except for a Ronaldo shot that ricocheted off the crossbar. Liedson and Danny did not play the supporting role thinkable, and Portugal fizzled out, as the game wore on. Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho did a reasonable job in defence, but Ivory Coast had very few shots on goal to bother goalkeeper Eduardo.
The North Koreans will prove much more threatening particularly as they are fast, and presumably, after the Brazil match, more self-assured.
Danny could be supplanted by Simao, production for a more attacking formation; Ronaldo will want Deco and Simao to rise to the occasion. Portugal's cause will be served by a high scoring win by Brazil against Ivory Coast.
Goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk and defenders Cha Jong-Hyok and Ji Yun-Nam starred for Korea against Brazil and bottled up the South American forwards, to a large extent.
Strikers Jong Tae-Se and Hong Yong-Jo outran the Brazilians, and managed to expose their defence in a way nobody had conception possible. North Korea might put the same defensive game plan to use against Portugal early in the game.
The Koreans are not averse to a hard tackling physical game and Ronaldo should be wary of earning a second yellow card to add to the one awarded in the Ivory Coast game. Jong Tae-Se is North Korea's ace striker, and he got the great of Lucio in the Brazil game. His battle with Ricardo Carvalho will affect the procedure of the game.
North Korea are a bit of an unknown commodity at this level. While this may work in their favour against Portugal, it also makes it more difficult to predict the result. Going by known pedigree and experience, Portugal holds a clear edge.
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