| Team BIO for This Match: | | | | explosive pace, sublime dribbling skills, and one of |
| Portugal : Group G | | | | the most-feared shots on the globe, Ronaldo is |
| Manager: Carlos Queiroz | | | | capable of tearing apart a defence on his own, |
| Star Player: Cristiano Ronaldo | | | | and he will have to reproduce some of his brilliant |
| World Cup Appearances: 5 | | | | performances at club level for Portugal if they are |
| WATCH NOW LIVE | | | | to stand a chance in South Africa. |
| WATCH NOW LIVE | | | | What they said |
| North Korea : Group G | | | | "The World Cup is short, not a lot of time to |
| Manager: Kim Jong-Hun | | | | make an impression. Portugal will need to get |
| Star Player: Jong Tae-Se | | | | together as a team quickly." – Portuguese |
| World Cup Appearances: 2 | | | | legend Eusebio is apprehensive yet hopeful ahead |
| Venue : Green Point Stadium | | | | of what he expects to be a great tournament. |
| Portugal Vs North Korea DPR Team Profile: | | | | What we think |
| Portugal :FIFA World Ranking: 3rd | | | | As a group the current generation does not quite |
| Seleccao das Quinas are a team in transition as | | | | compare to that of Luis Figo, Rui Costa et al but |
| coach Carlos Queiroz attempts to blend | | | | in Ronaldo, they possess arguably the finest |
| experience with youth, along with one Cristiano | | | | player on the planet. Would be disappointed not to |
| Ronaldo, to have a successful World Cup 2010. | | | | get to the last eight in South Africa. |
| Portugal managed to get into South Africa via a | | | | North Korea :FIFA World Ranking: 105th |
| play-off against Bosnia & Herzegovina, a | | | | To the romantics, North Korea's qualification is the |
| team they only edged out 1-0 home and away, | | | | big story of the 2010 event in South Africa. |
| highlighting the team's inability to finish off | | | | Coach Kim Jong-Hun has moulded a disciplined side |
| opponents despite superior skills and | | | | whose first priority is not to concede goals, and |
| talent.Portugal's poor form and inconsistency on | | | | then try to hit on the counter-attack.In winger |
| the big stage has led many to write them off as | | | | Mun In-Guk and Japan-based striker Jong Tae-Se, |
| serious contenders, especially given the group | | | | they have the players who can sneak a goal but, |
| draw. However, a look at the squad sheet will | | | | as their group rivals will be relieved to hear, the |
| reveal that, at least on paper, they are capable of | | | | North Koreans don't attack much. That will put |
| challenging most top sides. Defenders Ricardo | | | | enormous pressure on Pyongyang City keeper Ri |
| Carvalho, Pepe, Paulo Ferreira and Bruno Alves | | | | Myong-Guk and his fellow defenders, and while |
| have all proven themselves at club level, and will | | | | they were able to use this to their advantage in |
| not be easy to score against. Protected by the | | | | the Asian qualification process, whether they can |
| under-rated Raul Meireles, who has been in | | | | do the same against top class opponents like |
| excellent form for club and country, it is doubtful | | | | Brazil, Portugal and the Ivory Coast. Another man |
| that they will be at the end of any thrashings. In | | | | to watch is midfielder Nam Song-Chol, a versatile |
| midfield, the Portuguese will rely on the creative | | | | 27-year-old who can play the holding role, but also |
| brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo, but along side him, | | | | has a blistering left foot. |
| Chelsea's Deco will have to regain the form he | | | | Key Player: Jong Tae-Se |
| showed a few years ago if the Portuguese are to | | | | Sometimes referred to in the press as "Asia's |
| repeat their 2006 feat of reaching the | | | | Wayne Rooney", Jong Tae-Se is an unknown |
| semi-finals.On the wings, the team has plenty of | | | | quantity outside AFC circles, but is well known by |
| pace and guile – Manchester United's Nani | | | | fans of the J-League. He plays his club football for |
| looks much improved this season, and Atletico | | | | Kawasaki Frontale, and has scored 42 goals in 103 |
| Madrid's Simao Sabrosa will be confident after | | | | appearances for the side. He has also scored 15 |
| winning the Europa League with his club. Up front, | | | | times in 22 appearances for the North Korean |
| strikers are the biggest question mark for Carlos | | | | national team, and will certainly be the frontman |
| Queiroz's team – Hugo Almeida has been | | | | as North Korea attempt to show the world that |
| underwhelming even after the many opportunities | | | | they have deserve their place in South Africa. |
| presented to him, while veteran Liedson hardly | | | | What they said |
| strikes terror into the hearts of opposition | | | | "We are likely to meet European teams once |
| defences. A bigger worry will be the fact that the | | | | more at South Africa 2010 and I hope we can |
| Portuguese rarely seem to live up to their | | | | repeat the feats of our predecessors." – |
| potential as a team, as their tedious qualification | | | | Coach Kim Jong Hun hopes that his team can |
| process highlighted. | | | | match the 1966 quarter-final appearance made by |
| Key Player: Cristiano Ronaldo | | | | the DPRK. |
| The most expensive player in football history, | | | | What we think |
| Cristiano Ronaldo is widely considered one of the | | | | Plenty of attention will fall on the North Koreans, |
| world's best footballers, and will captain Portugal at | | | | who for political and social reasons will be one of |
| this year's World Cup despite being just 25. Real | | | | the great curiosities of the finals. On the pitch, |
| Madrid signed him for £80 million last summer, | | | | their qualification was secured thanks to a tight |
| and he is also rumoured to be the world's | | | | defence and while they are highly unlikely to get |
| highest-paid player. Ronaldo has won numerous | | | | to the last 16, it is equally difficult to imagine them |
| personal and club honours, claiming the Premier | | | | losing their shape at any point and getting |
| League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup | | | | hammered. |
| with former club Manchester United. Blessed with | | | | |