Clear-cut winners?

On paper, this group looks clear-cut. Two established major international sides with two clear minnows. Felipe Scolari has been winners for both the last World Cup Final and Euro 2004 so obviously he has been doing something right on the training ground for Portugal.

Mexico has played more World Cup than most with twelve appearances. Though they have only reached two quarter-finals, their defeat of Brazil in the Confederations Cup shows that they can’t be underestimated.

Iran won their first World Cup game eight years ago against the USA, but they will be striving to meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s comment of making their nation the world’s best four teams by 2010.

Angola is the group’s other underdog. The country’s qualification was a cause for major celebration for a nation that has suffered a 27-year civil war. And it was only two years ago that their top league matches were played on grass.

But whoever makes it to the next round, will face the survivors from the Group of Death.