World Cup preview: Group G

How they got here: Won their group

World Cup best finish: Champion, 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

Standout players: The team is deep. Led by goalkeeper Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), central defenders Lucio (Inter Milan) and Juan (Roma), midfielders Kaka (Real Madrid) and Elano (Galatasaray) and forwards Robinho (Santos) and Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Brazil's reserves could give most first-teams a run.

Chances of advancing: Though they are no longer known for Joga Bonita (play beautifully in Portugese), the Seleção play a disciplined style that usually holds up well in major tournaments. As evidenced in last year's Confederations Cup, when Brazil overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit to defeat the United States 3-2, it has the firepower to make up deficits quickly.

Ivory Coast

World rank: 27

How they got here: Won their group

World Cup best finish: Group stage, 2006

Standout players: The Elephants are the most balanced African team, with Didier Drogba (Chelsea) and Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) leading the attack, Didier Zakora (Sevilla) and Yaya Toure (Barcelona) in the midfield, and Kolo Toure (Manchester City) and Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal) in defense.

Chances of advancing: This group could come down to goal differential. Luckily, Ivory Coast will play North Korea last, so it will know exactly what it needs to do to advance.

North Korea

World rank: 106

How they got here: Second in their group

World Cup best finish: Round of 8, 1966

Standout players: Goalkeeper Ri-Myong Guk will be hit early and often.

Chances of advancing: If North Korea advances, it would be one of the most outstanding feats in soccer history, similar to the United States' 1-0 upset of England in 1950.

Portugal

World rank: 3

How they got here: Defeated Boznia-Herzegovina in a playoff

World Cup best finish: Third place, 1966

Standout players: Former world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) arguably is the sport's most exciting player. With his myriad moves and fast feet, he's capable of scoring from anywhere. Pepe (Real Madrid) and Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea) form a strong central defense.

Chances of advancing: The group's second spot will come down to Ivory Coast and Portugal. While Ivory Coast may shoot for a draw in their matchup, Portugal needs to get the three points for confidence as much as anything else.

Elsewhere

No surprise: U.S. coach Bob Bradley named his 30-man training roster, and the only omission was Charlie Davies, who was in a terrible car accident in October that he hasn't fully recovered from.

Bradley really had no choice. He couldn't pick Davies solely on the memories of his outstanding performances at last summer's Confederations Cup.

The question becomes who will replace Davies' speed up front, the speed that makes the United States' counter-attacking style work?

Eddie Johnson (Aris) could be the man. He might be the fastest player on the roster, but his first touch isn't the best. Landon Donovan (Los Angeles) and Clint Dempsey (Fulham) shouldn't be put up front because they are arguably the team's best two passers.

It would be interesting to see if Bradley goes with a 4-5-1 formation, with Donovan and Dempsey in advanced midfield positions, creeping up front to support Jozy Altidore (Villareal) in what could be considered a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation that is en vogue now. Atlanta's Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Michael Bradley (Moechengladenbach) and Maurice Edu (Rangers) would anchor the midfield.

We will find out what Bob Bradley's thinking soon. The U.S. team will take on the Czech Republic on May 25 in East Hartford.

Champions League: The NCAA tournament of European club soccer, the Champions League, will end its 10-month long saga when either Italy's Inter Milan or Germany's Bayern Munich are crowned Saturday in Madrid.

In the NIT of European club soccer, the UEFA tournament, Spain's Atletico Madrid defeated England's Fulham 2-1 to take that title.