June 8, 2006

by Stan Anderson

This is a very interesting group.

The predominant feeling must be that Portugal and Mexico will advance. Reality and feelings, however, are often different.

Portugal has only made four appearances in the World Cup. Many would be shocked at that stat as I was, given the fact that the U.S. has made eight appearances. The side is strong and can score goals in bunches. Portugal posted a freakish amount in qualifying. Look for Pauleta, one of many great players fro Portugal, to continue that streak in group play. What many may not be familiar with is that Scolari, the great Brazilian manager, is now heading the Portugese!

Mexico is very familiar to those that follow the U.S. side. El Tri is our nemesis. During qualifying the U.S. has to head to Azteca at high noon, in the smog and worked very hard to get a result. The US returned the favor and plays Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, in February at night!

Look for the Mexican side to advance due to solid goalkeeping and stellar defensive play from Rafael Marquez and others. Many may not be familiar with the fact that Mexico has qualified more times for the World Cup that England or France, however their final results do not match.

Iran brings very little history, but the beautiful game can be cruel, so that does not matter. With only two appearances to their credit they are not long in the tooth as it relates to experience. They are an Asian qualifier and will push Mexico for the second spot in this group. I am not familiar with Vahid Hashemian but he is the one that Iran is looking to for leadership.

Angola, welcome to the first round! Enjoy the first round. Fans of Angola should already be thinking about heading home after group play. Angola is a first time participant in the World Cup and after being governed by Portugal for hundreds of years they will play their best vs Portugal. Their manager is a hero in Angola, and the fans do not want to see him go. Angola has a young squad and will press for World Cup qualification in years to come. They snuck ahead of the Nigerians to get a spot in the field , and will look to their captain Akwa to guide them to the promised land.

Players to watch in Group D
Portugal -- Luis Figo (M) and Cristiano Ronaldo (W) and Pauleta (F) and Deco (M)
Mexico -- Jared Borgetti and Rafael Marquez
Iran -- Vahid Hashemian (F) and Ali Daei (F)
Angola -- Akwa (F) and Goncalves (Manager)

Match to watch in Group D Portugal vs Mexico, Wednesday, June 21st at 9 a.m. CDT. The reason this match is going to be the best is that it is the last match for each team in group play...with these two likely battling for advancement this should be a good one!

Who will advance Portugal and Mexico

Group D Schedule
Sat., June 11 -- MEX vs IRI -- Nuremburg
Sat., June 11 -- ANG vs POR -- Cologne
Fri., June 16 -- MEX vs ANG -- Hanover
Sat., June 17 -- POR vs IRI -- Frankfurt
Wed., June 21 -- POR vs MEX -- Gelsenkirchen
Wed., June 21 -- IRI vs ANG -- Leipzig

Personal World Cup Memories
When I look at this group I have interesting memories. Portugal did not get it done against a very good U.S. team in 2002. The biggest thing I can remember about the U.S. vs Portugal match from 2002 was waking up my son Toney and some insane hour to watch the match. He watched the first five minutes and then went back to sleep. The first half hour of this match was quite eventful as the U.S. takes a 3-0 lead. I promptly head to my front porch and grab my American flag and run up and down West Lawn Ave. in Racine. The neighbors lights flicker on here and there but I did not care! Tony Sanneh does a world class job on one of the worlds greatest players, Luis Figo. Ultimately the U.S. sneaks out a 3-2 win and put a hold on the group.

The second memory that is vivid is the U.S. playing Mexico in 2002 in the round of 16. The U.S. performs well, and despite some questionable behavior by the Mexican side, the States advances to the round of eight with a 2-0 win. The regional ODP group was at Northern Illinois and we all huddled around a television in the lobby of our dorm and caught the match. Region II ODP alums Brian McBride and Tony Sanneh make everyone proud.

We will leave the Iran performance in France in 1998 alone. McBride gets the only goal of the entire CUP for the States in a 2-1 loss to Iran, at a time when relations were not any better than they are today. Bruce Arena promptly replaced Steve Sampson, who was recently replaced as manager of the L.A. Galaxy.