One of the toughest looking groups, with the defensive minded North Koreans likely to prove cannon fodder. The three other sides are all capable of mounting a decent challenge for the trophy, with Brazil second favourites at 11-2 with four companies including William Hill, Ladbrokes and Bet365 free bets.
The five-time winners are also 9-4 second fancies (Sky Bet) to reach the final. Dunga's side, the current Copa America and Confederations Cup holders, got better as the South American qualifying campaign progressed, confirming their place in South Africa with a 3-1 win in Argentina.
They are certain to be one of the teams to beat as their results suggest and despite not possessing the traditional flair of past Brazilian teams, possess a strong spine and solidity throughout the XI. Kaka will be the lynchpin with Julio Cesar in goal, wing-back Dani Alves and the free scoring Luis Fabiano also likely to be key figures.
The only concern will be how they cope against ultra defensive sides, as much of their qualifying success was based on the counter attack. In their home programme, they were held to four 0-0 draws - although in terms of form against group rivals, they thrashed Portugal 6-2 as recently as November 2008. Paddy Power make them 8-11 on to top the group, 1-5 (Sky Bet) to qualify and 100-30 (Sky Bet) to be knocked out at this stage.
Ranked No. 5 by FIFA, Portugal endured a torrid qualifying campaign, eventually sneaking second place by a point ahead of Sweden with their group being won by Denmark.
Without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, they saw of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on aggregate in the play-offs and having now reached the finals, can celebrate the achievement of qualifying for every major tournament during the decade - one of only five European teams to do so. As long as the Real Madrid forward is available, Carlos Queiros' side will be a threat while Simao and Deco are still influential playmaking figures.
They are 28-1 to land the title (Tote Sport, William Hill, Expekt.com), and 8-1 (Sky Bet) to reach the final. Their main problem still appears to exist, namely an inability to turn possession and territory into goals. This will be the Euro 2004 finalists' fourth World Cup finals, finishing fourth last time out in Germany - although their squad arguably isn't as strong now as in 2006.
They are 4-1 to finish first with Tote Sport, the same odds as Ivory Coast (with Sporting Bet). They are 10-11 with Tote Sport to go through, with the Africans 4-5 with Paddy Power. Both sides are also evens with Sky Bet to go out at this stage.
Ivory Coast are perceived as being the African squad with the best chance of success in their own continent, and having eased through qualifying, they have a great chance of going far. As long as Chelsea's Didier Drogba is fit and in form, and players like Kolo Toure, Didier Zokora and Aruna Dindane can impress, then who knows? The Elephants are 33-1 (Bet365) to win it, 10-1 (Sky Bet) to reach the final. They impressed despite falling at the first hurdle four years ago, although they were drawn in the same group as Argentina and Holland. Barriers to potential success could be due to a lack of quality in goal and injuries to star players.
If an unknown quantity exists amongst the 32 qualifiers, then North Korea are it. The 2000-1 shots for the trophy (Bluesq, 888Sport, William Hill) qualified by finishing second to South Korea in their Asian qualifying group. Most of their squad are domestic based, while one of their most recent matches, a 0-0 draw with Congo, was their first on European soil since 1966 when they last qualified for the finals.
Then they reached the quarter-finals in England courtesy of a shock victory over Italy, although such heady heights are unlikely this time. They will need players such as skipper Hong Yong-Jo, currently at FC Rostov in Russia, to rise to heights not yet achieved if they are to progress in this group.
Coral make them 200-1 to finish above their other group opponents - odds that given the opposition, look far from generous. Expekt.com also rate them as 14-1 shots to go through - and they are 1-33 on with Sky Bet to bow out early.
Bookmakers make this group the second favourite to be highest scoring, with Boylesports offering odds of 5-1. Any straight forecast or tricast offering North Korea as a potential qualifier is 28-1 bar, while more tempting bets of interest (all with Sky Bet) include Ivory Coast or Portugal first and Brazil second at 9-2, while any combination of Ivory Coast or Portugal first or second is a 12-1 shout.
The combination of Ivory Coast first, Brazil second and Portugal third, or Portugal/Brazil/Ivory Coast is available at 5-1 - while would Brazil/Portugal/North Korea at 28-1 be worth pursuing? Brazil and Ivory Coast to go through is even money, with Brazil and Portugal 5-4. Ivory Coast and Portugal to go through is 11-2, while for the more ambitious you could also get Brazil and North Korea at odds of 18-1.
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