World Cup 2006 Groups: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H

Group D Team Profiles: Mexico | Iran | Angola | Portugal

Group D

 Mexico
 Iran
 Angola
 Portugal

Group D Matches

Match # Date & Time Group Teams Result Venue
7 Sun 11th Jun 18:00 D  MEX  IRN 3 - 1 Nuremberg
8 Sun 11th Jun 21:00 D  ANG  POR 0 - 1 Cologne
23 Fri 16th Jun 21:00 D  MEX  ANG 0 - 0 Hanover
24 Sat 17th Jun 15:00 D  POR  IRN 2 - 0 Frankfurt
39 Wed 21st Jun 16:00 D  POR  MEX 2 - 1 Gelsenkirchen
40 Wed 21st Jun 16:00 D  IRN  ANG 1 - 1 Leipzig

Match times shown are local times for Germany (CEST/GMT+0200). Click on match date/time to view match statistics.

By far the most experienced team in Group D, Mexico are veterans of 12 previous World Cup campaigns. They qualified comfortably and are fronted by the top scorer in World Cup qualification, Jared Borgetti. Having reached the 2nd Round in the last three World Cup's, Mexico are well poised to progress from the group stage this time around too.

Iran have played in two previous World Cup finals, but have never made it beyond the group stage. The present Iranian squad features several players currently playing in Germany's Bundesliga who will no doubt feel at home during World Cup 2006 in Germany. They are a very physical team, with a FIFA World Ranking in the top 20, who should not be dismissed lightly by their opponents.

Group D underdogs Angola will be making their first World Cup finals appearance, but have little chance of progressing to the second round. Their opening Group C match will an emotional affair against their former colonial rulers Portugal, where many of their players are based.

Portugal will be looking to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since the 1966 World Cup in England, and look poised to do so, along with Mexico. One of Europe's strongest sides in qualifying and runners-up in Euro 2004 two years ago, Portugal have their own goal machine in Pauleta, the top scorer in European qualification.