Angola will not have needed to do too much homework on their opening FIFA World Cup opponents.
It is the national team of Portugal, their former colonial ruler, that the Angolans will face on 11 June in Cologne and the connections between the two are strong. Many of Angola's squad ply their trade in the Portuguese league while both teams know their rivals inside out.

Players
Apart from Figo, Portugal have many other well-known internationals such as Pauleta, Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco. Angola's squad, meanwhile, includes a number of players who are well known by the Portuguese public, including Mantorras, Akwa and Joao Ricardo who have all played in Portugal at one time or another.

How they qualified
Portugal qualified comfortably for this year’s FIFA World Cup, topping Group 3 of the European qualifying zone ahead of Slovakia and Russia without losing a single match. Life was much more difficult for the Angolans, whose hopes were dealt an early blow with a 3-1 preliminary round first-leg defeat by Chad. In the return match, however, a 2-0 win was enough to guarantee them a place in Group 4 of the African Zone alongside continental superpowers Nigeria. The Palancas Negras proceeded to surprised everyone by losing just one game, finishing top of the group and winning a place at their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals.

Past meetings
The omens are not good for the African side, who suffered heavy defeats in the two previous meetings between the sides. Portugal were 6-0 winners in Lisbon in March 1989 and secured a further 5-1 win in the Portuguese capital in November 2001.

Tournament history
Angola are appearing at their first finals, while Portugal will be making their fourth appearance. After storming to third place on their FIFA World Cup debut in England in 1966, Portugal failed to make it past the first round at Mexico 86 and Korea/Japan 2002.

Key contest
Mantorras and Deco could both have vital roles to play for their respective sides. Benfica striker Mantorras has been the golden boy of Angolan football for the past five years, although his career has been dogged by a string of serious injuries. Even so, the slimly built frontman remains a vital weapon in the Angolan arsenal thanks to his boundless energy and eye for goal.

A key figure in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s tactical setup, Deco is blessed with an exquisite touch and unerring vision. Able to dictate the pace of a match at will, the Barcelona midfielder is at the very top of his game, having recently picked up his second UEFA Champions League winner’s medal in the space of three years. So indispensable has the midfielder become that journalists have coined the phrase 'Deco-dependence' to highlight his importance to Felipão’s plans.

The coaches
Luis de Oliveira Goncalves, nicknamed the 'Professor' of Angolan football, took charge of the African side after their surprise 3-1 preliminary round defeat against Chad. Taking over from Brazilian Ismael Kurtz, he lead the Palancas Negras to a 2-0 win in the return match in Luanda, then guided Angola safely through qualifying in a fairy-tale journey which continued all the way to Germany 2006.

His opposite number Scolari is none other than the man who led Brazil to victory at Korea/Japan 2002. Despite his reputation as a disciplinarian, the Brazilian coach is also able to treat the players as friends and Portugal have undoubteldy progressed under his inspired leadership. Scolari took the Seleção das quinas to second place at UEFA EURO 2004 on home soil and he guided the team to Germany 2006 with the minimum of fuss.

4 - 1 Portugal. No doubt about it!