agency
doha
When Portugal plays South Korea in the 2022 World Cup on Friday, they will be vying for first place in Group H.
Fernando Santos’ side only needs a point to be assured of finishing first in the group, while South Korea must defeat the European nation to advance to the round of 16.
Paulo Bento’s team came back from two goals down to tie the game at 2-2 just past the hour mark at Education City Stadium, but Mohammed Kudus’ second goal of the game in the 68th minute secured all three points for Ghana, putting them in pole position to join Portugal in the round of 16.
South Korea is third in the section by one point, but they can still advance to the competition’s knockout round. Indeed, Bento’s team must defeat Portugal in order to advance; if they defeat Santos’s team and Uruguay defeats Ghana, goal difference will separate the two teams.
Former Portugal international and South Korea coach Paulo Bento said on Thursday that his country has "one of the greatest generations of Portuguese football.”
"He (Ronaldo) is a world class player, this is a well known fact, and they have all these talented players,” defender Kim Young-gwon said at a news conference. We’ll have to play as a team, as one unit, to keep them at bay.
"We played our first two games with passion, and we’ll have to do it again tomorrow.” But we’ll also need some luck. If we have everything, we can perform a miracle.”
"We don’t have anywhere else to go than forward,” said Kim on Thursday.
Bento added that it did not matter whether his Portugal counterpart, Fernando Santos, fielded a first-choice team. "He can play in different ways, with different formations, he can make three or four changes in his team and they stay at the same level,” said Bento.
"In addition, the context is favourable to them, since they are already qualified and a draw will ensure first place.”
Bento will be suspended for the game after picking up a red card in the Ghana game, but he fully trusts his assistants. "They make most of the choices, they suggest them to me. It’s not going to be a problem. This time they will be on their own but it won’t change much,” added Bento, who said he will sing the Portuguese anthem from the stands.
The Asian Tigers last advanced to the knockout round in 2010, with their previous two World Cups ending in the group stage.
Given the strength of their opponents, it was always going to be a tough ask for them to make it out of this section, but they are still in the running, and the fact that Portugal has already qualified could work in their favour on Friday.
As previously stated, Portugal has already qualified for the competition’s knockout round, but a win or a draw in this match would guarantee them first place in the group.
Santos’ team began the World Cup with a 3-2 victory over Ghana, and Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man to score in five World Cups.
On Monday, Portugal defeated Uruguay 2-0, with Bruno Fernandes scoring twice to secure the European nation’s place in the tournament’s last-16 stage. The team leads the section going into the final matchday, three points ahead of second-placed Ghana, who are vying for the second qualification spot.
A Selecao finished third at the 1966 World Cup and fourth at the 2006 competition, but they have not been past the round of 16 since the 2006 tournament, with two of their last three World Cups ending in the first knockout round, while they actually failed to make it out of the group in 2014.
Ahead of the tournament, Portugal were not considered to be one of the favourites, but they have impressed in their opening two matches and will certainly be looking to finish their group-stage campaign with a strong result against South Korea.
South Korea have not been able to use Hwang Hee-chan in the tournament thus far due to a hamstring problem, and the forward remains a major doubt for Friday’s contest.
Son Heung-min will again be a certain starter for Bento’s team in this match, with the 30-year-old set to win his 107th cap for the national side, while Napoli’s Kim Min-jae will line up in the middle of the defence.