Portugal will require at least a point to top Group H when they entertain South Korea at the Education City Stadium on Friday.
With qualification already secured, Portugal will try to maintain their all-win record when they clash with South Korea in their final Group H encounter. The Seleccao will have to ensure they top the group, otherwise Brazil will be waiting in the wings in the next stage.
South Korea are yet to muster a win at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. But they will have to register a victory to have any chance of their progression to the Round of 16. They managed to fight back Uruguay with all their resources and played a goalless draw with La Celeste.
They further cemented their belief with an industrious display against Ghana but fell short as a late goal from Mohammed Kudus blocked their path to the next round.
South Korea are currently third with a single point in their tally and will have to overcome Portugal to keep their hopes alive. Not only that, they will be hoping for an Uruguay victory against Ghana as goal difference could play a handy role here.
Portugal’s World Cup campaign has been centred around Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been in the middle of controversies. The 37-year-old appeared to have headed the ball during Portugal’s first goal against Uruguay. But later, the strike was given to Bruno Fernandes, who also converted from the spot to clinch the three points.
Portugal have a number of injury concerns as Cristiano Ronaldo and Danilo Pereira are doubtful, while Nuno Mendes has been ruled out of the World Cup. However, Fernando Santos will be lining up a powerful team, as they do not seem interested in facing Brazil so early in the competition.
Team News & Tactics
South Korea
대한민국이 있기에 든든한 마음으로
포르투갈전을 준비합니다.👍🏻
3차전도 더 뜨겁게 응원해주세요🔥✔2022 FIFA 카타르 월드컵 조별리그 3차전
🇰🇷v🇵🇹#포르투갈 12.03(토) 00:00 (KST)#대한민국 #축구국가대표팀 더 뜨겁게, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐬🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ax24XbyXzm— theKFA (@theKFA) December 1, 2022
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan has not been involved in the tournament so far. And it remains to be seen whether he gets to fit in time for this crucial clash between South Korea and Portugal.
Kim Seung-gyu has been impressive so far, and he will be in between the sticks. Napoli defender Kim Min-jae will be assisting Kim Young-gwon, while the two fullbacks will be Kim Jin-su and Kim Moon-hwan.
Jung Woo-young and Hwang In-beom will be in their midfield duties. Son Heung-min will run his errands from the left wing, while Kwon Chang-hoon will be on the right flank. Jeong Woo-yeong will operate just behind the main striker, while Cho Gue-sung will be lead the line for South Korea against Portugal.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kim Seung-gyu; Kim Moon-hwan, Kim Min-jae, Kim Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su; Jung Woo-young, Hwang In-beom; Kwon Chang-hoon, Jeong Woo-yeong, Son Heung-min; Cho Gue-sung
Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo, Danilo Pereira, and Nuno Mendes will not take part in this match due to their respective fitness issues. In fact, Mendes is out of the World Cup due to his injury, which will sideline him for a couple of months.
Diogo Costa will be guarded by Ruben Dias and Pepe, while the flanks will be protected by Diogo Dalot and Joao Cancelo. Joao Palhinha will be joined by Ruben Neves and Bernardo Silva to shore up the midfield. Palhinha will have a rare chance to impress in the middle of the park for Portugal.
Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix will be up on the flanks, while Goncalo Ramos will start his first World Cup game. Bruno Fernandes has been on a roll at the FIFA World Cup 2022 and will look to make his mark in a third successive game.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Cancelo; Bernardo Silva, Neves, Palhinha; Fernandes, Ramos, Felix
Key Stats
- The only previous meeting between South Korea and Portugal came at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, with the Taegeuk Warriors winning 1-0 on home soil in a group stage match. The result saw them win their group, while eliminating Portugal from the competition. In fact, Portugal’s only defeat in five previous meetings with Asian sides at the FIFA World Cup came against South Korea in 2002, with the Seleccao winning three and drawing one of their other four games.
- South Korea have won just five of their 23 FIFA World Cup matches against European sides (D6 L12), with each of those five wins coming against a different nation (Poland, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Germany).
- South Korea have lost five of their last seven World Cup matches (W1 D1), as many as they had in their previous 16 (W5 D6). They are looking to win their third group game for just the third time at the tournament, previously doing so in 2002 (vs Portugal) and 2018 (vs Germany).
- Portugal are yet to lose a match at the World Cup when they have scored the first goal (P18 W15 D3), scoring first without losing more than any other nation in World Cup history.
- Bruno Fernandes has been involved in four of Portugal’s five goals at this year’s World Cup (two goals, two assists), scoring twice in their 2-0 win over Uruguay. He is only the second player this century to have registered multiple goals and assists in a team’s first two group stage matches, along with Karim Benzema for France in 2014.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
The Manchester United midfielder once again showed why he has been a key player in Portugal’s recent successful stints. The Portuguese playmaker has so far netted twice and assisted two goals. And if the Seleccao are to extend their stay longer, they will need Bruno Fernandes to fire.
Bruno Fernandes has been involved in three of Portugal's four goals at the World Cup 💁♂️ pic.twitter.com/oSUlP1cm1O
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 28, 2022
Prediction
South Korea 1-3 Portugal
Without Cristiano Ronaldo, too, Portugal do have the firepower to upset teams in their days. South Korea will use all their might to get a favourable result, but their opponent’s superior squad depth could pose a real problem for them.
So the result in the game between Ghana and Uruguay will determine who progresses to the Round of 16 along with Portugal. The Hard Tackle predicts a run-of-the-mill 3-1 victory for Fernando Santos and his charges on Friday.
