Focus on Ghana’s opponents: Black Stars are in for a real treat
The World Cup first-round draw for the Black Stars is one of rather high caliber. Portugal, who they have already faced twice in the final phase, will be their opponent.
Focus on Ghana’s opponents: Black Stars are in for a real treat
The World Cup first-round draw for the Black Stars is one of rather high caliber. Portugal, who they have already faced twice in the final phase, will be their opponent.
Portugal
The 2016 European champions had to advance through the playoffs against Turkey (3-1) and Northern Macedonia (2-0) before Serbia in order to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. The Portuguese will compete in their eighth World Cup final in Qatar, their fifth straight, as an outsider.
Since winning the European championship, they have alternated between successes, like winning the Nations League in 2019, and failures, like finishing in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup and the Euro 2020 competition.
The Seleçao is still unquestionably one of the cornerstones of European soccer, which alone makes them the group favorite. The coach, Fernando Santos, has been in charge since 2014 and has occasionally faced opposition. A defeat in Qatar may be deadly.
Cristiano Ronaldo (37 years old, 191 caps, 117 goals), who is not in the prime of his career at Manchester United, Pépé (39 years old), Rui Patricio (34 years old), or Danilo Pereira serve as the technician’s stable, if aged, base (31 years). or the 28-year-olds Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva. Despite its technical arguments, Portugal, which does not play the most exciting kind of soccer in Europe, is a pragmatic and successful World Cup team.
Uruguay
Some Uruguayan internationals’ World Cup 2022 appearance should mark the end of their international careers. They are well past the age of thirty. In addition to Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, who have combined for 267 selections and 126 goals with the Celeste, the goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, the defenders Diego Godin and Martin Caceres, both of whom are 35, and the offensive pair of Martin Caceres and Luis Suarez are all 36 years old.
Diego Alonso has been Uruguay’s captain since 2021, and he will once more be a formidable foe. Depending on the situation, Uruguay can play attractive or frustrating soccer. The South American team, which trails its strong rivals Brazil and Argentina in the CONMEBOL soccer standings, is still a sure thing. They finished fourth in 2010, were quarterfinalists in 2018 against France, the eventual global champions, won the Copa America in 2011 and have advanced to the quarterfinals four times since winning their previous continental championship. Their World Cup record versus African teams is still good.
Korea, South
South Korea, who had the luxury of defeating the Mannshaft (2-0) in the first round and causing their early elimination, is to blame if Germany, the world champions in 2014, failed to successfully defend their championship in 2018.
Since 1986, when it made its second appearance in the World Cup finals, the Asian squad has consistently represented with its presence, even coming in fourth in the 2002 edition played in Japan and on home soil.
Paulo Bento, the Taegeuk Warriors’ current head coach, played his final international game against South Korea at that time (0-1). Without harboring resentment, the former Benfica midfielder took a seat on the South Korean team’s bench in August 2018 and helped his nation earn a spot in the World Cup in Qatar.
They play offensive, technical soccer with a dash of vivacity, which is one of this team’s well-known strengths. Some of its most important players compete in the top European leagues, including the team’s captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Lee Jae-sung (Freiburg), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton). Additionally, more than half of the team has actual international experience and has earned more than 40 caps. Portugal and Uruguay are the favorites to win the top two slots, but South Korea has a history of upsetting the order.
