World Cup 2022 Preview, South Korea Vs Portugal: Can Warriors Get UP And Join Os Navigadoes?

JAKARTA - South Korea expressed its emotions when it lost narrowly in a five-goal drama against Ghana.

Their journey is getting tougher as they face Portugal in the final match of the group stage which is determined to be solid at the top of Group H with a perfect record.

Putting Warriros had to beat the 2016 European champions as they did at the 2002 World Cup at home, while expecting the results of another Group H final match between Ghana and Uruguay to end in a draw.

When beaten by Ghana 2-3, striker Son Heung-min cried, while South Korean coach Paulo Bento received a red card after beating the referee for blowing the final whistle when his player executed a corner.

This penalty prevented Bento from leading South Korea in the final group stage match against Portugal.

But that's not an obstacle because according to assistant coach Sergio Costa, South Korea will rise from a very disappointing result against Ghana.

"We definitely deserved to win (in the match against Ghana)," Costa said. "Be aware of us in the match later."

South Korea has only collected one point after a draw against Uruguay in the opener and lost to Ghana. Inevitably they have to beat Portugal to advance to the last 16.

In last year's 20th edition of the World Cup, South Korea beat 10 Portuguese players including Bento, also in the final group stage matches.

These results made Portugal fail to the next round, on the other hand, South Korea sped up until the semifinals.

In the tournament in Qatar Portugal started their adventure by beating Ghana 3-2 before a convincing 2-0 win over Uruguay in their second match.

Os Navigadores are trying hard to top Group H to avoid meeting too early with Brazil, which is likely to finish at the top of Group G. Group G winners will be challenged by Group H runners up in the last 16.

"We will hunt for the top position, not just because of Brazil (factors)," said Portuguese coach Fernando Santos as quoted by Antara via Reuters.

Santos likely changed the formation of his first eleven players after left-back Nuno Mendes suffered an injury against Uruguay which was later replaced by Raphael Guerreiro.

Central defender Danilo Pereira is also absent from a rib fracture, but 39-year-old Pepe is likely to stay in his place at centre-back and have a special duty to keep South Korean striker Cho Gue-sung who scored twice in three minutes against Ghana.

Midfielder Otavio Monteiro will also miss the match against Uruguay due to injury.

Meanwhile, captain Cristiano Ronaldo had the opportunity to equal Portugal's record leading goal in the World Cup which Eusebio has held with nine goals at the 1966 World Cup in England.

Ronaldo has scored eight goals in five World Cups and he is chasing his ninth goal.

Predictions of the first eleven players

South Korea (4-2-3-1): Kim Seung-gyu; Kim Moon-hwan, Kim Min-jae, Kimk Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su; Jung Woo-young, Hwang In-beom; Kwon Chang-hoon, Woo-yeong Jeong, Heung-min Son; Gue-sung Cho.

Portugal (4-3-1-2): Diego Costa; Joao Cancelo, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Raphael Guerreiro; Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, William Carvalho; Bruno Fernandes; Cristian Ronaldo, Joao Felix.

Important statistics of both teams

South Korea beat Portugal 1-0 in their 2002 World Cup group stage game when Park Ji-sung scored for the Asian team then coached by Guus Hiddink.

Portugal has confirmed itself qualify for the knockout round and can secure the top position if the draw or win against Korea, on the other hand, South Korea will be eliminated if they cannot beat Portugal.

Striker Cho Gue-sung is South Korea's first player to score twice in a World Cup game.

Portugal has lost just one of their last 14 World Cup group stage matches.

South Korea is the only Asian country to ever reach the semifinals of the World Cup when they hosted the 2002 World Cup, while Portugal's best achievement was finishing third in the 1966 edition in England.