South Korea vs Portugal: Last chance for the Taegeuk Warriors
James Davis previews the penultimate World Cup Group H tie between Portugal and South Korea.
Portugal enter the final game of their Group H campaign assured of progression into the knockout stages, thanks to a pair of victories in which the side have scored five goals.
Only England and Spain had managed to net more than Portugal’s five after two group games, and they will hope to continue a free-scoring run against a South Korea side that looked vulnerable last time out.
The Taegeuk Warriors lost 3-2 last time out to follow up on their goalless draw with Uruguay, an early second half brace from Cho Gue-Sung not enough to overcome Ghana.
South Korea could have been in a much stronger position had they made the most of their opportunities – despite outplaying Ghana in all areas, their clinical edge was found lacking for a second game in a row.
Ghana beating Uruguay in the group’s other tie, with Portugal losing both this game and their goal difference advantage, would be the only scenario in which Fernando Santos’ side would fail to top the group, and so they will likely face the winner of the Switzerland-Serbia tie.
The only chance for South Korea to make it into the last 16, where Brazil would be their likely opponents, is a win here while Ghana fail to do the same versus Uruguay.
It will be hard for Portugal to drop two-goal man Bruno Fernandes after his strong performance against Uruguay, and he will likely line up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix in a strong front line for the third game in a row.
Ronaldo is still hunting for a goal to draw him level with Eusebio as Portugal’s all-time World Cup record goalscorer, and will hope to achieve the feat outright this time round, rather than waiting for the potentially unfavourable outcome of FIFA’s deliberations on Portugal’s opener in their last game.
Bernardo Silva will likely reprise a crucial role in midfield for the Seleção, the City man linking a solid defence to attacking flair up top.
South Korea also had the pleasure of a brace in their last game, courtesy of Cho Gue-Sung, and may go again with the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors player up top after Hwang Ui-Jo’s inaccurate performance in their opening fixture.
Son Heung-min is still looking for his first World Cup goal involvement, after scoring two in the last edition, and will hope to give his nation a chance of knockout football four years on from failing to do so in Russia.
The South Korean back four will likely remain unchanged from both their first and second games, with Kim Moon-Hwan at right back continuing to provide the darting runs that lit up an otherwise drab goalless draw against Uruguay.
The match will be shown at 3pm on Friday on BBC One.
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