Doha, Qatar (AP) December,1 – Winning streak. Qualifying with one game left. Cristiano Ronaldo is already one of the scorers. Portugal’s group stage at Worlds His Cup yielded the best results.
There is still a loose end to tie. Portugal needs one point to clinch first place in Friday’s final Group H match against South Korea. That could give them the advantage of avoiding Brazil in the round of 16.
“If we were to face each other, it would be a match between two great teams,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos. “But our wish and that of Brazil is to meet later.”
After his 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Monday, Santos said he would not rest many key players against South Korea. Ronaldo may be an exception. Three games in nine days for the 37-year-old striker may be overkill for the 37-year-old who has missed an important match for Manchester United this season. The club’s manager, owner and even his teammates.
Ronaldo missed Wednesday’s team training and has completed a session in the gym instead, which could save him in the last 16. That way, players like Gonzalo Ramos and Andre Silva could get a rare chance to start up front.
“He will train today,” Santos said of Ronaldo on Thursday, “if he is physically good, he will play. I don’t even know if it’s a 50-50 chance. It depends on our training sessions. I hope he can play.”
There are also centre-back Danilo Pereira, who broke three of his ribs in training last week, and left-back Nuno, who was replaced in the first half against Uruguay with a muscle injury and will miss the rest of the World Cup. Mendes is also absent. .
Santos said he will take tired players and those who have already received a yellow card into account to avoid an imminent suspension. The players booked are Ruben Diaz, Ruben Neves, João Felix, Bruno Fernandes and Danilo. “We have to use the team, I’m confident in that,” said Santos.
If Fernandes is elected, he will have scored two of his goals, one of which Ronaldo scored against Uruguay, and he will continue his strong form with two assists. We aim to
South Korea need to win another concurrent match between Ghana and Uruguay to join Portugal’s group.
A victory for second-placed Ghana on three points would mean South Korea would be ineligible for qualification, regardless of the result at the Education City stadium on the outskirts of Doha.
It could be the last match in charge of South Korea for Portugal coach Paulo Bento, who announced he will sing his country’s national anthem before games on Thursday.
“I was born Portuguese and I will die Portuguese,” he said. “I am proud to be from Portugal.”
Son Heung-min has yet to score in South Korea’s tournament, which suffered his 3-2 crushing defeat to Ghana after his 0-0 draw to Uruguay. However, Son seems less concerned about wearing a protective mask after sustaining multiple fractures around his left eye during a challenge while playing for Tottenham in the Champions League.
