Text / Yangcheng Evening News all-media reporter Hao Haoyu
After the results of the World Cup group in Qatar were produced, the discussion about the "group of death" has not stopped. Many people may think that Germany and Spain, the two former world champions, are the strongest in Group E, but these two teams are excellent after all, and it is difficult for Japan or Costa Rica to pose a threat to them.
In fact, Group H, which is relatively dim in starlight but closer in comprehensive strength, is more like the real "death group" of this World Cup. In this group, Portugal, who won Euro 2018, certainly belongs to the first category, but Ghana, Uruguay and even South Korea are not good at stubble, and the qualification situation is really confusing.
In addition, this is likely to be the last World Cup in which superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will participate, and the 38-year-old will challenge the Portuguese team for football's highest honour. The re-meeting between Ghana and Uruguay was also in the spotlight, and it was Suarez who blocked the Ghanaian's must-score with his hand on the goal line in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup that gave Uruguay a chance to recover from the penalty shootout. In addition, the South Korean team with Son Heung-min also has the strength to become spoilers, knowing that they eliminated Germany from the group stage in 2018.
Ronaldo "league frustrated World Cup supplement"?
In Qatar 2022, a number of stars will welcome their farewell performances at the World Cup, including the 38-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Ronaldo's performance at Manchester United this season has not been satisfactory, and his departure turmoil caused by the summer transfer window has also made many Manchester United fans dissatisfied, as long as he returns to the national team, Ronaldo is a hero in the hearts of the Portuguese and a well-deserved leader. From fourth place in 2006 to the round of 16 in 2010, to the group exit in 2014, to the round of 16 of the last World Cup, Ronaldo's World Cup journey is not perfect, and this tournament will also be his last chance.
From the squad, Portugal's squad is quite strong. On the front, Ronaldo is in the center, with last season's Serie A player Leo and Atletico Golden Boy Felix on both wings, Andre Silva and Gonzalo Ramos are not idle. Portugal's midfielders are even richer, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva are the core of Manchester's duo's midfield, plus a number of strong players such as Ruben Neves and Joao Mario, the midfield balances creativity and toughness. Cancelo, Dalot and Ruben Dias are in good form at the back, and it's no wonder that many people think highly of Portugal before the game.
However, Portugal were also favourites to win the last European Championship, but they were eliminated by Belgium early in the quarterfinals. How to put this powerful squad into a form is a problem that the old coach Santos must solve.
Uruguay Ghana "narrow road"
Uruguay and Ghana will once again meet in the World Cup, with the Uruguayan having the last laugh in a classic battle between the two teams. In the final moments of extra time between Uruguay and Ghana in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Uruguayan striker Suarez blocked Ghana's shot with his hand on the goal line, and Suarez was sent off with a red card, giving Ghana a penalty. But Ghanaian striker Gi'an's penalty was denied by the goalpost and the two teams went into a penalty shootout, with Uruguay winning.
When he saw Ghana miss a penalty in the players' tunnel, Suarez was sent off to celebrate wildly, which has become a classic in World Cup history. 12 years later, the 35-year-old Suarez is still in Uruguay's World Cup squad, and his teammates have changed a lot in addition to Cavani, but the strength of the Uruguayan is still not to be underestimated.
The "elderly" Suarez and Cavani are no longer the absolute workhorses of Uruguay, they have a younger, more impactful Núñez up front. In midfield, Valverde from Real Madrid and Bentancur from Tottenham are in their current years, and Araujo and Jimenez in the back are also very strong. Uruguay eliminated Portugal in the quarterfinals of the last World Cup and this time they still have a chance to cause problems for the Portuguese.
Compared with the talented Uruguay, Ghana's lineup is a bit starry. Compared to the team that almost reached the World Cup Final Four 12 years ago, the Ghanaian team is the lowest ranked team in Group H at 61st, but Ghana still has players from the top five leagues such as Inyaki Williams, Thomas Partyi and Lamptai on three lines. Although Ghana's qualification probability is even behind South Korea in the pre-match predictions of various professional bodies, this does not mean that they are an easy team to beat.
Son Heung-min was selected with an injury, and the South Korean team is expected to spoil the game
Currently ranked 28th in the FIFA rankings, South Korea is the third ranked team in Asia. However, from the perspective of overall strength and group situation, compared with the first Iranian team in Asia and the second Japanese team, the South Korean team has a better chance of making a breakthrough. Iran and England, the United States and Wales are in Group B, these three teams are very strong, and it will not be easy for Iran to break through. The situation for Japan is even more difficult, they face two strong teams, Germany and Spain, and it may be difficult to steal the qualification of either team.
In contrast, South Korea, although not as strong as Portugal and Uruguay, still have at least one fight and are expected to secure a promotion place if they perform well. Of course, South Korea are not certain to win against Ghana, but their path to promotion may be easier than that of Iran and Japan. In addition, South Korea has a world-class star like Son Heung-min in the squad, which no other Asian team has, and when the game is going to a stalemate, a player of Son Heung-min's level has the ability to change the game.
That's why Son Heung-min insisted on calling him up to the national team when he could wear a face covering for a long time with a brow bone injury. Bento said: "We are not prepared for Son Heung-min's absence of Plan B, he will definitely be in the squad, but we will check him in various ways before he plays. (For more news, please pay attention to Yangcheng Pie pai.ycwb.com)
Source | Yangcheng Evening News • Yangcheng Pie
Image | Visual China
Responsible editor | Long Xi Chai Zhi
Editor: Long Xi