Korea - Portugal: Saying goodbye to Son Heung-min?
After more than 20, the two teams faced each other in the final round of the World Cup group stage.
Portugal soon won tickets to the next round after two victories over Ghana and Uruguay. Ghana is the only team that can take the top spot of Portugal. Currently, Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates have 6 points with a difference of +3, while Ghana has 3 points and a difference of 0. If they want to continue with the first place, Ghana must win strongly against Uruguay, and Portugal lose to South Korea to level. fill the gap of three tables.
Holding the top position in hand, coach Fernando Santos can decide to rotate to keep the pillars for the 1/8 round and beyond the ambition to win the gold cup. But it is not excluded that he will still use the strongest squad with the goal of helping Portugal to avenge Korea.
The only previous meeting between Korea and Portugal took place at the 2002 World Cup. At that time, in the tournament held at home, Korea won 1-0 in the final round of the group stage, leaving Portugal. soon leave the tournament.
In Qatar 2022, the two teams are in opposite positions. Even after repeating the feat more than 20 years ago, Korea also needs Uruguay to beat Ghana with a minimum difference in the match at the same time to enter the round of 16. Another scenario for Korea to continue is a strong victory over Portugal, while Ghana and Uruguay split points.
Today, Korea will not receive direct direction from coach Paulo Bento - a Portuguese. He received a red card when he rushed into the field to protest against referee Anthony Taylor's decision to blow the whistle for time and not allow Korea to complete the corner kick in the defeat to Ghana.
"We will continue to prepare like every other game, the strategy of the whole team will not fail," Bento assistant Sergio Costa said after the game. "Bento not directing is a big disadvantage for Korea, but I think it will help the whole team to be more determined."
It was Bento who also played for Portugal in a loss to Korea in 2002. This was even Bento's last match in the national team's shirt, before returning as head coach in 2010-2014.
The Opta prediction model rates Portugal higher with a 58.4% chance of winning, compared with 19.3% for South Korea. The draw - the result that keeps Portugal at the top and Korea is eliminated - is rated at 22.3%.
After Korea lost to Ghana and no longer decided to decide for himself, Son burst into tears on the Education City field. This is the third time in a row Son has shed tears at the World Cup.
Four years ago in Russia, the 30-year-old striker cried after losing 1-2 to Mexico in the second round of the group stage at Rostov Stadium. At that time, Korea lost the first two matches and was almost eliminated. In the last round, they beat Germany 2-0 but still only finished the group stage in third place and returned home.
The same thing happened in Brazil 2014, when Son cried after losing to Belgium 0-1 in the last leg of Group H at Corinthians Stadium, Sao Paolo city. That year, Korea was also eliminated from the group stage with the last place.
If Korea can't squeeze through the narrow door, the Tottenham striker is likely to cry again on Education City today.
