The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off on November 20 in Qatar, marking the primary time in historical past the event has been held throughout winter months. Group H is highlighted by Portugal and Uruguay, who’re the favorites to advance to the knockouts. Ghana and South Korea each have loads of expertise and shall be seeking to mount an upset or two in hopes of transferring on.
Let’s take a better have a look at Group H forward of their opening day on November 24, beginning with Portugal vs. Ghana and Uruguay vs. South Korea.
Portugal
Portugal, ranked No. 9 forward of the event, are set to possible play their final World Cup with celebrity Cristiano Ronaldo within the squad. Ronaldo is 37 years outdated, and can flip 38 in February, making him almost 42 by the point the following World Cup comes round. Each he and Argentina’s Lionel Messi could have one final hurrah, with solely considered one of them in a position to have an opportunity at including a World Cup trophy to their lengthy record of achievements. It’s fairly attainable they’ll each retire with out ever having received a World Cup event, however Portugal will do their greatest to make the ultimate for the primary time of their historical past.
The Portuguese aspect is riddled with stars, together with Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and William Carvalho amongst others. Ronaldo is clearly the standout right here, notching 117 targets in 191 video games, making him the all-time high scorer and most-capped participant within the nation’s historical past. Whereas they narrowly missed out on qualification, they’re the favorites to win the group and advance to the knockouts.
Ghana
Ghana comes into the 2022 World Cup because the lowest-ranked staff within the event at No. 61 on this planet. It’s their fourth World Cup look, and soccer followers in the USA will bear in mind them effectively as they’ve performed in opposition to the USMNT in all three of their earlier appearances. They defeated the Individuals in 2006 and 2010, however misplaced in 2014 as they made a gaggle stage exit. After lacking out on 2018, they’re making their return in hopes of faring higher than earlier years, with the quarterfinal exit in 2010 serving as their greatest end so far. They’ll be armed with attacking gamers like Thomas Partey, Iñaki Williams, and Jordan Ayew with former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Otto Addo calling the photographs as head coach.
Uruguay
No. 14 Uruguay enter the World Cup as two-time event champions, though these two titles got here in 1930 and 1950. Since that 1950 win, they haven’t completed greater than fourth place, and so they’re coming off of a 2-0 loss to France within the 2018 quarterfinals. Whereas they nonetheless have longtime staple Luis Suarez within the combine, he’s possible taking part in his final World Cup as he’ll flip 36 in January. Suarez holds the title of the nation’s all-time high scorer with 68 targets via 134 caps, whereas considered one of his strike companions Edinson Cavani isn’t far behind with 58 targets. Cavani can also be possible taking part in in his remaining World Cup, because the striker will flip 36 in February. Diego Godin, additionally a longtime mainstay on the Uruguayan backline, will be a part of them in his final World Cup as he turns 37 in February.
Fortunately for Uruguay, they’ve loads of younger expertise arising because the outdated guard phases out, most notably younger Liverpool star Darwin Nunez. Nunez solely has 13 caps beneath his belt for the nationwide staff, however he’s scored three targets and is among the most fun prospects within the English Premier League this season.
South Korea
Ranked No. 28, South Korea is the least favored to win the group with odds at +1100 at DraftKings Sportsbook. They’re making their tenth consecutive World Cup look, with their greatest end coming in 2002 after they completed in fourth place. It was the primary time they’d ever received a recreation on the World Cup, and so they made essentially the most of it by making a run all the way in which to the semifinals.
The squad has an extremely elite goalscorer of their ranks in Son Heung-min, who performs for Tottenham Hotspur and was final season’s co-Golden Boot winner as each he and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scored 23 targets. Son has 35 targets via 104 video games for the South Korea nationwide staff, and at simply 30 years outdated, he’s possible received not less than a pair extra tournaments left in him earlier than he retires.
Portugal: -145Ghana: +1000Uruguay: +185South Korea: +1100
Group H Schedule
Thursday, November 24:Portugal vs. Ghana, 11 a.m. ETUruguay vs. South Korea, 8 a.m. ET
Monday, November 28Portugal vs. Uruguay, 2 p.m. ETSouth Korea vs. Ghana, 8 a.m. ET
Friday, December 2Ghana vs. Uruguay, 10 a.m. ETPortugal vs. South Korea, 10 a.m. ET