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Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea make up a fascinating group H. In this group there are teams that are looking to finally become world champions for the first time in a long time and others who will be looking go exorcise demons from their past. All four teams are historically strong in this tournament which makes for a potentially entertaining group.
Who are the favorites in Group H?
Obviously the team that involves the greatest international goalscorer of all time in Cristiano Ronaldo will be favorites to advance. Os Navegadores had to go through the playoff rounds after finishing second in their group behind Serbia by a slim margin of three points.
Not far behind them is Uruguay. Ranked as the 13th best national team on the planet, they are only four places below Portugal in ninth an will pose the biggest threat to Portugal’s qualification as winners of the group. They have only failed to qualify for the last 16 once this century but are probably some ways away from replicating the success of their predecessors in 1930 and 1950 who won the World Cup.
The Black Stars of Ghana are making a comeback to the World Cup after missing the 2018 edition in France. They have been going through a tough patch for the last four years and their group stage exit at the last African Cup of Nations could be seen as their lowest point but they managed to get over the line to qualify for the World Cup on goal difference against a Nigeria side that refused to turn up across both legs. Now the black stars are on the rise again and will be going go the World Cup as a stronger force.
South Korea are probably the team least favored to go through. In the 10 World Cup appearances they have made, they have only advanced to the last 16 twice. 2002 was the last time they got into the knockout stages. At the time, they were joint hosts with Japan and even finished fourth remarkably. They have not missed a World Cup appearance since 1986 but have felt like just another nation for the most part. Something has to change for them this year.
Who will qualify from Group H?
The Portuguese and the Uruguayans will be seen as the two countries battling to win the group. The quality gap between them and the other two countries in the group is wide enough to arrive at this conclusion. Portugal edge Uruguay in the talent department not only due to the obvious presence of Cristiano Ronaldo but also the depth they possess in key areas that could be crucial in swaying results in their favour.
This is not to say Uruguay don’t possess plenty of talent of their own, they were, in fact, the country that knocked Portugal out of the World Cup last time around. If they are not the team to win the group, they will expect to qualify in second place and once again advance to the last 16.
Ghana, as well as South Korea, are definitely in the run in for qualification. Ghana especially will have a score to settle in the picture against Luis Suarez’s Uruguay after the events of the 2010 World Cup. They will be looking for revenge and emotion is a very important component of this sport. It could drive them to victory, perhaps.
South Korea have a squad with good players and won’t be pus overs in the tournament either. They won’t back down from anyone and try to put their best foot forward.
Talents to watch out for
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