South Korea’s midfielder Son Heung-min attends a training session. AFP
Coach Paulo Bento will not be present pitch side as South Korea take on Portugal in their final Group H clash at the Education City Stadium today.
Bento, who received a red card during 3-2 loss against Ghana, will hope the Taegeuk Warriors collect three points against Portugal and the result of other group game at the same time goes in their favour.
While Portugal have already qualified after back-to-back wins, it will be a three-way battle for second last 16 spot from the group with Uruguay and Ghana playing at Al Janoub Stadium.
South Korea and Uruguay are on one point behind Ghana, who are second in the group, with three points.
Bento is confident his men can tackle the European heavyweights, who will be most likely to start without Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I don’t think me not being on the sidelines will have an impact. I’ve worked for a long time with the players,” Bento said.
South Korean players train at Al Egla Training Site 5 in Doha, yesterday. AFP
“The team are part of the entire process, so I’m confident that the staff will do whatever is needed and if they need to take decisions during the game I’m confident they will do. They will be independent. All the staff are aligned with our work and our preparations.
“Many of the decisions that are taken during the match are often made by them. They suggest the replacements and the decisions, so they will do it by themselves. The players are in line with the technical staff. I trust them and I don’t think this will be a problem,” Bento, who took charge of the South Korean outfit four years ago, said.
On the eve of the match, Portugal coach Fernando Santos said that Ronaldo’s availability is still doubt for their last group match.
The Portugal star had missed Wednesday’s practice while news agencies reported that the 37-year-old stayed at the gym to do recovery and specific exercises.
South Korea’s coach Paulo Bento
“I think it is 50-50 if he plays or not, we’ll see,” Santos said during a pre match press conference.
“It will depend on if and how he practices today, if we see he is in good condition... There is a plan for if he is not available.”
Santos will be left without three more influential players due to injuries, but with Portugal already through to the next stage, the 68-year-old tactician will try to shuffle his options today without having to bother much. Santos confirmed that defender Nuno Mendes be out of the World Cup due to a thigh injury, while
Otavio and Danilo will also sit out at least until the next stage. However, Santos was positive of his remaining options.
“Unfortunately Nuno is out but by he will stay with us. It was his desire, his club agreed, and he will start his recovery here. His enormous desire to stay with us reflects the state of mind of the whole squad,” Santos said.
“I have complete confidence in all my players, I’m already missing three players, let’s see about others,” he said.
“Winning and finishing top in our group is crucial because we will have an extra day to recover the players in the best way possible,” he said.
Portugal players take part in a training session at the Al Shahania SC training site, yesterday. AFP
Meanwhile, Bento will later decide whether to bring in central defender Kim Min-jae and Hwang Hee-chan. In the meantime, he will be banking on captain Son Heung-min who is set to win his 107th cap.
Cho Gue-sung and Kwon Chang-hoon as well as Al Sadd's Jung Woo-young are also expected to strengthen the side.
“Portugal are very capable, they are organised and they rely on a host of high quality players and in all positions the Portugal squad can line up in different ways with different tactics,” Bento said.
Bento also noted that Portugal could still pose a huge threat despite the absence of few key players.
Portugal’s coach Fernando Santos
“You have players who are great in all positions and when they make three or four replacements they remain at least with the same level.”
“Tomorrow they will play as favourites and the team will play in a favourable context because they have already qualified for the last 16. If they have a draw they will reach the top spot,” Bento said as South Korea seek a place in the knockout stage for the fourth time in the history.
“We have to overcome them to have any chance to progress. It’s a huge test and we will be put to the test , but I’m confident the players will do their very best. As you see we’re going to exhaust all the possibilities to meet the challenge. It’s a huge challenge but we will do everything we can.”
When: Today at 6:00pm
Where: Education City Stadium
Capacity: 44,667
Key facts
- Portugal are already through to the knockout stage and can secure top spot with a draw or a win, while South Korea will be out if they fail to win.
- Forward Cho Gue-sung is the first player to score two goals in a World Cup match for South Korea.
- Portugal have lost only one of their last 14 World Cup group-stage matches (W8 D5).
- South Korea are the only Asian country to have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, when they were co-hosts in 2002, while Portugal's best achievement was the third-place finish in 1966.
Previous meetings
- South Korea defeated Portugal 1-0 in a group game at the World Cup in 2002 as Park Ji-sung scored for the Asian side, which was then managed by Guus Hiddink.
