Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo (second right) takes part in a training session alongside teammates at Shahaniya Sports Club in Al Samriya, yesterday. AFP
Doha: Making their eighth FIFA World Cup appearance, Portugal has been one of world football’s biggest underachievers at this stage, with just a third place (1966) and one fourth-place finish (2006) for one of Europe’s football giants. The 2016 Euro champions have not progressed beyond the round of 16 since 2006. Heading into Qatar 2022, however, A Selecao are among many favourites and arguably undisputed to top Group H and reach the knockout stages.
Cristiano Ronaldo is making his fifth World Cup appearance and his side will face Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea in Qatar. The embattled Manchester United star is gunning for Portugal’s first World Cup trophy, which would further cement his status as the country’s greatest-ever sportsman and ultimately beat eternal rival Lionel Messi to FIFA glory.
This could be the 37-year-old’s last World Cup, but he does not have to carry the load alone. Portugal boasts a collection of stars in all areas of the pitch. Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Cancelo, Joao Felix and Rafael Leao will be looking to push Fernando Santos’ side perhaps all the way.
Santos, on the other hand, will hope his side can rediscover their form and shrug off the inconsistency that plagued them through qualifying, where they needed a playoff win over Macedonia to make the World Cup.
For all of Portugal’s possibilities, they will not have it easy in the group stages as they face tough competition from Uruguay.
The South Americans knocked out Portugal in the round of 16 four years ago. Despite ageing duo Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani leading the attack, Uruguay still has a strong squad beside their famed forwards. Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez, and Real Madrid’s Fede Valverde, to name just a few, are looking to make their mark for
La Celeste.
Uruguay have won the World Cup twice – the first tournament in 1930, which they hosted and 20 years later in Brazil. Since then, La Celeste has failed to make the final, coming close in 2010, where they finished fourth. With a new coach Diego Alonso replacing the revered Oscar Tabarez, Uruguay are expected to make it out of the group with Portugal.
Ghana’s shock play-off win over Nigeria to book a place in Qatar after missing out in 2014 has shown the team has strength. The West Africans would have penned their December 2 clash against Uruguay – a replay of the 2010 World Cup quarter-final match, which Uruguay won on penalties.
During that match, Suarez had stopped a goal-bound effort that would have set Ghana on the way to a historic semi with his hand.
Asamoah Gyan famously missed the ensuing penalty, and since then, many Ghanaians have declared Suarez, a public enemy.
The recent appointment of Otto Addo and the blend of new players like Tariq Lamptey and Inaki Williams have left many wondering if the Black Stars have enough time to be a real force at the tournament. They, however, seem to have eased worries with a convincing 2-0 win over Switzerland in a friendly days before the World Cup.
Meanwhile, 2002 hosts South Korea will be sweating on the fitness of inspirational star Son Heung-min. Though Son recently said he’s fit to play and stressed his legs are fine, the forward is recovering from eye surgery which would see him wear a protective mask in Qatar.
The Taegwuk Warriors will make their 10th straight appearance at the World Cup and will hope to go beyond the group stage, unlike their last two editions.
Paulo Bento’s side lost just one game in qualifying, going on a seven-match win streak before an insignificant loss on the final day of qualifying after securing a place in the World Cup.
With Son’s fitness, the big news, Bento as well as millions of Korean fans, will be banking on Napoli’s colossal defender Kim Min-Jae, who has been a revelation this season for the Italian Serie A leaders, Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan, and Real Mallorca’s Lee Kang-in to lead the side.
