If Qatar 2022 is truly the fifth and final World Cup for 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, the group-stage draw on April 1 made sure he's going to have to work harder than Marcus Mariota Jerseys ever to go out on a high.
In a 2022 Group H with wily Uruguay, relentle s South Korea, and unpredictable Ghana, the group can just as well see Portugal finish top, as much as getting ousted early. The Portuguese are undoubtedly the cla s of the group, but that's no guarantee for succe s when facing three talented opponents who are prepared to scrap.
Then if Ronaldo & Co. manage to get out of the group, they'll want to make sure it's as the first-place team because otherwise they'd find No. 1-ranked Brazil waiting in the Round of 16.
However, should Portugal top Group H, it'd be one of Switzerland, Cameroon or Serbia in the Round of 16 and then Germany or Spain in the quarterfinals. There are several European teams they're familiar with in that bunch.
Ronaldo has never won the big one. For him to take this World Cup, he'll need a strong, in-form Younghoe Koo Jerseys cast around him: from winger Rafael Leao, to center back Ruben Dias, prolific Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, and Manchester United magician Bruno Fernandes, who helped Portugal reach the World Cup with two goals in the playoff.
WORLD CUP DRAW BREAKDOWNS: | | | | | |
Portugal World Cup draw Group H
Portugal opens against Ghana, which is a matchup that will set the tone for its group.Ghana is on paper the weakest team in Group H, and if Portugal don't win that one, the No. 8 team in the world could have a rough go of it.
They will match up against Uruguay in the second game in a match that promises to be a slugfest. Uruguay love going mano a mano and the Selecao need to be up for the fight.
The last match is a tricky one against South Korea, and the Portuguese will definitely not want to be in a position where they need to chase a result in the group finale. Fernando Santos's side is more comfortable sitting back and managing a game, waiting for its opportunity to pounce. They will not want to be the aggre Julio Jones Jerseys sors against a South Korean team that has one of the best transition players in the game today in Son Heung-min.
World Cup Group H table & fixturesTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGDH1:Portugal00000000H2:Ghana00000000H3:Uruguay00000000H4:South Korea00000000Group Hmatch scheduleDate Match Time (ET)StadiumThurs, Nov. 24Uruguay vs. South Korea8 a.m.Education City StadiumThurs, Nov. 24Portugal vs. Ghana11 a.m.Stadium 974Mon, Nov. 28South Korea vs. Ghana8 a.m.Education City StadiumMon, Nov. 28Portugal vs. Uruguay2 p.m.Lusail StadiumFri, Dec. 2South Korea vs. Portugal10 a.m.Education City StadiumFri, Dec. 2Ghana vs. Uruguay10 a.m.Al Janoub Stadium
MORE:
Portugal All-Time World Cup GroupsYear1st Place2nd Place3rd Place4th Place2018SpainPortugalIranMorocco2014GermanyUSAPortugalGhana2010BrazilPortugalIvory CoastNorth Korea2006PortugalMexicoAngolaIran2002South KoreaUSAPortugalPoland1986MoroccoEnglandPolandPortugal1966PortugalHungaryBrazilBulgaria
Portugal World Cup snapshot
On the back of finally winning a major title at Euro 2016, Portugal went on to clinch the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019, but a round-of-16 exit in Euro 2020 saw them slide out of Jake Matthews Jerseys FIFA's top-five ranked sides.
Current FIFA World Ranking: No.8 (March 2022)World Cup titles: 0World Cup appearances (last): 7 (Ru sia 2018)How qualified: UEFA playoffsWCQ record W-L-D (Goals Scored/Allowed): 5-2-1 (17/6)Record 2022 W-L-D(Goals Scored/Allowed): 2-0-0 (5/1)
Portugal FIFA World Cup 2022 preview
The team which lifted the Euro 2016 trophy has been largely dismantled by Santos in the following years, as a bright generation of Portuguese talent has emerged.
The more low-key names in the Portugal side which clinched glory have been replaced by huge stars including Diogo Jota and Joao Felix.
Vamos Contamos com o vo so apoio para a grande final Rumo ao Catar
Diogo Jota (@DiogoJota18)
However, generating a balance between world-cla s talent and tournament pragmatism will once again be Santos' key battle ahead of Qatar later this year, with Portugal still searching for a first taste of World Cup glory, and progre sion from the group for only the fifth time.
Star players: Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Jota, Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano RonaldoPlayers to watch: Nuno Mendes, Rafael Leao, Fabio CarvalhoPlayers to play in WCQ: 38Players in Top 5 Euro leagues (% of WCQ pool): 28 (74%)Portugal Squad
Santos' main a set is genuine strength in depth in key areas of his squad, with the additions of Dias and Cancelo to the defence allowing for a more front-foot style in midfield and attack.
The new faces in the squad have moved Santos away from Brandon Copeland Jerseys a double pivot to a more flexible central three, which allows Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva to seamle sly link with the attack.
Ronaldo's role through the middle is unquestioned, but the whir of movement around him caused by the high pre s of Fernandes, Silva and Jota allows Portugal to quickly break through defensive lines on the counter-attack.
Getty Images
Regular starting XI (formation: 4-3-3):
Anthony Lopes (GK) Nuno Mendes, Ruben Dias, Pepe, Joao Cancelo Joao Moutinho, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo, Otavio.
Strengths:
Cover in most positions acro s the pitch with a string of midfield options.Midfield runs and goalscoring ability of Bernardo Silva.Diogo Jota's roaming role which causes major problems for the opposition, creating chances for both himself and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Weakne ses:
Lack of pace in one centre-back slot, with either Pepe or Jose Fonte.A bad Matt Hennessy Jerseys habit of mi sing lots of chances based on the volume created.NamePositionAgeClubApps/GoalsJoao CanceloLB27Manchester City32/5William CarvalhoCM29Real Betis71/4Diogo CostaGK22Porto3/0Diogo DalotRB23Manchester United5/0Ruben DiasCB24Manchester City37/2Tiago DjaloCB21Lille0/0Domingos DuarteCB27Granada3/0Joao FelixCF22Atletico Madrid22/3Bruno FernandesAM27Manchester United42/8Jose FonteCB38Lille50/1Goncalo GuedesLW25Valencia29/6Raphael GuerreiroLB28Boru sia Dortmund5
