FIFA World Cup 2022: Ghana promises Uruguay revenge

In the 2010 quarter-finals at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, Suarez saved Ghana’s hoped-for winning goal with a hand on the line just seconds before the penalty shoot-out. Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty and with it the first semi-final by an African team. Uruguay won in the penalty shoot-out that followed. Suarez, sent off for a handball, celebrated with his team-mates while Gyan collapsed in tears.

According to Suarez, there is no reason for an apology for his “heroic deed”, which the South African “Sunday Times” called “The Devil’s Hand”. “I played the ball with my hand, Ghana’s player missed the penalty – not me. If I attack a player, hurt him and then see red, maybe you can apologize,” said Suarez. Ghana’s current national coach Otto Addo doesn’t want to pay much attention to the topic before the last important group game: “I was also sad when I saw the scene. But it was twelve years ago.” He also doesn’t want to know anything about a revenge. “I’m not a person looking for revenge.”

Ghana has promotion in hand

Many fans will probably see it differently, because it was a stab in the heart of an entire football continent. The African supporters, especially those of the “Black Stars”, hope for a pain-relieving revenge. Ghana go into the game on Friday with the better starting position, with a win they are promoted to the round of 16. If South Korea doesn’t win against the already qualified Portuguese in the parallel game, a draw would be enough, if Heung-min Son and Co. win, it would depend on the goal difference. A defeat would be the end of the journey.

Uruguay began a successful run in South Africa – also thanks to the young Suarez – with fourth place, which then always led at least to the round of 16. This time, after the tournament performance so far, there is not much to be said for progression. One point from two games is the meager yield of the South Americans, who are still without a goal. In the duel with Ghana, Uruguay are doomed to win and must also keep an eye on the outcome of the parallel game. Team manager Diego Alonso committed his team to the difficult all-or-nothing game. “I chose to believe,” Alonso wrote on Twitter. Uruguay has never ended a World Cup without scoring a goal.

Portugal enough point for group victory

In the parallel game against South Korea, one point is enough for Portugal to win the group, which would most likely save Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. Brazil from the round of 16. South Korea’s chances of promotion are slim after the recent defeat and a win against Portugal is inevitable. Team boss Fernando Santos left it open whether superstar Cristiano Ronaldo would be involved in the last group game. “He will train. If he is physically well, he will play. The chance is 50:50, you’ll see that after the training session,” said the Portugal coach. If played, Ronaldo would have the chance to equal Portugal’s record for World Cup goals, which Eusebio currently holds with nine goals (all in 1966).

With progression to the knockout stages already certain, Santos is expected to rest several injured and yellow-carded players. The recently strong Rafael Leao and Andre Silva could get a chance from the start. At left-back, Santos is forced to make a change after Nuno Mendes suffered a muscle injury in the game against Uruguay and will miss the rest of the finals. Raphael Guerreiro will take his place in the starting eleven. Danilo Pereira is still out due to broken ribs, and veteran Pepe will take his place in central defence, as he did recently.

In ten previous World Cup appearances, South Korea reached the knockout stage only twice. In order to achieve the feat a third time, team boss Bento’s team is doomed to win against the European champions of 2016 and at the same time have to hope that the result in the parallel game ends in their favour. The modest starting position resulted from the painful 2:3 defeat against Ghana. Assistant coach Sergio Costa found clear words after the final whistle. “We deserved the win,” he said, but was confident about the all-important group game against Portugal. “You can count on us for the next game!”