Portugal and Uruguay are paced by stars in their late 30s, and they’ll be tested by two lower-ranked, albeit talented sides in a difficult group to assess.
Though 37, Cristiano Ronaldo has said he has no plans to retire from international soccer after the tournament, where he could become the first men’s player to score at five World Cups. (Marta has accomplished that feat for Brazil’s women’s team.) But Portugal has done nothing but underachieve since Ronaldo’s first World Cup in 2006, having failed to make it past the round of 16 in its last three appearances.
Like Portugal, Uruguay is looking at an impending changing of the guard. Its golden generation of strikers—35-year-olds Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani—is fading. The two have a history of leading Uruguay into the knockout stage, something they have done at the last three World Cups.
After missing out in 2018, Ghana qualified for Qatar by holding on in a 1–1 draw against Nigeria in the African playoffs to earn the spot on away goals. However, Ghana has not won in four matches this year against teams in the field. And South Korea will go only as far as Son Heung-min can take it—which could be pretty far. The Tottenham star, who scored in the last two World Cups, tied for the lead in the Premier League with 23 goals last season.
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Pedro Fiuza/ZUMA Wire/Imago Images
CHAOS COMPONENT
Portugal has a knack for letting its chances to advance come down to the final day of the group stage. If Ronaldo & Co. leave it late again this year, they will find in their finale a formidable foe with a history of dashing a favorite’s Cup hopes: South Korea, which four years ago ended Germany’s title defense in the group stage with a 2–0 victory.
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HISTORY LESSON
No African team has come closer to making the semifinals than Ghana in 2010. In the 120th minute of the quarters, Uruguay’s Luis Suárez earned a red card for intentionally handling a goal-bound header. But Ghana missed the PK and lost the game in a shootout.
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GAME OF THE GROUP
Uruguay vs. Portugal, Nov. 28
Few teams bring more attacking firepower than these two. Uruguay knocked out Portugal in the last 16 in Russia, so there will be a score to settle.
GO DEEPER
Team profiles and squad lists for: Ghana | Portugal | South Korea | Uruguay
PROJECTED GROUP FINISH
Uruguay, Portugal, South Korea, Ghana
ODDS (via SI Sportsbook)
Portugal
To win the group (-150) | To win the World Cup (+1400)
Uruguay
To win the group (+188) | To win the World Cup (+3500)
South Korea
To win the group (+900) | To win the World Cup (+30000)
Ghana
To win the group (+900) | To win the World Cup (+30000)