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World Cup: Uruguay vs South Korea potential lineups, team news, injury updates & prediction.
This Thursday’s opening encounter in Group H pits two-time World Cup champions Uruguay against 2002 semifinalist South Korea, with both teams eager to get off to the best possible start.
With Portugal and Ghana as the other nations, Group H is perhaps the strongest group in the competition this year.
In 2018, Uruguay advanced to the quarterfinals, but this time around, with many of their young players starting to develop, they will be optimistic about outperforming that result. Meanwhile, South Korea will attempt to leave their group for the first time since 2010.
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Team News:
Diego Godin may replace Ronald Araujo alongside his former teammate Jose Maria Gimenez in this Uruguay group opener as the Barcelona defender has been fast-tracked back into training following a thigh operation.
In the goal, manager Alonso must make a choice because Sergio Rochet, who has participated in many of the international games under the new management, recently replaced Fernando Muslera, a starter for more than 13 years.
Nunez will only start out wide due to Suarez’s undroppable stature up front, therefore the formation he opts for will have a significant impact on the team selection.
Cavani is anticipated to be a replacement because Facundo Pellistri and Giorgian de Arrascaeta are preferred by the manager to start in attack alongside Suarez.
There are still questions regarding Son’s level of fitness and preparedness, despite his declaration that he will gladly “take a risk” in order to play whenever he is needed at this World Cup. Son is absolutely necessary for this South Korea team.
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While impressing for Fenerbahce, Kim Min-jae played every qualifier and contributed significantly to their stellar defensive record. He is now doing the same at the highest level with a Napoli team that is sweeping the Serie A and the Champions League.
However, Bento is still criticized for his method of play because Korea are frequently deemed to be too conservative, and this is attributed to the manager’s decision to not select many imaginative players for his team.
With Real Mallorca this season, Lee Kang-in is one of those players who has demonstrated his ability to be creative, but Bento underutilizes him, much to the chagrin of the supporters.
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Predicted lineup:
Uruguay’s possible starting lineup:
Rochet; Varela, Godin, Gimenez, Olivera; Bentancur, Vecino, Valverde; De Arrascaeta, L Suarez, Nunez
South Korea’s possible starting lineup:
Kim Seung-gyu; Kim Moon-hwan, Kim Young-gwon, Kim Min-jae, Kim Jin-su; Jung Woo-Young, Hwang In-beom, Lee Jae-sung; Hwang Hee-chan, Son Heung-min, Hwang Ui-jo
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Score prediction:
South Korea are more than capable of beating even the best sides on their day – just ask Germany, who suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of the Taeguk Warriors in 2018. However, it’s hard to see Bento’s side finding their way past Uruguay this time.
Uruguay have a squad capable of going all the way in Qatar, with the old guard of Suarez, Cavani, Godin and co-supported by a new generation including Darwin Nunez and Fede Valverde.
With both teams having a chance, this might be an exciting encounter.
Prediction: Uruguay 2-2 South Korea