The 2022 World Cup Group Stages come to a close with the Group H South Korea v Portugal clash that should crown Portugal as Group H winners and say goodbye to South Korea. Should is a dangerous word at any World Cup including this one.
With so many games and so little time, our Group H South Korea v Portugal Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, we watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
Enjoy the Group H South Korea v Portugal Match Centre.
KICKOFF – FRIDAY 2ND DEC – 18:00 (QATAR) 15:00 (UK) 02:00 (AEDT)
Group H South Korea v Portugal Match Summary
South Korea have sensationally taken second spot in Group H with a late winner that stole the match win for themselves and knocked out Uruguay in the other game who were cruising to victory over Ghana. South Korea go through to the knockout stage over Uruguay by scoring more goals as points and goal difference were the same.
It looked like Portugal would continue their 100% record for the group stages when they took an early lead through Ricardo Horta. Unlike France’s massive squad changes in their loss to Tunisia, Portugal kept a strong squad while only resting a few key players. Bruno Fernandes was the big absence.
But South Korea added some life into Group H with a goal in the 27th minute to Kim Young-Gwon.
A tense second half ensued, with South Korea and Uruguay fans keeping an eye on each other’s games. And it went down to the wire when a swift counter attack from South Korea saw Hwang Hee-Chan score the winning goal with the final pass coming from Son Heung-Min.
There were tears at both grounds, as flow for the happy variety came from the South Korean fans and for Uruguayan fans and layers as they knew they had missed out and not by much.
South Korea progress in second place from Group H where they will play Brazil in the Round of 16.
Final Score
SOUTH KOREA 2
Kim Young-Gwon 27′ Hwang Hee-Chan 90′ +1
PORTUGAL 1
Ricardo Horta 5′
HT 1-1
Player of the Match
Son Heung-Min
Group H South Korea v Portugal Match Stats
Coming soon.
Group H South Korea v Portugal Starting Teams
SOUTH KOREA (4-3-3)
1 Kim Seung-gyu
15 Kim Moon-Hwan
20 Kwon Kyung-Won
19 Kim Young-Gwon
3 Kim Jin-Su
6 Hwang In-Beom
5 Jung Woo-Young
18 Lee Kang-In
10 Lee Jae-Sung
9 Cho Gue-Sung
7 Son Heung-Min
PORTUGAL (4-3-3)
22 Diogo Costa
2 Dalot
3 Pepe
24 António Silva
20 Cancelo
23 Nunes
18 Neves
16 Vitinha
21 Ricardo Horta
7 Cristiano Ronaldo
17 João Mário
Group H South Korea v Portugal Match Preview
Why should you care?
Because Cristiano Ronaldo is involved how can you look away.
But Portugal with or without Ronaldo are a great side to watch, and have enjoyed their games so far.
South Korea too were involved in one of the better games of the World Cup last time out v Ghana. Come to think of it, Ghana’s game v Portugal was pretty good too.
Who should you care about?
Bruno Fernandes had one of his better days in their last match against Uruguay, so as an alternative to Ronaldo, we’ll say Bruno will boss it.
Son Heung-min is the big name in the South Korean side, and much was made of his emotions and a selfie post-loss to Ghana, but he will no doubt be in the thick of everything with Korea’s tournament on the line.
Also, Cho Gue-sung was dynamite last stat and one to keep an eye on.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
South Korea have won just four of 19 matches v European teams at the World Cup.
Portugal’s record v Asian teams at the World Cup is W3 D1 L1, Their only loss was against South Korea as host in 2002.
Who will win?
South Korea 2 Portugal 2
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
What’s the Table?
Team/Played/Pts/Goal Scored / Goals Conceded / Goal Difference
| Portugal | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Ghana | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| South Korea | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| Uruguay | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
