2022 World Cup expert picks, odds for Portugal-South Korea, Ghana-Uruguay in Group H

Publish date: 2024-05-02

With six groups completed, no team in those groups has won all three matches. Portugal enters Friday’s group finales in Group H with two wins in two matches and is favored to make it 3-for-3 against South Korea.

The last team to be in this spot, France, rested most of its starters and lost to Tunisia. Will Portugal give Cristiano Ronaldo a rest? Portugal is already assured of a place in the knockout stage, but Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay are all alive for the other spot. Uruguay and South Korea are facing must-win matches.

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See odds, expert picks and storylines below for the final Group H matches.

South Korea vs. Portugal

South Korea (0-1-1, 1 point); Portugal (2-0-0, 6 points)

Kickoff time: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT

Venue: Education City, Al Rayyan

Portugal was one of three teams, along with Brazil and France, to win its first two matches. The reward is a spot in the knockout round with one group match to go. Portugal wins the group with a draw or a win. Even with a loss, Portugal wins the group as long as Ghana doesn’t beat Uruguay and makes up three goals in goal differential.

Those scenarios could mean Portugal will take it easy for this match or rest players as the results unfold. Portugal won’t want to risk finishing second and a likely date with Brazil in the Round of 16, but if Ghana falls behind, Portugal may take off key players and look ahead.

Can South Korea take advantage of that scenario? The Koreans need a win and are given long odds to pull that off. South Korea showed it could score against Ghana, coming back from two goals down, but gave up three to the African side in a 3-2 loss in which manager Paulo Bento was sent off.

Expert picks

Ghana vs. Uruguay

Ghana (1-0-1, 3 points); Uruguay (0-1-1, 1 point)

Kickoff time: 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT

Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah

There’s enough on the line not to make this match about something that happened 12 years ago, but World Cup wounds take a long time to heal. One of the most famous or infamous plays in Luis Suarez’s storied career is his intentional handball late in extra time against Ghana in a 2010 quarterfinal. Ghana still hates him for it, but when Suarez was asked about it leading up to this match, he said not to blame him because he’s not the one who missed the ensuing penalty.

Ghana may seek revenge, but this team has been fun without added historical context. Ghana’s win against South Korea was one of the most exciting matches of the tournament so far. The Black Stars will need another result to advance to the knockout stage. A draw would be enough if South Korea doesn’t beat Portugal.

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Ghana has played two five-goal thrillers so far. Qatar and Serbia are the only nations to give up multiple goals in their first two matches. Ghana is also one of four nations to score multiple goals in each of its first two matches, along with France, Portugal and Iran. France and Iran failed to score in their third matches.

Uruguay has made it out of the group stage in the last three World Cups, but enters Friday’s matches last in Group H. Despite that position, Uruguay is -120 to advance. The South Americans are favored to win, which would vault them ahead of Ghana. South Korea can only match four points but enters with a better goal differential (-1 vs. -2).

If Uruguay does get through, it could set the stage for an exciting Round of 16 match against Brazil. The neighboring countries have met twice in World Cups.

Expert picks

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(Photo of Luis Suarez: Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images)

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