The Al Janoub Stadium will pit together old foes Ghana and Uruguay in a crucial Group H tiebreaker, with both teams looking to punch the ticket for the Round of 16.
With Portugal’s victory over Uruguay on Monday securing their place in the Round of 16, there is still one spot up for grabs in Group H among La Celesta, Ghana and South Korea, with the runners-up joining Portugal to progress to the next round.
The battle for the runners-up spot appears firmly in the balance leading up to Friday’s crucial tie. All three teams — Uruguay, Ghana, and South Korea — have a chance to advance to the knockout rounds. Fernando Santos’s men will face South Korea in the other match in Group H, which will be played simultaneously with this one, making things even more nerve-racking.
Uruguay enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Portugal in their last Group H match. For much of the game, they took a cautious approach and were pinned in their own box. But the clash burst to life once the Euro 2016 winners took the lead.
The result leaves Uruguay in a desperate situation, staring at the prospect of crashing out of the tournament as they currently sit rock bottom in the group. However, they still have a chance of advancing to the Round of 16, as a win on Friday could help them qualify unless South Korea spring a surprise against Portugal. A loss or a draw against Ghana will surely see them heading home.
Ghana, meanwhile, clinched a frenetic 3-2 victory over South Korea in their most recent Group H clash. They looked to have blown a two-goal advantage in the first half before Mohammed Kudus hit the match-winning goal midway through the second half. After losing their opening match, the three points over South Korea have placed them in a strong position to advance, as a win or a draw on Friday will secure them a place in the Round of 16.
Ghana will also be pumped up to face Uruguay, who denied them a semi-final berth in the famous 2016 clash when Luis Suarez saved his team by making a handed clearance in the dying embers of the game. Later, La Celeste won after a penalty shootout.
Team News & Tactics
Ghana
Otto Addo has no fresh injury concerns whatsoever. Gideon Mensah recently picked up a leg injury, but he should be fit enough for the decisive match between Ghana and Uruguay on Friday.
Ghana might not be among the dark horses at this year’s World Cup and came into the tournament as the worst-ranked team heading to Qatar. But they are making a strong case for themselves to go deep in this tournament.
They have been one of the most entertaining teams to watch at this World Cup, often playing some free-flowing attacking football; they are quick, athletic, and know how to exploit their opponent’s flaws. Ghana typically play on the counter-attack, relying on lightning-fast striker Inaki Williams.
Inaki, whose brother Nico is plying his trade with Spain at this World Cup, is among a cohort of players, including Tariq Lamptey and Mohammed Salisu, who have joined the Black Stars squad for the World Cup by changing their allegiances.
They have got a lot of talent in the squad, while the emergence of Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus is another bright spot. The 22-year-old is a great attacking threat who can get past the opposition press. The Ayew brothers, Jordan and Andre, will support him in the final third.
That said, their attacking style often has a negative effect on their defensive structure, as they have shipped five goals in only two matches in Qatar. So, Thomas Partey and Salis Abdul Samed will have their bucket-load of work in the engine room.
Lawrence Ati-Zigi will be in goal, while Daniel Amartey and Salisu will rearguard the Ghana goal. Tariq Lamptey has been a revelation, and he will make his way into the starting lineup. Lamptey, alongside Mensah, will have the responsibility to marshal the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ati-Zigi; Lamptey, Amartey, Salisu, Mensah; Partey, Samed; Kudus, Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew; Williams
Uruguay
Ronald Araujo has been a vital player for Barcelona this season, but the Uruguayan centre-back is yet to appear in the World Cup due to a thigh injury. He is part of the squad, but it is unclear whether he will be able to return, with Barcelona reportedly unhappy with the way Uruguay are trying to rush him onto the pitch.
Manager Diego Alonso has taken a primarily conservative approach in Qatar, resulting in the team failing to score a single goal. La Celeste only registered their first World Cup shot on target midway through the game against Portugal. Given the significance of the encounter against Ghana on Friday, Uruguay are expected to be far more adventurous and proactive.
Sergio Rochet will remain in goal, while the back-three of Jose Gimenez, Diego Godin, and Sebastian Coates will be tasked with stopping any onslaught from Ghana’s buzzing attackers.
Federico Valverde has been the go-to man for Alonso to provide a spark and is central to their attacking play. He will be paired with Rodrigo Bentancur and Matias Vecino in the middle of the pitch, flanked by aggressive and snappy tacklers, wing-backs Guillermo Varela and Mathias Olivera.
Alonso is in a pickle at the top. Edinson Cavani paired up with Darwin Nunez on Monday but did not pull up any trees. They were substituted in the second half by Luis Suarez and Trabzonspor’s Maxi Gomez. Gomez came close with a header that missed the post and seemed more lively up front than Nunez and Cavani combined.
He could well start in the front two of a 3-5-2 alongside Nunez to offer a more dynamic and youthful attack, with Suarez and Cavani remaining potent options off the bench.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Rochet; Gimenez, Godin, Coates; Varela, Valverde, Bentancur, Vecino, Olivera; Gomez, Nunez
Key Stats
The only previous FIFA World Cup encounter between these two sides was a famous quarter-final meeting in 2010, where both played out a 1-1 draw in which Uruguay’s Luis Suárez was sent off for deliberate handball, but Asamoah Gyan scuffed his resultant penalty. Uruguay advanced in a penalty shootout.
Uruguay have never lost a FIFA World Cup match against an African nation (W2 D2), with all four matches taking place in the 21st century.
Ghana are looking to win back-to-back World Cup games for the second time, having done so in 2006 with wins over the Czech Republic and the USA.
If they win here, Ghana would progress to the World Cup knockout rounds for the third time in four participations.
Uruguay are yet to score a single goal at the 2022 World Cup, failing with 21 shots at goal so far.
Player to Watch
Mohammed Kudus
Ghana had Mohammed Kudus to thank for their vital victory over South Korea. His 68th-minute goal proved decisive after the West African giants blew a 2-0 half-time lead in three second-half minutes.
Kudus was also a standout player in Ghana’s opening game, in which they lost 3-2 to Portugal. The 22-year-old is emerging as one of the stars of the 2022 World Cup, and his performances have piqued the interest of a number of top clubs across the globe.
Following his impressive performances for the Black Stars, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Newcastle United have all enquired about the player’s current situation. Another top-class performance here will not hamper his chances of securing a big move in the upcoming transfer window.
