The 2022 World Cup is scheduled to take place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022. This will be the first World Cup ever to be held in the Arab world, and the second World Cup held entirely in Asia after the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.
The Black Stars of Ghana is in Group H with Portugal, South Korea, and Uruguay.
Below are the profiles of the countries in Group H and predictions:
Portugal Heroes Forever!
With most of the heroes who won the epic UEFA Euro 2016 in France and the 1st Nations League at home, Portugal arrives at the World Cup in Qatar with the quality to win it all. Cristiano Ronaldo is not alone anymore, he has the help of renowned stars and talented putos (youngsters) capable of earning the long-awaited 1st Star.
Star Player – Cristiano Ronaldo
Titles won – UEFA Euro Champions (2016), UEFA Nations League Champions (2019)
Nickname – Seleção das Quinas (National team of the Escutcheons, the escutcheons are the symbol of the Portuguese 5 shield icons inside the flag)
Name in official language: Portugal
Abbreviation: POR
Capital: Lisbon
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Language: Portuguese
Anthem: A Portuguesa (The Portuguese)
Area: 92,212 Km2
Population: 10.3 Million
Country symbol: Armillary sphere
State Chief: President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Origin of the name: The name Portugal comes from the Latin Portus Cale, when the Romans arrived in the Douro River region, they saw the beauty of the place and named it “Porto Belíssimo” or Portucale.
Main-Squad (4-2-3-1) – Diogo Costa – João Cancelo, Pepe, Rúben Dias, Nuno Mendes – Rúben Neves, William – Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leão – Cristiano Ronaldo (c)
Coach: Fernando Santos
Prediction – Quarter Finals / Semifinals
Ghana The Black Stars
After a surprising qualification for the World Cup by beating Nigerian rivals in the playoffs, the Black Stars of Ghana began to recruit players of Ghanaian origin to strengthen the team that was eliminated in the first phase of the 2021 African Cup [which took place in 2022]. They are aimed at “revenge” in the game against Uruguay, which has been stalled in their guts since 2010.
Star Player – André Ayew
Titles won – CAF African Cup of Nations (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)
Nickname – Black Stars
Name in official language: Ghana
Abbreviation: GHA
Capital: Accra
Currency: Cedi (GHS)
Language: English
Anthem: God Bless Our Homeland Ghana
Area: 238,535 Km2
Population: 32.1 Million
Country symbol: Black Star
State Chief: President Nana Akufo-Addo
Origin of the name: Named after the ancient African Kingdom in the West of the continent of the same name, meaning “Warrior King”, known formerly known as the Gold Coast, due to the abundant ore.
Main-Squad (4-2-3-1) – Wollacott – Lamptey, Salisu, Djiku, Baba Rahman – Partey, Baba – J.Ayew, A.Ayew (c), Afena-Gyan – I.Williams
Coach: Otto Addo
Prediction – First Round
Uruguay Under the setting Celestial sun
It was 15 years under the tutelage of Maestro Óscar Tabárez, a coach who changed the Uruguayan style. With that, he won a Copa America and was a semi-finalist in 2010 but this style of play fell short in the Qualifiers. Uruguay lacked the old Charruá claw after being in 7th place, the end of the era came. The arrival of Diego Alonso at Celeste has meant four consecutive victories and qualification for the World Cup in Qatar.
Star Player – Luis Suárez
Titles won – Fifa World Cup (1930, 1950), Olympic Champions organized by FIFA (1924, 1928), Copa America Winners (1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2011)
Nickname – La Celeste (The Blue-Sky)
Name in official language: Uruguay
Abbreviation: URU
Capital: Montevideo
Currency: Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
Language: Spanish
Anthem: Himno Nacional de Uruguay (National Anthem of Uruguay)
Area: 176,215 Km2
Population: 3.5 Million
Country symbol: Sun of May
State Chief: President Luis Lacalle Pou
Origin of the name: The name Uruguay comes from the Uruguay River, which in Guaraní, a South American indigenous tribe, means “River os Shellfish”. Uruguay- Shellfish, y- Water.
Main-Squad (4-4-2) – Rochet – Varela, Godín (c), Giménez, Olivera – Bentancur, Valverder, De La Cruz, De Arrascaeta – Suárez, Cavani
Coach: Diego Alonso
Prediction – First Round / Round of 16
South Korea The Asian Tigers
In their 9th straight appearance, South Korea breaks a record among Asians and seeks to establish itself as an emerging force in international football. In 2002 and 2010 it reached the semifinals (at home) and Round of 16. At the feet of Son and Hwang is Premier League experience.
Star Player – Son Heung-min
Titles won – AFC Nations Cup winner (1956, 1960)
Nickname – Taegeuk Warriors
Name in official language: Daehan Minguk
Abbreviation: KOR
Capital: Seoul
Currency: South Korean Won (KRW)
Language: Korean
Anthem: Aegukga (Song of love for the country)
Area: 100,363 Km2
Population: 51.7 Million
Country Symbol: Taegeuk (Yin and Yang)
State Chief: President Yoon Suk-yeol
Origin of the name: Due to its location south of the Korean Peninsula; or “Land of the calm morning”, derived from the word Goryeo, the country’s ancient dynasty. Named thus by the navigator Marco Polo.
Main-Squad (4-3-3) – Kim S-G – Kim T-H, Kim Y-G, Kim M-J, Kim J-S – Jung W-Y, Hwang I-B, Paik S-H – Son H-M (c), Kwon C-H, Hwang H-C
Coach: Paulo Bento – POR
Prediction – First Round / Round of 16
