2022 World Cup: Portugal Coach Fernando Santos Reacts After Drawing Ghana, Uruguay & South Korea

2022 World Cup: Portugal Coach Fernando Santos Reacts After Drawing Ghana, Uruguay & South Korea

Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:59 PM
In this article:
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International
  • Euro 2016 winning coach Fernando Santos has indicated that Portugal is in a difficult group for the upcoming World Cup
  • Portugal has been handed a tricky group that features four-time African champions Ghana, Asian powerhouse the Korea Republic and Luis Suarez's Uruguay
  • Fernando Santos would hope to travel far in this year's global showpiece after exiting at the knockout stage in the last edition

Portugal head coach Fernando Santos reckons there are no easy groups in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, identifying Ghana and the Korea Republic as possible banana peels.

Fernando Santos' Portugal has been handed a tricky draw pitted alongside two-time World champions Uruguay, Asian side the Korea Republic and Ghana in Group H.

After exiting at the round-of-16 stage of the last edition and failing to defend their Euro 2016 trophy, Fernando Santos will come under pressure to qualify from a group that does not look straightforward.

2022 World Cup, Portugal, Coach, Fernando Santos, Reacts, Drawing, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
2022 World Cup: Portugal coach Fernando Santos has identified Ghana and the Korea Republic as dark horses in Group H. Photo credit: @selecaoportugal @FIFAWorldCup
Source: Twitter

Sharing his thoughts on the group, the 67-year-old tactician iterated on the difficult nature of the group.

“There are no easy groups, there are difficult groups. It's the draw. We have football from three continents in this group, four from Europe. It's with that expectation that I see this draw. Ghana and South Korea are teams we know less well, we have to pay close attention." Santos said as quoted Ghanasoccernet.

He admitted the favourite tag on his side but was quick to note there is more work to be done in order to navigate Group H successfully.

"We already faced Uruguay in the last World Cup [Portugal was eliminated in the round of 16]. It's a normal draw,” said Santos who guided Portugal to Euros success in 2016.
“We can look at the glass as half full or half empty. If we looked at the previous World Cup, Uruguay would be the favourite. If we look at the rankings, then Portugal is the favourite. But we can't forget about Ghana and South Korea, who have had a very strong path. Paulo Bento has had a very strong path with South Korea.” He ended.

South Korea trainer tips Portugal and Uruguay as group favourites

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that South Korea head coach Paulo Bento has tipped Portugal and Uruguay ahead of Ghana to qualify from Group H of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The Black Stars of Ghana have been handed a tricky draw at the FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar later this year.

The four-time African champions have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.

Authors
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe photo
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe is a Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and La Liga editor with five-year experience. He previously worked with Sports Corna and 360SportsGH.
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