By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp
ANKARA (AA) - Group H appears to be one of the most balanced group draws of the upcoming World Cup as it contains Round of 16 enthusiasts -- Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea.
- Portugal
Portugal’s national football team will compete for FIFA World Cup title at Qatar 2022 after winning the bronze medal in 1966.
With a strong squad including AC Milan left winger Rafael Leao, Manchester United's attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes, Atletico Madrid's attacker Joao Felix, Manchester City's attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva, center-back Ruben Dias and right-back Joao Cancelo, Portugal will be a force to reckon with at the upcoming international tournament.
The national team’s captain, Manchester United's legendary star Cristiano Ronaldo, despite being 37 and out of shape lately, is still likely to rise to the challenge and contribute to his team's success in his fifth World Cup.
Another veteran, Porto's 39-year-old defender Pepe, will play his fourth FIFA World Cup, while Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes will play his maiden World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most capped and all-time top goal-scoring player in Portugal’s history with 117 goals in 191 caps.
Portugal claimed the EURO 2016 title and the UEFA Nations League title in 2019.
- Portugal's World Cup squad:
Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Patricio (Roma), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Otavio Monteiro (Porto), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), William Carvalho (Real Betis), Andre Silva (RB Leipzig), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Rafael Leao (AC Milan) and Ricardo Horta (Braga)
- Uruguay
Two-time World Cup holders Uruguay will be competing for their third FIFA World Cup title in Qatar after their victories in 1930 and 1950.
Star Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, and Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez are the most notable names on the list.
Veteran players like Velez Sarsfield's Diego Godin, Galatasaray's Fernando Muslera, Nacional's Luis Suarez and Valencia's Edinson Cavani were also included on the team to take part in Qatar 2022.
Young Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri will have his first World Cup experience in the upcoming tournament.
Besides Muslera, Turkish fans are familiar with three other Uruguayan players, two of which will be going to Qatar: Galatasaray's Lucas Torreira, Trabzonspor's Maxi Gomez and Fenerbahce's Diego Rossi. Torreira and Gomez were called up, while Rossi was left out of the 26-player squad.
- Uruguay's World Cup Squad:
Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Sergio Rochet (Nacional), Sebastian Sosa (Independiente), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Martin Caceres (LA Galaxy), Sebastian Coates (Sporting Lisbon), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Diego Godin (Velez Sarsfield), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Nacional), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Matias Vina (Roma), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Agustin Canobbio (Paranaense), Nicolas de la Cruz (River Plate), Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United), Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray), Manuel Ugarte (Sporting Lisbon), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Matias Vecino (Lazio), Edinson Cavani (Valencia), Maxi Gomez (Trabzonspor), Darwin Nunez (Liverpool), Luis Suarez (Nacional), Facundo Torres (Orlando City)
- Ghana
African team Ghana will be looking to reach the semifinals and beyond for the first time in FIFA World Cup history at Qatar 2022.
Arsenal's defensive midfielder Thomas Partey is the biggest name that Ghana have on the team squad.
The most valuable attacking players in Ghana are Athletic Bilbao's Inaki Williams and Rennes' young winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, who will experience his maiden FIFA World Cup.
Three English Premier League players -- Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu, Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey and Brighton & Hove Albion right-back Tariq Lamptey -- are other notable names for the upcoming World Cup.
Al Sadd winger Andre Ayew, who is also the national team captain, shares the record for the most capped Ghanaian player with former Udinese striker Asamoah Gyan, as both players have 109 appearances.
Gyan is also the top scorer of all time for Ghana, with 51 goals.
The Ghana National Football Team claimed four Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982.
- South Korea
South Korea will compete in their 11th FIFA World Cup to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in the nation's history.
Tottenham Hotspur star Heung-min Son is the biggest name on the Asian nation's squad.
Son on Wednesday declared himself fit to represent his nation in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, despite being regarded as doubtful to play in the upcoming tournament due to an eye injury. But he was called up to the squad in the end by the Korea Football Association (KFA).
Napoli defender Kim Min-jae, who is a former Fenerbahce player, Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Hwang Hee-chan and Mallorca midfielder Lee Kang-in are the other notable names among the South Korea squad.
Former forward Cha Bum-kun is an historical figure in South Korean football history, as he is both the most capped and leading all-time scorer of the national team with 58 goals in 136 appearances.
South Korea bagged two AFC Asian Cups in 1956 and 1960.
- South Korea's World Cup squad:
Kim Seung-gyu (Al-Shabab), Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Hong Chul (Daegu FC), Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Yoon Jong-gyu (FC Seoul), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan Hyundai), Kwon Kyung-won (Gamba Osaka), Cho Yu-min (Daejon Hana Citizen), Jung Woo-young (Al Sadd), Na Sang-ho (FC Seoul), Paik Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Son Jun-ho (Shandong Taishan), Song Min-kyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Kwon Chang-hoon (Gimcheon Sangmu), Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), Jeong Woo-yeong (Freiburg), Lee Kang-in (Real Mallorca), Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos), Cho Gue-sung (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors).
- Group H Schedule:
Nov. 24
Uruguay-South Korea
Portugal-Ghana
Nov. 28
South Korea-Ghana
Portugal-Uruguay
Dec. 2
Ghana-Uruguay
South Korea-Portugal