What happened in Group H

The World Cup continues. As Matchday 4 progresses we can look back and reflect upon results and teams that have progressed to the latter stages of the competition. We overview and look at what happened in Group H.

Looking at what happened in Group H can help World Cup Fantasy managers prepare for next round ahead. Overviewing the results, player performances and key fantasy assets can aid in important factors like transfers, captaincy and chip strategy.

Group H

We can see from the table below that Portugal and South Korea have progressed to the next stage of the World Cup. We can also see that Uruguay and Ghana have failed to progress.

Portugal

Portugal came into the group as firm favourites to win it. They faced Ghana in Matchday 1 which was one of the most exciting matches of the tournament so far. Portugal led after striker Cristiano Ronaldo (£10m) scored a penalty. Ghana equalised but Portugal fought back after a goal from striker Joao Felix (£8m), assisted by midfielder Bruno Fernandes (£9.5m). They went onto extend their lead when striker Rafael Leao (£8m) scored via Bruno Fernandes’s assist. Although they conceded again, Portugal won their first match 3-2 and collected three points.

Uruguay lay ahead for Portugal in Matchday 2. Although they struggled to break their opponents down, the Portuguese pushed until Bruno Fernandes scored from defender Raphael Guerreiro’s (£5m) assist. Portugal killed the game and secured the three points when Bruno Fernandes scored a stoppage time penalty.

Portugal knew they would progress even without a positive result against South Korea. For that reason, Portugal rotated their starting 11. Portugal were off to a great start when striker Ricardo Horta (£6.5m) scored from defender Diogo Dalot’s (£5.5m) assist. South Korea needed the win more and that was clear as they scored two goals, meaning a 2-1 defeat for Portugal.

Conclusion

Portugal were fantastic and clinical when they needed to be. One player that stood out above all was Bruno Fernandes who was detrimental towards their success. The defence is a slight concern as the Portuguese only kept one clean sheet in their three group stage games.

South Korea

South Korea performed really well overall against their Matchday 1 opponents Uruguay. They were arguably the better team but just couldn’t convert their chances. They defended well but failed to score which resulted in a 0-0 draw.

Ghana lay ahead in Matchday 2, and South Korea really needed something from the game. After a disastrous first half which saw Ghana score two goals, South Korea needed a reaction. Striker Gue-sung Cho (£5m) scored via midfielder Kang-in Lee’s (£6m) assist. Gue-sung Cho struck again to bring the score level from defender Jin-su Kim’s (£4.5m) assist but it wasn’t enough. Ghana won the game 3-2 meaning South Korea needed a result against Portugal in Matchday 3.

Fortunately for South Korea, Portugal rotated their team in Matchday 3 and after conceding early, South Korea hit back. Defender Young-Gwon Kim (£4m) equalised and South Korea went onto score a dramatic winner via midfielder Hee-Chan Hwang’s (£6.5m) after striker Heung-min Son (£8.5m) created the assist. They won the match 2-1 and due to results elsewhere, progressed.

Conclusion

South Korea were hit and miss in the group stages but got the result they needed to get. It was fortunate that Portugal rotated in Matchday 3 so moving forward there could be huge uncertainty around all of their World Cup Fantasy assets.

Uruguay

Uruguay were poor in Matchday 1 and probably lucky to not lose the game. South Korea looked dominant, but the Uruguay defence held on which resulted in a draw. The lack of threat needed to be addressed before their Matchday 2 game against Portugal.

Portugal came for Uruguay, and they did look better. Unfortunately, it was not enough. They did well to defend against Portugal but eventually crumbled under the pressure. They lost the game 2-0 meaning they needed a positive result against Ghana to have any chance of progressing.

Matchday 3 arrived, and Uruguay had to win. Uruguay were lively and looked far more dangerous than they had in their recent two matches. Their positivity going forward was rewarded as midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta scored both goals whilst one of them was created by striker Luis Suarez. Uruguay won the match 2-0 but because of results elsewhere, they failed to progress.

Conclusion

Uruguay just didn’t have enough creativity in the team to cause problems. They lacked offensively and that was detrimental to their downfall.

Ghana

Ghana were fantastic in Matchday 1 and although they went down 2-0, fought back after Andre Ayew scored. Portugal scored their third goal, but Ghana didn’t give up. They scored again in the 89th minute via a Osman Bukari goal but it wasn’t enough, and they lost the match 3-2.

Ghana started Matchday 2 in great form. The African side scored early with defender Mohammed Salisu’s goal, created by Jordan Ayew. The second goal came and this time it was midfielder Mohammed Kudus who scored from a Jordan Ayew assist. Ghana let the game slip and South Korea scored two to equal the game. However, Ghana pushed, and they were rewarded when Mohammed Kudus struck again via a Inaki Williams assist.

Matchday 3 arrived, and a draw could have been enough for Ghana. Uruguay were, however, too strong and they swept the African team aside. Ghana lost the match 2-0 and failed to progress.

Conclusion

Ghana were an exciting watch throughout the group stages. You could see that they were building something special but because they were still a team in transition, the balance wasn’t right. Mohammed Kudus became a key player for Ghana and would have been their World Cup Fantasy standout asset if they progressed.