Two-time World Cup winners Uruguay take on 2002 semi-finalists South Korea in the opening match of Group H this Thursday, with both sides keen to get off to the best possible start.
Group H is arguably the toughest group in the competition this year, with Portugal and Ghana making up the other teams.
Uruguay reached the quarter-finals in 2018, but will be confident of improving on that performance this time around as many of their emerging talents begin to reach maturity. South Korea, meanwhile, will be looking to escape from their group for the first time since 2010.
Here’s everything you need to know about what is sure to be a fascinating game of football.
Uruguay vs South Korea H2H Results (All Time)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
Uruguay team news
Uruguay’s only injury concern is Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo, who has been out since late September. Araujo has still been included in Diego Alonso’s squad for the World Cup, but is unlikely to return in time to feature in the competition unless La Celeste progress to at least the semi-finals.
Uruguay starting 11 (4-3-3): Rochet; Varela, Godin, Gimenez, Olivera; Bentancur, Valverde, Vecino; Pellistri, Suarez, Nunez.
Bench: Muslera, Sosa, Vina, Coates, Caceres, Rodriguez, de la Cruz, de Arrascaeta, Torreira, Ugarte, Gomez, Torres, Cavani, Canobbio.
South Korea team news
South Korea manager Paulo Bento faces an anxious wait to see if captain and star player Son Heung-min is available for his side’s opening bout.
The Tottenham Hotspur winger suffered a facial fracture during his club’s Champions League clash with Marseille and will have to wear a protective mask throughout the competition.
Another possible absentee is left-back Kim Jin-su, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered at the beginning of November.
South Korea starting 11 (4-3-3): Kim Seung-gyu; Yoon Jong-gyu, Kim Min-jae, Kim Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su; Jung Woo-young, Hwang In-beom, Kwon Chang-hoon; Hwang Hee-chan, Hwang Ui-jo, Son Heung-min.
Bench: Song Bum-Keun, Jo Hyeon-woo, Hong Chul, Kim Moon-Hwan, Kwon Kyung-won, Kim Tae-hwan, Cho Yu-min, Paik Seung-ho, Lee Jae-sung, Son Jun-ho, Na Sang-ho, Lee Kang-in, Jeong Woo-yeong, Song Min-kyu, Cho Gue-sung.
South Korea are more than capable of beating even the best sides on their day – just ask Germany, who suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of the Taeguk Warriors in 2018. However, it’s hard to see Bento’s side finding their way past Uruguay this time.
Uruguay have a squad capable of going…
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