The Portuguese four risk missing the “eighth” place if they see a yellow card

Portugal have four players who risk missing out on the round of 16 game if booked against South Korea, last in Group H of the 2022 World Cup.

Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Neves, Ruben Dias and Joao Felix, each with a yellow card from the group stage, are in danger for the “eighth” duel, as the rules of the competition provide for the suspension of one game as soon as the athlete has two yellow cards.

The Manchester United midfielder was booked on Portugal’s debut against Ghana (3-2 win), “avoiding” a second caution against Uruguay in which he signed two winning goals (2-0), allowing the Portuguese team to secure your place in the next stage.

Moreover, it was against the Uruguayans that Ruben Neves, Joao Felix and Ruben Dias, the latter due to protests, were booked, joining Bruno Fernandes among the players at risk.

In addition to this quartet, Danilo Pereira also has a yellow card received against Ghana. However, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder was injured ahead of the game against Uruguay and is out again against South Korea, so he will never face a disciplinary match in the 8th.

Faced with this problem, I doubt whether the Portuguese coach, with guaranteed qualifications but still on the verge of winning Group H, will choose to keep them in the “eleven” or keep them in the bank. .

The situation is similar to that which faced 16 years ago the Brazilian Luis Felipe Scolari, then coach of the national team, at the 2006 World Cup, in the game against Mexico, which finished third in the group stage, after victories with Angola (1-0) and Iran (2- 0).

Players at risk of missing “eighth place” if they see a yellow card were Nuno Valente, Costinha, Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pauleta, while Felipao left them all out, making Caneira, Petit, Thiago, Simon and Hélder Postiga.

The kinas formation needed a point to win the group, but they fared better, winning 2–1 with goals from Manishe and Simao, the latter from the penalty spot. José Fonseca did shrink, but Portugal finished first in Group D.

With a triumph in the group, Portugal swerved away from Argentina to set up a meeting with the Netherlands, which they beat 1-0 with another goal from Maniche in a match that went down in history for 16 yellows and four reds to accumulate.

Portugal and South Korea will face each other on Friday, starting at 18:00 local time (15:00 in Lisbon), at the Education City stadium in Doha, in the third round match of the H Mundial 2022, which runs until December 18 in Qatar .