World Cup

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World Cup | Group Stage

Dec 2, 2022 at 3pm UK

South Korea
2 - 1
Portugal

Young-gwon (27'), Hee-chan (90+1')
Kang-in (36'), Hee-chan (90+2')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Horta (5')

South Korea vs. Portugal: How do both squads compare ahead of World Cup clash?

By Joshua Ojele | 04 December 2022

Sports Mole looks at how the squads of South Korea and Portugal compare ahead of Friday's World Cup clash between the two sides.

South Korea and Portugal draw the curtain in Group H of the 2022 FIFA World Cup when they go head to head at the Education City Stadium on Friday.

The Taegeuk Warriors have endured an underwhelming campaign in Qatar as they sit level on one point with rock-bottom Uruguay after picking up one point from their opening two outings.

While Paulo Bento's men need nothing less than a win to keep their hopes of a first last-16 appearance since 2010, Portugal head into the weekend looking to become the first side to enjoy a perfect group-stage run after winning their first two games.

Ahead of Friday's meeting between South Korea and Portugal, Sports Mole takes a look at how the squads of both nations stack up against each other.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea players pose for a team group photo before the match in September 2022 © Reuters

Most valuable player:
Heung-min Son (£60.4m)

Overall squad value:
£142.4m

Most capped player:
Heung-min Son (106)

Leading goalscorer:
Heung-min Son (35)

Total caps:
951

Total goals:
115

Oldest player:
Kim Tae-hwan (33)

Youngest player:
Lee Kang-in (21)

Average age:
27.8

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu (Al-Shabab), Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)

Defenders: Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Hong Chul (Daegu FC), Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan Hyundai), Kwon Kyung-won (Gamba Osaka), Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan Hyundai), Cho Yu-min (Daejon Hana Citizen), Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Yoon Jong-gyu (FC Seoul)

Midfielders: Jung Woo-young (Al-Sadd), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), Na Sang-ho (FC Seoul), Paik Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Kwon Chang-hoon (Gimcheon Sangmu), Paik Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Son Jun-ho (Shandong Taishan), Jeong Woo-yeong (Freiburg), Lee Kang-in (Mallorca), Yang Hyun-jun (Gangwon FC)

Forwards: Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos), Cho Gue-sung (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves)

PORTUGAL

Portugal players pose for a team group photo before the match in September 2022 © Reuters

Most valuable player:
Rafael Leao (£73.5m)

Overall squad value:
£810.2

Most capped player:
Cristiano Ronaldo (193)

Leading goalscorer:
Cristiano Ronaldo (118)

Total caps:
1,100

Total goals:
201

Oldest player:
Pepe (39)

Youngest player:
Antonio Silva (19)

Average age:
26.8

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Rui Patricio (Roma)

Defenders: 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)

Midfielders: Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), William Carvalho (Real Betis), Otavio (Porto)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Ricardo Horta (Braga), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Andre Silva (RB Leipzig)