Uruguay starts the soccer World Cup in Qatar with a team that has seen almost everything – and is still faced with insurmountable hurdles by South Korea. The eleven around Luis Suárez missed the hoped-for victory at the start of Group H. South Korea, DFB shock from 2018, disappointed offensively.
Heung-Min Son whirled, Luis Suárez looked a bit rusty – but the two unequal national heroes didn’t want to score a goal: South Korea and Uruguay started the World Cup with a 0-0 draw, “Maskenmann” Son and his team seemed much more stable. The Asians made claims at this tournament with a strong display against the two-time world champions.
For a long time it was questionable whether Son would be able to play at all. The Tottenham Hotspur goalscorer, who used to be in the Bundesliga for a long time, had to undergo surgery after breaking his eye socket multiple times. In the end he wore a face mask and convinced against the oldies from Uruguay. It’s not just the exceptional striker Suárez who has gotten old with the South Americans.
Ultimately, both teams took a point and the already balanced Group H with Portugal and Ghana remains open after the duel between the two World Cup regulars. The Asians have been there for 36 years, but Uruguay have been in the knockout rounds three times in a row. The South Americans went into the game slightly as favorites – but could hardly confirm that from the start.
South Korea was at least equal, seemed extremely mature, and had a lot under control. The Asians were much more structured and very variable when it came to building up the game, so after half an hour they had the first real chance of the game: After a fine attack down the right, Ui-Jo Hwang got the ball, but shot over the goal from ten meters ( 34.).
Uruguay put their physical game against it. A lot seemed a bit random, but after winning the ball it always went forward quickly. And the South Americans also got their big chance in the first half: After a corner, captain Diego Godin – also 36 years old – headed against the post (43rd). Otherwise, however, the South Korean defense – consisting of Seung-Gyu Kim in goal and the back four Moon-Hwan Kim, Min-Jae Kim, Young-Gwon Kim and Jin-Su Kim – was stable for long stretches.
At halftime, Son in particular made an impression, was a constant source of danger, stood out technically – and clearly overshadowed Suárez on the other side. The former star of FC Barcelona had recently helped his parent club Nacional Montevideo to the title, he is currently without a club.
In the course of the second half he was joined by long-time strike partner Edinson Cavani and suddenly Uruguay started to put the pressure on, at least at times. Federico Valverde hit the post late (89′), Son shot just wide a little later (90′).
