Two Manchester United players are playing for their respective nations in the Portugal and Uruguay games, including one making his first appearance at the finals.
Diogo Dalot makes his World Cup debut as he starts in Portugalโs final group stage match against South Korea. Dalot has had to wait patiently for his opportunity at the finals in Qatar as he was on the bench for Portugalโs wins over Ghana and Uruguay respectively.
The Man United full-back has been in excellent form for Erik ten Hagโs side this season and he has made the right-back slot his own this season.
Dalot will have a chance to showcase his talents on the world stage and show those watching just why he has become an important player for United this season, and he can do so in a relaxed frame of mind because Portugal have qualified for the knockout stages, which has allowed Fernando Santos to make six changes.
๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ โก โ Este รฉ o nosso 11 Inicial para hoje! ๐ฅ๐ต๐น #VesteABandeira
This is our Starting 11 for today! ๐ฅ #WearTheFlag pic.twitter.com/uFLTIV0sg6
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) December 2, 2022
However, Dalotโs fellow United team-mate, Bruno Fernandes does not start the game against South Korea as he has been rested ahead of Portugalโs Round of 16 clash, however, should Bruno be required to help Portugal win the game and top the group, then it would not be a surprise to see him come on as a second half substitute.ย
Elsewhere, another United player is making his third appearance of the World Cup and that is Uruguayโs Facundo Pellistri.ย
Pellistri has featured in both of Uruguayโs opening two games against South Korea and Portugal, where he came on as a second half substitute in the 2-0 defeat.
Diego Alonso has shown his trust and faith in the 20-year-old by starting him in a crucial game for the South American side and it is a game that has plenty at stake because of what happened 12 years ago, where Luis Suarez handed the ball in extra time that presented Ghana with a golden opportunity to become the first African team to reach the semi-finals.
โ๐ผ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐
Ficha del partido contra Ghana por el ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฃ๐ข ๐ de la @fifaworldcup. #ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/vITCcwMXuD
— Selecciรณn Uruguaya (@Uruguay) December 2, 2022
However, Ghanaโs Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty in the last minute of extra-time before Uruguay won on penalties to book their semi-final spot against the Netherlands in 2010.ย ย
โItโs not my fault, because I didnโt miss the penalty.โ
Luis Suรกrez was asked about his handball against Ghana in 2010 ๐ณ
(via @SkyFootball)https://t.co/3Su7ZNLaaN
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 1, 2022
Both games in Group H will kick off at 3pm UK time.ย