Portugal take on Ghana in their opening Group H game at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Thursday. HITC Football previews the tie amid lasting noise surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo.
This winter’s tournament is likely to be the Selecao’s final appearance on a FIFA stage with Ronaldo on the pitch. He is arguably the country’s greatest-ever player and one of the all-time greats of the game. But at 37 years old, the clock is ticking on the free agent’s career.
Manchester United have released Ronaldo from his contract at Old Trafford on the eve of Portugal’s game with Ghana. The Red Devils announced on Tuesday that the 191-cap icon had left the club with immediate effect after mutually terminating his remaining contract.
Ronaldo had already created a storm upon leaving Manchester United to join up with the Portugal squad for the World Cup. In an interview with Piers Morgan, the forward made a raft of explosive claims. Among them was that he felt betrayed by head coach Erik ten Hag.
But the Manchester Evening News reports that both sides agreed to end his £500k-a-week contract – due to expire in June 2023 – without a pay-off for a clean break. Now, Ronaldo can focus on Portugal and trying to win their first World Cup title, starting against Ghana.
HITC Football previews Portugal vs Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Portugal and Ghana kick off their Group H campaigns for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at 16:00 GMT on November 24. FIFA has allocated the match to Stadium 974 in the Ras Abu Aboud district of Doha. It is a temporary stadia built with 974 recycled shipping containers.
Qatar organisers will dismantle the stadium following its use for seven games at the World Cup. Portugal and Ghana’s meeting will be both sides’ only visit unless either team finishes second in Group H. The runners-up from Group H meet the Group G winner at the ground.
Team News: Portugal will have Ronaldo, but Mendes is a doubt due to injury
Ghana are set to carry a clean bill of health into their opening match with Portugal at the 2022 World Cup. But the Selecao may be without Paris Saint-Germain star Nuno Mendes.
Reports by Ghana Soccernet note the left-back did not train on Tuesday at boss Fernando Santos’ request. The Portugal manager is concerned Mendes is not fully fit after sitting out training earlier this week. Mendes is now in a race against time to prove he is able to start.
Portugal will have Ronaldo for the Group H game, though. The free agent sat out a friendly with Nigeria on November 17 due to illness. But he has recovered from the sickness to be fit to face Ghana. The game can be the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s 18th at a World Cup.
What is the head-to-head record between the Selecao and Black Stars?
Portugal have only met Ghana once previously before their Group H tie at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Selecao beat the Black Stars 2-1 at the 2014 edition of FIFA’s quadrennial tournament in Brazil. It was their third and final Group G match in the capital city, Brasilia.
John Boye broke the deadlock at the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha when the defender scored a 31st-minute own goal. Asamoah Gyan would pull Ghana level 12 minutes into the second half. Yet Ronaldo stole the spoils in the 80th but neither country made the last 16.
Portugal taking a 2-1 win over Ghana in their 2014 World Cup meeting ensured the Black Stars finished last in Group G. The Selecao’s result saw them finish the first round in third place with four points, the same as the USA. But the USMNT advanced on goal difference.
Who is the form side ahead of meeting at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
Ghana meet Portugal in Otto Addo’s 10th fixture in charge of the Black Stars. The Borussia Dortmund coach took a joint position in February and oversaw the end of their World Cup qualification. Addo has claimed four wins and three draws across all competitions to date.
Santos will stand in the Selecao dugout for his 105th match as Portugal’s manager, on the other hand. He has so far overseen 65 wins and 21 draws since taking charge in September 2014. Portugal have won six and lost two of their last nine fixtures across all competitions.
Ghana’s last nine games: D-D-W-D-L-W-L-W-W
Portugal’s last nine games: W-W-D-W-W-L-W-L-W
How to watch Portugal vs Ghana live in the UK on TV and online
Portugal and Ghana’s opening match for the 2022 World Cup in Ghana is live on ITV 1 in the UK. The free-to-air public broadcast television network will begin its programming at 15:00 GMT with an hour-long build-up show. The match will then kick off at 16:00 GMT.
ITV will broadcast the Group H tie on ITV 1 (Freeview channel 03, Sky 103 and Virgin Media 103). The match is also available on ITV X, the network’s renamed streaming service, at the same time. Fans can also restart ITV’s full coverage of the fixture from the start via ITV X.
Portugal World Cup facts ahead of Qatar 2022
Current FIFA world ranking: #9
World Cup titles: 0 (best finish of third place in 1966)
World Cup appearance: 8
How they qualified: Beat North Macedonia 2-0 in the UEFA Path C play-off final
Ghana World Cup facts ahead of Qatar 2022
Current FIFA world ranking: #61
World Cup titles: 0 (best finish of quarter-finals in 2010)
World Cup appearance: 4
How they qualified: Beat Nigeria 1-1 (AET) on away goals in the CAF third-round qualifiers
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