World Cup: Relief for South Korea as Son is fit for opener with wild cards Uruguay

DOHA – South Korean fans breathed a collective sigh of relief on Wednesday, after coach Paulo Bento confirmed that Son Heung-min will be able to play in their World Cup opener against Uruguay on Thursday, despite his star player wearing a mask after facial surgery.

The Tottenham Hotspur forward and South Korean skipper went under the knife earlier in November after suffering fractures around his left eye in a collision during a Champions League match.

Son, 30, has been training in Qatar wearing a black protective mask reminiscent of swashbuckling vigilante Zorro, and fans had been eagerly awaiting news of his availability.

“Son can play and will be able to play,” Bento said. “The fact he will be wearing a mask is not inconvenient for him, it is natural for him.

“We have stuck to the plan since we arrived here, also the way we integrated him into our group shows he has been natural.

“We will see tomorrow how it will be. Our hope is that he will feel comfortable as far as possible. But he knows and we know that, after this injury, we cannot take any risks.”

Son is eager to play, but wary of the possibility of further injuries from a premature return. He said last week he was “more than willing to bear those risks”.

Bento confirmed that Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan had not recovered in time for the game while the team will make a late call on defender Kim Jin-su.

“We are well aware that we will face many difficulties with rivals we play against and we’re aware that in the history of World Cups, South Korea only advanced to knockouts twice – one of them when they were co-hosts with Japan (in 2002),” he added.

“If this was a team that always advanced, then I would say, ‘Yes, we need to qualify (for the next stage)’.

“I don’t see any reason to put any pressure on their shoulders.”

Group H also includes Portugal and Ghana, meaning Son’s unrelenting threat and firepower against an uncertain Uruguayan defence will be vital for South Korea to pick up some crucial early points by negating La Celeste’s attacking flair.

The Uruguayans are once again the dark horses, with a squad that combines a trusted old guard of players aged 35 or above, with exciting young talent eager to make their mark in their first World Cup.

They include Liverpool’s record signing Darwin Nunez, who is expected to be paired up front with the ageing Luis Suarez, a key component in Uruguay’s impressive march to the semi-finals in the 2010 tournament.

Nunez at 23 is 12 years younger than Suarez and fellow forward Edinson Cavani, who play in their fourth Finals, as does captain and most-capped player Diego Godin.

Among 13 debutants will be Real Madrid’s versatile midfielder Federico Valverde and Manchester United’s Facundo Pellistri, who will link up with Tottenham’s in-form Rodrigo Bentancur in a midfield which has plenty of depth.

Coach Diego Alonso sees the yawning age gap as a boon and believes Uruguay could even win this World Cup, as they did in 1930 and 1950.

He said: “Uruguayan soccer players are the best in the world, it’s the biggest weapon. The sense of belonging they have is above any tactical or motivational approach.”

But commentators have noted frailties at the back that South Korea could exploit, particularly in the centre, while there is no word yet on whether Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo is available after undergoing thigh surgery.

Uruguay have reached 14 World Cups and South Korea 11, but neither have a good record in their opening match, with the Asian side losing or drawing in their last two World Cups and Uruguay unable to win their openers in six of their last seven editions.

REUTERS, AFP