Doha, November 23 (QNA) - Uruguay National Team will meet its South Korean counterpart on Thursday at Education City Stadium, as part of the first round of Group H matches in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The two teams are seeking to reach the knockout stage through the group that also includes Portugal and Ghana. These teams are familiar with each other after having encounters in the knockout stage in the previous editions of the tournament.

Uruguay won the World Cup title twice, the first in the inaugural edition in 1930 and the second in Brazil twenty years later, but the South American national team added a new chapter to this historical story through its impressive performance in the last editions of the tournament. It is looking forward to continue this performance in the World Cup in Qatar, starting from tomorrow's match.

World Cup South Africa 2010 witnessed in the round of 16 a match between Uruguay and South Korea in Port Elizabeth. Uruguay would end up advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time in 4 decades after winning 2-1.

The two teams also meet once before in Italy 1990 when Uruguay also won with a single goal by Daniel Fonseca.

Some of the country's most experienced players -Fernando Muslera, Diego Godin, Suarez, and Edinson Cavani- are expected to participate in their 4th World Cup tournament.

Cavani was the leader of the team's unforgettable victory at the Round of 16 during Russia 2018, scoring both goals in the 2-1 victory that ended the hopes of Portugal.

On the other hand, South Korea, which is participating in the World Cup for 10th time in a row and the 11th time in its history, aspires to reach advanced stages in the World Cup, as it did in the 2002 tournament, which it hosted with Japan.

South Korea National Team, coached by Paulo Bento, hopes to cause surprises in the World Cup although its encounters in the group stage will not be easy in the presence of Portugal, Ghana and Uruguay.

It seems that the South Korean National Team's defense is at its best after the distinguished levels it presented in the World Cup qualifiers. Tomorrow it seeks to stop the danger of the Uruguayan duo Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, as well as striker Darwin Nunez, who will make his debut in the World Cup.

The South Korean team led by Kim Min-jae hope to leave its mark in the World Cup by controlling focal areas and the offensive midfield, tightening control over the Uruguay National Team and exploiting the gaps in its side.

Bento's squad included striker Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae, Lee Jae-in, Jeong Woo-yeong, Lee Jae-sung, Hwang Hee-chan and players from Ulsan Hyundai FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

(QNA)