Ghana Black Stars  will take on Uruguay  in Group H on Friday knowing that a victory would see them advance to the knockout round of the World Cup  alongside Portugal.

The Black Stars are currently second in the group, two points ahead of fourth-placed Uruguay, who need to triumph to stand a chance of progressing to the last-16 stage of the tournament in Qatar.

Ghana can now eliminate Uruguay from the 2022 competition, with the Black Stars currently sitting second in Group H, having picked up three points from their opening two matches at the tournament, losing their section opener 3-2 to Portugal before recording a 3-2 victory over South Korea.

A victory would send Otto Addo’s   side into the knockout round, while a draw would be enough if South Korea do not beat Portugal, who are already through. Should South Korea triumph against Fernando Santo’s  side, then second in the group would be decided on goal difference.

Ghana know their job, and it would be some story if they could progress to the knockout round for the first time since their run to the quarter-finals in 2010, having been eliminated in the group stage in 2014 before failing to qualify for the finals four years ago in Russia.

Uruguay have found it difficult to impress at the 2022 tournament, drawing 0-0 with South Korea in their opening match on November 24 before losing 2-0 to Portugal on Monday, which has left them bottom of Group H and facing an early exit from the competition.

Diego Alonso’s  side will definitely be eliminated if they lose or draw this match, with only a win being good enough. Three points would be enough to advance if South Korea do not beat Portugal, although if both teams triumph, then second in the group will be decided on goal difference.

Uruguay, who famously won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, certainly know what it takes to advance deep into the competition, having finished fourth at the 2010 competition before reaching the round of 16 and quarter-finals respectively in 2014 and 2018.

The South American nation have not actually been knocked out of a World Cup in the group stage since 2002, which was the first time that it had happened since 1974, so it would be a surprise to see them fail to progress through the first stage of the finals.

La Celeste have found it difficult in their opening two games at the 2022 competition, though, and they will now be taking on a Ghana side out for revenge following their infamous contest in 2010.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ghana:Mohammed Kudus

Ghana have scored in their last seven World Cup games and could equal Nigeria’s record of eight for an African nation at the tournament, set between 1994 and 1998.

If they are to win, Kudus will likely play a key role once again. He is the only player to ever score twice in a World Cup match for the Black Stars, and another goal in the tournament would see him match Gyan’s record haul of three goals in a single edition of the World Cup for Ghana.

His first goal against South Korea ended a passing sequence of 31 uninterrupted passes – a World Cup record for Ghana.

Ghana have not reported any injury concerns from their clash with South Korea, so it would certainly not be a surprise to see the same starting XI take to the field for this match.

Uruguay: Federico Valverde

Arguably one of the form midfielders in world football over the past year, Valverde was limited to having just one shot and making one key pass against Portugal.

But the Real Madrid star has the ability to take the game away from Ghana if, along with Rodrigo Bentancur, he can win the midfield battle.

Bentancur won possession 19 times against Portugal, the most by a player in a 90-minute World Cup match since Brazil’s Mauro Silva in 1994 against the United States (also 19).

Ghana possible starting lineup:
Ati-Zigi; Lamptey, Amartey, Salisu, Mensah; Partey, Samed; Kudus, A Ayew, J Ayew; Williams

Uruguay possible starting lineup:
Rochet; Gimenez, Godin, Coates; Varela, Valverde, Bentancur, Vecino, Olivera; Nunez, Gomez