2022 FIFA World Cup | More Portugal stars could miss clash with South Korea: Reports

A handful of Portugal stars could miss the team's final 2022 FIFA World Cup Group H clash with South Korea on Friday due to injury or risk of suspension, according to local media outlet Correio da Manhã.
Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images

As well as Danilo Pereira who last week suffered fractured ribs in training, defender Nuno Mendes, and midfielder Otávio could also miss out due to injury.

While Rúben Dias, João Félix, and Bruno Fernandes could also be rested by Portugal boss Fernando Santos (pictured above) to avoid being suspended for the Round of 16.

The trio are on one booking and another would mean they would have to sit out Portugal's first knockout match, which could be against Switzerland, Cameroon, or Serbia.

The news is likely to serve as a boost to South Korea boss Paulo Bento whose side's round of 16 chances are hanging by a thread.

Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to play, however, with the 37-year-old still waiting to break Eusebio’s record as the nation’s all-time World Cup scorer.

Ronaldo is currently on eight World Cup goals while Eusebio scored nine.

[READ: Korea's World Cup Adversaries: Portugal]

The Taegeuk Warriors need to beat group leaders Portugal on Friday night and hope that Uruguay do them a favour and beat Ghana who currently sit second in the group.

Korea sit third, meanwhile, with one point from their first two games after a 0-0 draw with Uruguay and a 3-2 loss to Ghana.

Tempers flared following the loss to Ghana, too, with Paulo Bento shown a red card for his angry protest toward English referee Anthony Taylor.

The Premier League official blew for full time when Korea had earned a late, late corner with Bento and his team feeling they ought to have been able to take the corner before the whistle was blown.

Bento, from Portugal and a former Portuguese national team boss himself, will have to watch on from the stands due to his touchline ban.

Bento, though, has since apologised for his outburst, as reported by Korea Joongang Daily:

"I'd like to express my apologies to my players." I don’t think that was the best reaction in that situation. However, I, too, am human. But I don’t think that the referee, who also works in the Premier League, had respect for our team. I am very sorry for my players.”

[READ: Cho Gue-sung is attracting interest from Europe says Lee Young-pyo]

South Korea face Portugal at Education City Stadium in Doha this Friday at 6 PM local time or 12 midnight in Korea.

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