World Cup Rules Explained: Why Did Uruguay Get Eliminated Despite 2-0 Win vs. Ghana, Having Same Points and Goal Difference as South Korea?
It was supposed to be Luis Suarez's final World Cup. However, he and his Uruguay squad got eliminated despite winning their match against Ghana and tying with South Korea. But why?
Group H lived up to its reputation as a group of death as powerhouses Ghana and Uruguay were eliminated while South Korea and Portugal advanced to the Round of 16. It was a heartbreaker for the first-ever World Cup champions, especially their aging superstar.
MLS broke down the FIFA rules and explained why Uruguay was eliminated despite the tie with the South Koreans on their win-loss-draw record and points scored, as well as goal differential, which determined Mexico's elimination from the tournament.
The deciding factor was the goals scored. South Korea scored four goals in Group H while Uruguay, despite having one of the greatest players in the world in their lineup, only scored twice. Long story short, it was the number of goals scored that determined the tie-breaker.
South Korea Upsets Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal
South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan was the man who sealed Uruguay's fate when he sank that late-game goal against Portugal. This handed them not only the big upset victory over Cristiano Ronaldo and his squad but also second place in Group H. That same goal also made them tie with Portugal on both points and goal difference, which also meant they advanced by having the most goals scored.
According to The Athletic, the win and the advance had Koreans partying in the early hours of the morning, even as it was still around 2:00 am.
READ MORE: World Cup: Will Neymar Play for Brazil vs. Cameroon? What's His Injury Status?
As for Uruguay, it was just simply a heartbreaker. They won their match against Ghana but let them score, and that added to their downfall. This may also be Luis Suarez's last dance at the big one, as, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, he is not getting any younger in his mid-30s.
For Ghana, this was redemption for 2010 as Luis Suarez had a handball incident that eliminated the Black Stars from becoming the first African team to make it to the semi-finals of the World Cup. Suarez is widely hated in Ghana, as Ghanans call him the "devil" for his handball incident.
Portugal, on the other hand, did not need to win their match against South Korea, as a win or lose, they were still advancing as the winners of Group H. They will meet Switzerland next in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, South Korea will have an even tougher challenge ahead of them... Brazil.
Cameroon Upsets Brazil, But World Cup Favorites Still Advance to Top Group G
Brazil has been plagued by injuries and illnesses so far, and this may have hampered the team's performance against the Indomitable Lions, as Cameroon defeated the tournament favorites in a stunning 1-0 upset.
Even though they defeated Brazil, Cameroon still failed to make it to the Round of 16, while Brazil advances to top the group despite falling to Cameroon.
Once again, Brazil's star player, Neymar, was out with an injury, as was Juventus star defender Danilo. For Neymar, he was still not allowed to train with a ball, but they are still waiting to see if he could play during their Round of 16 match against the South Koreans. As for Danilo, he already began working out and had an intense workout with the ball. Both players are receiving special treatment so their injuries can heal faster.
According to The Guardian, this was the first time that the Indomitable Lions ever defeated Brazil, and it was all thanks to a header from Vincent Aboubakar.
Meanwhile, Switzerland defeated Serbia to advance to the Round of 16 in a thrilling 3-2 win. This sets them up with a date with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: "It's not my fault... I didn't miss the penalty" - Luis Suarez on Ghana losing to Uruguay in 2010 - Sky Sports News
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