Son Heung-min's inclusion failed to inspire South Korea as his side played out a disappointing 0-0 draw with Uruguay in World Cup Group H.

Son's participation had been in doubt in the build-up after the Tottenham striker fractured an eye socket in the Champions League clash with Marseille on November 1.

He was declared fit, aided by a facemask, but, a few nice touches aside, failed to impact the game the way coach Paulo Bento would have liked - and it could have been much worse for the Asian side had Federico Valverde's late piledriver gone in rather than rattled the post.

Valverde's effort was a rare moment of inspiration for Uruguay as Darwin Nunez and Luis Suarez toiled with both teams adopting a safety-first approach, wary of losing their opening game and putting their qualification hopes at risk.

Hwang Ui-jo had South Korea's best chance, firing over the bar from eight yards after 34 minutes, while Diego Godin also struck the woodwork for Uruguay.

The long ball from the left-side of defence to the right-wing appeared Uruguay's greatest attacking weapon in the early stages and it produced two chances in the space of three minutes.

From the first, Valverde took down Jose Gimenez’s pass and fired left-footed over the top, and shortly afterwards, another Gimenez pass was nodded back across goal by Facundo Pellistri but Nunez missed his kick from six yards out.

South Korea were neat and industrious but lacked a cutting edge. And when they did carve out an opening, it was promptly squandered, Hwang missing he target after Kim Moon-hwan had escaped down the right.

The best chance of the opening half came after 43 minutes when Godin rose highest to meet Valverde’s corner but placed his header against the left-hand upright with Korea keeper Kim Seung-gyu beaten.

The second period lacked any attacking cohesion, although the few chances that were created fell the way of Uruguay.

Nunez saw a low cross, intended for Suarez, palmed away by Kim Seung-gyu, substitute Edinson Cavani had a shot blocked by the sliding challenge of Kim Min-jae while, 10 minutes from time, Nunez curled an effort wide from the edge of the box.

The best moment came in the last minute of normal time, however, Valverde lining one up from 30 yards and crashing his shot against the woodwork.

Sometimes, one Kim is just not enough.

South Korea certainly thought so after naming an entire defence with the surname of Kim for their World Cup Group H opener against Uruguay on Thursday. If that wasn't enough, their goalkeeper was also called Kim!

Kim Seung-gyu will don the gloves, while the back four comprises Kim Jin-su, Kim Min-jae, Kim Moon-hwan and Kim Young-gwon.

To confuse observers further, the line-up also included two Hwangs! Pity the commentators!

Son Heung-min was passed fit for South Korea to start their World Cup opener against Uruguay at Education City Stadium on Thursday.

The Tottenham forward fractured an eye socket in the Champions League game against Marseille on November 1 and donned a facemask to take on the South Americans.

His availability was a big boost for coach Paulo Bento as the Koreans looked to get their Group H campaign off to a winning start.

Son entered the game one goal short of becoming South Korea's joint-top World Cup goalscorer and only the second player from the country to score in three separate World Cups after Park Ji-sung, who netted once in each of the 2002, 2006 and 2010 tournaments.

Uruguay started the game with a front two of Darwin Nunez and Luis Suarez, with Edinson Cavani still struggling to shake off an ankle injury.

Son Heung-min is comfortable having to wear a protective mask in order to play against Uruguay, with South Korea coach Paulo Bento confident his star player is fit.

Tottenham forward Son sustained a fractured eye socket in Spurs' clash with Marseille at the start of November, casting doubt over his participation in Qatar.

However, he was named in Bento's squad and has returned to training wearing a mask in order to shield the injury from further damage.

Korea open their Group H campaign against Uruguay on Thursday, and Bento has confidence that Son has fully recovered, though conceded there is an element of risk.

"Sonny can play, yes. He will be able to play," Bento said.

"I think the fact that he would be wearing a mask is not an inconvenience for him, it's rather natural.

"We have stuck to the plan since we arrived here, also the way we integrated him into our group shows that it has been natural, except in the final training stages.

"We will see how it will be. Our hope is that he will feel comfortable to the greatest extent possible, and we will use the best strategy so he can feel at ease during the game.

"He knows and we know that we cannot rule out any risks."

Son is Korea's joint-leading World Cup goalscorer, having scored three times in the competition, and he is aiming to become only the second player from the nation to score in three separate editions of the tournament after Park Ji-sung.

While Korea are heavily reliant on Son to lead their attack, Uruguay are blessed with three exceptional forwards in the form of veteran campaigners Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, along with Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.

"With our strikers, our plan is to put a good performance in the first game, that's for sure. We are very much excited with what we can produce," said Uruguay coach Diego Alonso.

"We have peace of mind because we have goalscoring opportunities, flexibility not only with our strikers, we are good defensively and this will make us a very competitive team."

While Alonso would not apply extra pressure on his team, captain Diego Godin says Uruguayan players always have "big shoes to fill".

"The qualification round had ups and downs but we achieved our goal," he said.

"The World Cup is an objective but it is still far away, but this history and this shirt requires us to win. We have very big shoes to fill when we are representing our country."

Korea boss Bento, meanwhile, also stressed that Suarez, Cavani and Nunez are not the only players his team have to worry about at Education City Stadium.

"I would say Federico Valverde is a fantastic player," he replied when asked about the Real Madrid midfielder. 

"Together with [Kevin] De Bruyne he's one of the best midfielders in the world, a player who can actually win the game.

"Collectively they are very strong, and we have to cope with the power they have as well as the individual skill sets."

Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet insists he has no fear about facing South Korea's masked warrior Son Heung-min at the World Cup.

Rochet is set to come face to face with the Tottenham striker when Uruguay begin their Qatar 2022 campaign on Thursday.

Son was the joint Golden Boot winner in the English Premier League last season, matching Mohamed Salah's haul of 23 goals.

A fractured eye socket injury came as a jolt to 30-year-old Son ahead of the World Cup, but he was fit enough to be selected by coach Paulo Bento.

Now, Son is set to lead the South Korea attack, almost certainly in the face mask he has been wearing in training, with his world-class ability set to pose a threat to Uruguay's rearguard.

Rochet said: "You are prepared for everything, not only for Son. We know that the best players are in the national teams. He has shown that he is at a very high level and one has been looking at him for a long time, studying him, respecting him, but trusting in what one does.

"One thinks that he is going to play. He does not worry me anymore. If he is not there, another one will enter in his place and he will be good, too."

Uruguay must also face Portugal and Ghana in Group H, with Rochet facing a challenge of keeping out the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Inaki Williams.

Much has been made of Uruguay's attacking strengths, with the likes of Darwin Nunez and veterans Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani in their ranks.

Rochet, however, says the defence is also of a high calibre as the two-time champions plot a deep run, saying: "We are all at a very good level, and whoever has to play will do so in the best way."

Son Heung-min says he is willing to risk his health to bring joy to South Korea's fans at the World Cup after being pictured training in a protective mask.

Son's participation in Qatar was in doubt when he suffered a fracture around his left eye in Tottenham's Champions League win at Marseille earlier this month, causing him to miss Spurs' last three pre-World Cup fixtures.

However, Son was named in Paulo Bento's 26-man World Cup squad and subsequently declared he would not miss the tournament "for the world".

On Wednesday, Son participated in South Korea's training session in Doha while donning a protective mask, and the forward is prepared to take risks in order to feature. 

"I am not a doctor, it's difficult for me to say when I can play. I will do the best I can under the circumstances," Son said.

"From the fans' perspective, I may be pushing this too far, but football players always compete under such risks. 

"I just want to give our fans joy and hope. I am more than willing to bear those risks.

"Everyone who comes to the World Cup wants to play well, but it takes more than that. Speaking realistically, it's more important to be prepared for matches than to just have the desire to play well. 

"I can't predict the future, but I want to make this a special World Cup, using every last ounce of energy that I have."

While Son's participation in his team's Group H opener against Uruguay on November 24 remains uncertain, the Spurs star already feels at ease wearing his mask.

"I was surprised at first how comfortable the mask was," Son added. "It feels a little different here than in England, because it's hotter here and I sweated a lot today.

"These carbon masks are really light, and they likely won't break. If a mask breaks, it means something has happened to my face, so I hope it doesn't come to that!"

Son Heung-min has been included in South Korea's 26-man squad for the World Cup despite the Tottenham forward's injury.

The 30-year-old sustained a fractured eye socket playing against Marseille in a Champions League fixture earlier this month, putting his participation in serious doubt.

However, Son assured South Korea fans earlier this week that he would be on the plane to Qatar.

"I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you all for the messages of support I have received over the last week," the forward wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.

"I have read so many of them and truly, truly appreciate you all.

"In a tough time I received a lot of strength from you. Playing for your country at the World Cup is the dream of so many children growing up, just as it was one of mine too.

"I won’t miss this for the world. I can’t wait to represent our beautiful country. See you soon."

Son has now officially been included in South Korea's travelling part for the tournament that starts on November 20, with their first Group H assignment taking place four days later against Uruguay. 

Head coach Paulo Bento was not able to offer clarity on when Son could start training prior to that game.

In quotes reported by BBC Sport, Bento said: "We don't have that information yet.

"We are in contact with him, with the Tottenham medical department. We need to wait, we need to analyse day by day his situation.

"We have time to decide and the most important is he recovers as well as possible, he feels comfortable and then we will take the final decision."

South Korea forward Son Heung-min says he would not miss the Qatar 2022 World Cup "for the world", confirming he will be available for the tournament.

The Tottenham attacker's participation had been in doubt after suffering a fracture near his left eye during a Champions League clash with Marseille at the start of this month.

Club boss Antonio Conte had previously stated it would be "impossible" for the player to feature for Spurs before the mid-season break, sparking fears he could miss out on the World Cup entirely.

Now however, Son - who has 35 goals in 104 senior appearances for South Korea - has revealed he will be fit to feature, and that he is expected to join his country in Qatar.

"I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you all for the messages of support I have received over the last week," the forward wrote on Instagram. 

"I have read so many of them and truly, truly appreciate you all.

"In a tough time I received a lot of strength from you. Playing for your country at the World Cup is the dream of so many children growing up, just as it was one of mine too.

"I won’t miss this for the world. I can’t wait to represent our beautiful country. See you soon."

News of Son's availability for the South Korea team will come as a major boost, with the 30-year-old - a member of their Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018 squads - now set for his third World Cup.

The Spurs forward needs to make just one more appearance to sit 10th on the country's all-time capped list in men's international football, jointly with Kim Tae-young and Lee Dong-gook on 105.

South Korea kick off their campaign against Uruguay on November 24.

Son Heung-min was forced off with a worrying-looking head injury in Tottenham's Champions League match with Marseille.

A 23rd-minute aerial collision between Son and Marseille defender Chancel Mbemba led to a lengthy break in play. 

In visible pain, Son was eventually helped off the field by Spurs' medical team as he struggled to walk.

The incident will spark fears for both Tottenham and South Korea, with Son's national team due to open their World Cup campaign against Uruguay in just 23 days.

Whether South Korea's star man will be fit for that match on November 24 remains to be seen, as they look to make it out of the World Cup group stage for the first time since the 2010 edition in South Africa.

Spurs will be in action three more times before the World Cup starts, with Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Leeds United either side of a third-round EFL Cup meeting with Nottingham Forest.

Son Heung-min was forced off with a worrying-looking head injury in Tottenham's Champions League match with Marseille.

A 23rd-minute aerial collision between Son and Marseille defender Chancel Mbemba led to a lengthy break in play. 

In visible pain, Son was eventually helped off the field by Spurs' medical team as he struggled to walk.

The incident will spark fears for both Tottenham and South Korea, with Son's national team due to open their World Cup campaign against Uruguay in just 23 days.

Whether South Korea's star man will be fit for that match on November 24 remains to be seen, as they look to make it out of the World Cup group stage for the first time since the 2010 edition in South Africa.

Spurs will be in action three more times before the World Cup starts, with Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Leeds United either side of a third-round EFL Cup meeting with Nottingham Forest.

Jamaica Reggae Girlz captain Khadijah Shaw has labelled the just concluded two-match tour of South Korea as a valuable learning experience, despite the team losing both matches.

Following a 1-0 loss to their Asian counterparts on Saturday, the team closed out the tour with a 2-0 defeat on Wednesday.  Despite the results, the tour that was earmarked as an opportunity to evaluate players and team tactics was in Shaw's estimation a huge success.

“From the beginning the coach had said he wanted to use this opportunity to see other players, to find an identity and style of play, especially now that we have time before the World Cup,” Shaw said.

“So just coming here, playing against a different style, playing against a team that loves the ball helped us to know that sometimes we are going to suffer in different games and that gives us an idea of how we can approach the game,” she added.

The Reggae Girlz are expected to take part in further camps during the October and November window.

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz suffered a 1-0 defeat to South Korea in a friendly international at the Hwaseong Stadium on Saturday.

In the first meeting between the teams, the fixture was settled by an early goal from Choe Yu-ri who found the back of the net in the 13^th minute.  The Reggae Girlz made a few changes to the starting line-up ahead of the match, including the return of Sydney Schneider who was the team’s custodian at the last FIFA World Cup, and a debut for Siobhan Marie Wilson.

Head coach of the unit Lorne Donaldson believes that barring a bit of inefficiency the team put in a creditable performance.

“Playing with this style that we are not accustomed to, I think the first half we were very tentative and we actually gave up a goal we shouldn’t have,” Lorne said after the match.

“In the second half, it was much better.  We might have scored but that’s football.  We’ll make some adjustments the players who didn’t play in this game will play in the next game because we still have to evaluate,” he added.

“Winning is good but sometimes you just have to evaluate, look and see what you have and that’s what we are here for.”

Jamaica Reggae Girlz coach Lorne Donaldson says the team will use its upcoming fixture against South Korea and others this year to trim down a highly competitive squad ahead of next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.  

The Jamaicans will play their first match since qualifying for the tournament two months ago when they South Korea on Saturday.  Donaldson will, however, field somewhat of a changed line-up, partly through necessity but also with half a mind on looking at potential additions to the team.

“This window going into South Korea and the next two windows is to look at some new players and give the older players that have been in the squad another chance, so they can put themselves in position for next year to be part of the World Cup squad,” Donaldson said.

“It gives us coaches a deeper squad to choose from and ensures that we do not leave any stone unturned.  So, this team going into South Korea will be the start of that, and expect the team to be very competitive.  There are a few familiar names that are missing but that’s what we want…it’s good for us to have a deeper pool of players,” he added.

Four new players have been called to Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz 23-player squad for the friendly.

Four new players have been called to Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz 23-player squad for their international friendly against South Korea at the at Hwaseong Sports Complex on September 3 and a ‘practice match on September 6.

Nineteen-year-old forward Kameron Simmonds, 17-year-old goalkeeper Liya Brooks, 28-year-old defender Sioban Wilson and defender Maliah Atkins are the new players that will be vying for spots on Jamaica’s senior women’s team that has already qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

The call-ups add depth to a strong unit, most of which were members of the World Cup qualifying squad, even though there are a few absentees because of injury.

As part of his stated policy, Coach Lorne Donaldson will be using this opportunity and other windows this year to look at other players who were not involved in the recent World Cup qualifiers.

The full squad includes Sydney Schneider, Yazmeen Jamieson, Chantelle Swaby, Allyson Swaby, Vyan Sampson, Chinyelu Asher, Kayla McCoy, Atlanta Primus, Marlo Sweatman, Khadija Shaw, Tierney Wiltshire, Drew Spence, Mireya Grey, Trudi Carter, Olufolasade Adamolekun, Deneisha Blackwood, Tiffany Cameron, Shania Hayles, Kameron Simmonds, Liya Brooks, Siobhan Wilson, Giselle Washington and Maliah Atkins.

The squad and the technical staff are scheduled to assemble in Hwaseong on August 30.

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz have been booked to tackle top Asian team South Korea, in a friendly international at the Hwaseong Sports Complex, in South Korea, on September 3^rd.

The match, which will be a first-ever meeting between the two teams, will also be the first for the Jamaica national team since successfully qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup last month.  The team was doing so for the second straight tournament.

South Korea, who are the number 18^th ranked team in the world, will pose a stern test for the Jamaicans who recently achieved a high of 42.  The South Koreans have also put together strong performances in 2022 after finishing second at the AFC Women's Asian Cup.

With the match occurring on a FIFA International match date, both teams are expected to have their full complement of players available for selection.