World Cup Preview: Brazil vs S. Korea

Brazil vs South Korea Preview

Having progressed into the knockout stage for the ninth consecutive occasion, Brazil will confront South Korea, who have advanced to the last 16 for only the third time, on Monday at Stadium 974 in Doha. 

Brazil’s world cup campaign began with a comfortable victory 2-0 over Serbia, thanks to a rhythmic second half, with Richarlison putting the icing on the cake by scoring with an acrobatic bicycle kick in the 73rd minute. 

The Seleção followed it with a get-the-job-done 1-0 win against Switzerland. However, Tite’s heavily-rotated side suffered an unexpected blip versus Cameroon as Vincent Aboubakar’s historic header in the 92nd minute broke Brazil’s nine-game winning streak alongside making the Indomitable Lions the first African team to beat the South American outfit in a men’s world cup. 

Although the Seleção were wasteful in front of the goal in their last game, having failed to score despite taking aim 21 times, there is no need to press the panic button in the Brazilian camp. In their first two matches, when the pressure started building, Tite’s players responded positively and turned up the heat in the second half. 

The five-time winner’s cumulative xG of 5.9 would also instil confidence, as it suggests that Brazil’s brand of football is opening enough avenues for them, they just need to be more clinical in front of the goal. Given the frightening quality in the team, one would expect them to step on the gas paddle as we go deeper into the tournament. 

The progression of Paul Bento’s South Korea to the last 16, on the other hand, was no less than an emotional rollercoaster. 

Needing a victory against group toppers, Portugal, the Taegeuk Warriors found themselves trailing by a goal in the 5th minute. They equalised in the first half but it was Hwang Hee-chan’s slick finish in injury time that transmitted a wave of ecstasy in all of South Korea, who finished level on points with Uruguay but qualified because they scored more goals. 

From all three games, there are positives that the South Koreans would want to build on when they play their first knockout game since 2010 on Monday. 

They showed great grit in completing the comeback against a depleted Portugal side as well as equalising against Ghana, even though Mohammed Kudus eventually scored the winner, while Uruguay too struggled to break them down.  

Bento, who will also return to the sideline against Brazil, would have good…