BRAZIL – SOUTH KOREA | Monday, 20:00
The irrelevant defeat against Cameroon (1-0) on the final day of the group stage interrupted an unbeaten run that had been going on for over a year and a half, but it did not in the slightest shake the bookmakers’ confidence. And the odds tell no different: Brazil remains the big favourite of this World Cup. Of course, finishing with a full score in one of the potentially toughest groups at Qatar 2022 – which included, in addition to the Africans, two fearsome teams such as Serbia and Switzerland – would have had a different effect, but it is in the matches that count that the Seleçao have shown they have all the qualities they need to be able to lift the most coveted cup, putting an end to a wait that has lasted exactly twenty years. Solidity, balance, quality, depth of the squad
Many have called it an atypical Brazil, almost ‘European’ due to an excellent defensive phase, which in the past has never been at the forefront of the thoughts of the greenoro technical commissioners. With ‘Professor’ Tite on the bench, however, many things have changed: quality and talent are present as usual in inordinate quantities up front, but it is in the non-possession phase that the cariocas are particularly shining. With just one goal conceded in three matches, Brazil’s defence is the least perforated, a record that the five-time world champions share with Morocco, Croatia, the USA, the Netherlands and Tunisia. A rearguard that would probably have remained unbeaten for the third consecutive time had Tite not decided to revolutionize the starting line-up from top to bottom last Friday, fielding an eleven packed with reserves.
South Korea’s ‘miracle’
The star players will return – but not star player Neymar, still struggling with an ankle injury – against South Korea, their next opponent in the round of 16. Thanks to their comeback victory (2-1) over a distracted and exhausted Portugal – a little like Brazil’s victory over Cameroon – they moved into second place in Group H by ‘causing’ Uruguay’s elimination, despite the South Americans already anticipating a round of 16 with their Brazilian cousins. The qualification of the men coached by Portuguese selector Paulo Bento matched that of Japan, who went through in Group E at the expense of Germany. That of the Koreans is no less a feat: after the blank-goal draw with Uruguay and the crushing defeat against Ghana, the fate of Son and his teammates seemed already sealed.
But in the final minutes of the third day of the group stage everything was turned upside down. Kim Young-gwon and Hwang Hee-chan put back the Portuguese Horta’s goal. It was the Wolverhampton striker’s 91st-minute goal that was crucial, allowing the Asians to join Uruguay on four points and gain a pass to the round of 16 thanks to the highest number of goals scored, the second most important factor after goal difference.
Brazil-South Korea: the latest line-up news
Kim Young-gwon
There are conflicting rumours about Neymar’s possible recovery, but the feeling is that Tite will preserve him as long as he can: the Psg phenomenon will not be on the pitch. Good news instead for Juventus player Danilo, who like O’Ney was injured in the opener against Serbia. The former Real Madrid man has returned to work with the group and should play left-back, replacing his club-mate Alex Sandro, who is still not at his best. Marquinhos and Thiago Silva are back in defence, with Militao instead set to play on the right. Tite will opt for a three-man midfield, with Paqueta and the ‘dike’ formed by Fred and Casemiro. In attack, Raphinha and Vinicius will support Richarlison, the Seleçao’s top scorer.
UPDATE 11:00 am Neymar’s condition is improving and he could be on the pitch from the 1′. The Psg player has been on a roll and will do everything he can to be there.
In South Korea, Hwang, the hero of the match against Portugal, is likely to start again from the bench. There are still problems for Kim, however: the Napoli defender remains in strong doubt and it will be Kwon’s turn to replace him again.
The Prediction
You only have to look at the record to realise Brazil’s total superiority. Incidentally, the two teams faced each other in a friendly last June and it ended 5-1 to Tite’s battleship. Brazil have so far shown no obvious weaknesses, they have demonstrated that they can do without Neymar’s flair and, with the return of the starters, they should win this match without any major fears, while keeping their goal unbeaten, as they did in the round against Serbia and Switzerland.
Brazil-South Korea line-up probables
- BRASILE (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Militao, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Danilo; Paquetà, Casemiro; Raphina, Neymar, Vinicius Jr.
- SOUTH KOREA (4-2-3-1): Kim Seung-gyu; Kim Moon-hwan, Kwon Kyung-won, Kim Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su; Jung Woo-young, Hwang In-beom; Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung, Lee Kan-gin; Cho Gue-sung.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-0