Brazil vs South Korea is next as Five-time champions Brazil face South Korea in their round of 16 tie on Monday evening.
Match Details:
- Location: Doha, Qatar
- Stadium: Stadium 974
- Date: Monday 6 December
- Kick-off Time: 12:30 AM IST
- Watch: Sports 18/HD, Jio Cinema App
Brazil vs South Korea: Match Preview:
Brazil had to finish group stage action without their superstar Neymar, who was injured in the opening match, but the PSG attacker is expected to return on Monday as the betting favorites at the 2022 World Cup begin their road to the final with a Round of 16 matchup against South Korea.
The Asian nation was a surprise qualifier from Group H, as they pipped Uruguay to the second spot on goals scored thanks to a 91st minute winner against Portugal in the final match, leaving Luis Suarez and his Uruguayan teammates stunned and in tears.
Their sadness is Paulo Bento’s gain, as the South Korea boss is prepared to lead his team against the South American Goliaths. He admitted South Korea has “nothing to lose” against their heavily favored opponents, admitting that Brazil remain the pick to win the tournament.
Brazil have been struck by a host of injuries, and will have to shuffle the deck even as Neymar returns, which will give South Korea hope of catching Brazil off guard.
Team News:
Brazil:
Brazil may have lost but Tite’s wholesale changes proved prescient as two of the alternate XI were forced off with fitness concerns against Cameroon. Alex Telles and Gabriel Jesus both damaged their right knees during a game Brazil dominated. There are fears that neither may feature again at this tournament.
There are “high expectations” that Danilo will be available after injuring his ankle in Brazil’s opening game against Serbia. Neymar limped off that night with a problem in the same area while Alex Sandro has been struggling with a hip issue.
Brazil’s team doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, revealed that doubts linger over the involvement of that latter duo as they wait to resume training.
South Korea:
Hwang Hee-chan missed South Korea’s first two World Cup matches with a hamstring injury he hadn’t fully recovered from by the team’s final group game. The Wolves forward came off the bench to score the last-gasp winner but remains a doubt for Monday’s starting XI. “It was still a risk for me to play today,” Hwang revealed after the match, “but I don’t care what happens to me physically.”
Kim Min-jae wasn’t risked against Portugal as he continues to nurse a calf problem which the Korean Football Association described as “not a big injury”.
Kim Young-gwon hauled South Korea level against Portugal but is a doubt after limping off in the final ten minutes of Friday’s match.
Brazil vs South Korea: Head to Head:
Brazil have an excellent record against South Korea and have won six out of the seven matches played between the two teams, as opposed to South Korea’s one victory.
The previous meeting between the two teams took place in June this year and ended in a comprehensive 5-1 victory for Brazil.
South Korea have never defeated a South American opponent in the FIFA World Cup, drawing two and losing four matches against CONMEBOL opponents in the competition.
Predicted Line-ups:
Brazil starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Militao, Silva, Marquinhos, Danilo; Fred, Casemiro; Raphinha, Rodrygo, Vinicius; Richarlison.
Bench: Ederson, Alves, Bremer, Fabinho, Antony, Martinelli, Weverton, Guimaraes, Everton, Paqueta, Pedro.
South Korea starting 11 (4-3-3): Kim Seung-gyu; Kim Moon-hwan, Kwon Kyung-wan, Kim Min-jae, Kim Jin-su; Hwang In-beom, Jung Woo-young, Lee Kang-in; Lee Jae-sung, Cho Gue-sung, Son Heung-min.
Bench: Son B, Cho H W, Yoon, Paik, Hwang H C, Son J H, Hong, Hwang U J, Na, Kwan C H, Kim T H, Cho Y.
BRA vs KOR: Dream11 Predictions:
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