Match Preview: Brazil vs South Korea

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Twenty-years after shocking the world by beating Italy in the Round of 16, South Korea will be hoping to send similar shockwaves through the football world when they face Brazil tonight at Stadium 974.

After their last-gasp win over Portugal to seal their progression to the knockout rounds for the first time in 12 years, the task ahead of Paulo Bento’s side is arguably the biggest in world football at the moment.

Brazil came into this tournament as the number one ranked side in world football, and for good reason. While they lost to Cameroon in their last outing, they were already qualified for the knockout rounds at that point. Playing them in the Round of 16 is a different prospect entirely.

The match with the Selecao comes just a few months after the two sides met in a friendly in Seoul, with Brazil on that occasion running rampant, securing a dominant 5-1 win as concerns over the ability of Paulo Bento to maximise the potential of this Korean side reached fever pitch.

Bento used the friendly against one of the five-time World Cup winners as a bit of a litmus test, using it as an opportunity to test where his side stood in comparison to the world’s best.

The answer was emphatic, but on the eve of their re-match at Stadium 974 Bento claims the result was not indicative of his side’s real quality and said the result had no bearing on how he approached Monday night’s encounter.

That message might have been for his players as much as it was for the world’s press, because as much as they would deny there is no way the players haven’t thought about that friendly in the build up to this game.

With such a short turnaround between games, with just two days to rest in between matches, how Bento and his staff have manage the mental and emotional fitness of the players after the high of the last-gasp win over Portugal will be crucial.

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Do the players suffer from a ‘come down’ or do they ride that wave of momentum into the game against Brazil?

As has been the case throughout this tournament, so much of the build up for Korea has been dominated by fitness issues.

Having missed the last game against Portugal, doubt remains over Kim Min-jae’s fitness, with Bento confirming it will again be a game-day decision as to whether or not the Napoli star will play. His absence in the heart of defence would be a massive blow for a side coming up against the likes of Neymar and Richarlison.

Hwang Hee-chan returned with devastating effect against Portugal, but on such a short turnaround does Bento risk playing him from the start or will he be most effective again off the bench?

Twenty years ago it was Ahn Jung-hwan, will tonight be the night for another Korean player to etch their name into the history books?

PLAYERS TO WATCH

SON HEUNG-MIN – You can’t have a Korean game without Son being one of the key players. He hasn’t had a blinding tournament by any stretch of the imagination, but he showed against Portugal he just needs one moment to have an impact. He will once again be expected to carry most of the attacking burden. Can he translate that into a match-winning impact?

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HWANG HEE-CHAN – The Wolves winger changed the game against Portugal when he came on. His pace, his directness, his ability to win the one-on-one were all crucial in the latter stages of that game. There must be enormous temptation to start him knowing how crucial he is to their chances of progression.

KIM JIN-SU – The Jeonbuk full-back has been at his attacking best this tournament, even if some of his crosses haven’t always hit the mark. His willingness to get forward and link up with the attack has been important, but his defensive work has been a little less impressive. Against Brazil he can ill-afford those little mistakes. Will he need to temper his willingness to get forward in order to stay more diligent at the back?

WHAT THEY SAID

Paulo Bento – South Korea coach

“There’s only something to win.

The only thing we must remember is to show the image of a team that wants to compete and fight until the very last whistle. And there’s no doubt in my mind that’s what my players will do.

“If we were playing Brazil in a tournament, I’d say Brazil will be the champion. But in one match, it won’t be like a tournament. We have one chance. We have to respect the outcome.

“I believe if they needed a lot for me to motivate to play the round of 16 at a World Cup, they’d be in a bad spot. What they proved to us in the first three matches is they are more than motivated. I can get more motivation from them than they from me.”

Kim Jin-su – South Korea defender

“Obviously, it’s going to be a difficult match tomorrow, but if we give everything we have, I think we’ll play a competitive match.

“The ultimate goal is to win that match tomorrow. I can tell you we have unbelievable vibes on the team.

“This is our first knockout match in 12 years. We’ve reached this point playing the kind of football we want to play.”