World Cup Brazil v South Korea tips: Neymar and Richarlison looking to shine
- Sergiu Baltuta
- 5 December 2022
With Neymar fit and Richarlison in top form, Tipstrr's football expert Sergiu Baltuta expects Brazil's World Cup bid to start for real when they take on South Korea on Monday night.
Brazil have progressed beyond the round of 16 at the last seven World Cups, last bowing out at this stage at Italia '90 when they lost against their arch rivals Argentina..
They kicked off their latest World Cup bid with a comfortable 2-0 win against Serbia, but were made to work harder in their second game, needing a classy late strike from Casemiro to beat Switzerland 1-0.
Head coach Tite made the decision to rest many of his first-choice line-up for the final group game against Cameroon, a move that almost backfired as they slipped to a surprising 1-0 defeat that would have cost them top spot if the Swiss had managed one more goal in their victory over Serbia.
Tite is sure to reintroduce his stars tonight, and among them should be talisman Neymar, who has not featured since the opening group game, but who is reported to be fit to start against South Korea.
His availability might consign the likes of Raphinha or Vinicius Jr. to the bench, but it could be good news for Richarlison, whose lively movement makes him an ideal foil for Neymar's creativity, and he will be champing at the bit to add to the brace he scored in the opening group game.
Nothing but a win would do in their last game against Portugal, and that mission seemed impossible when they conceded the opening goal after only five minutes.
However, the Koreans' never-say-die approach earned them a deserved equaliser before half-time, before Hwang Hee-Chan caused jubilant scenes when he scored the dramatic winning goal in stoppage time to put them above Uruguay on goals scored.
Brazil and South Korea have faced each other in six previous friendly games, the last of which was as recently as June this year, when goals from Neymar(2), Richarlison, Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus secured an emphatic Brazilian victory.
However, for now Brazil would do well not to underestimate the South Koreans, for whom star striker Heung-Min Son is yet to make his mark, and who proved against Portugal that they are not afraid to go toe-to-toe with top opposition.
That said, Portugal fielded a depleted team that day, and after not really igniting as yet, Brazil are sure to want to stamp their authority on the game and on the tournament that they are now 5/2 favourites to win.
