831 gamers, 32 groups and 4 matches per day – following the soccer World Cup can get just a little overwhelming. For the following month, The Indian Specific will minimize by way of the litter and handpick the most important storyline of the day each morning.
Showcase gameBrazil vs South Korea (Spherical of 16)12.30 am (Tuesday), Stadium 974
Forward of this World Cup, South Korea had been labelled the ‘Son Heung-min staff’. Their probabilities this 12 months, as a facet that’s not fairly near the 2002 staff that reached the semifinal as co-hosts, largely hinged on their talisman, who suffered an eye fixed socket harm and confronted a race in opposition to time to be match for the primary match.
Son performed regardless of being in restoration mode and never at his greatest, however his facet performed strong soccer, well-structured in defence with loads of patterns of play to create assaults. They had been arguably the perfect staff of their group, which contained Portugal, Uruguay, and Ghana, however nonetheless wanted a last-minute winner and outcomes elsewhere to go their approach to seal their place within the knockout part.
The reward for that dedication and resolve: a gathering with the match favourites Brazil. And as if the tie wanted to be tipped any additional within the Selecao’s favour, head coach Tite has confirmed star-man Neymar Jr. will return for the sport after recovering from an ankle harm.
I really feel good, I knew that I might now✋🏽😜🤚🏽 pic.twitter.com/LpJ3BZJaU9
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) December 3, 2022
Tite’s facet is blessed with an array of attacking expertise, making it among the best squads on the match, however within the final two video games with out their talisman, they’ve been unconvincing going ahead. There have been murmurs that Brazil are higher off with out Neymar, however even the most important critics of the Paris Saint-Germain ahead would confess that the facet have been flat with out him, an acknowledgement of how dependent Tite’s system is on his artistic spark, probability creation, and on-ball means.
In a pleasant the 2 groups performed again in June, coach Paulo Bento had South Korea arrange in a extra open, attacking system – one they’re used to enjoying in Asia the place they’re often the higher staff – and received humiliated 5-1. This time round, the Portuguese supervisor may be anticipated to make use of a way more conservative strategy – combative in midfield, structured in a five-man defence, and reliant on the counterattack.
South Korea’s strategy will take a look at two key areas of doubt for Brazil. The primary would be the attacking stability of the staff to have the ability to create in opposition to a defence that affords little or no house in between the strains and presses with depth. Neymar’s return is a large bonus for the Selecao, however how a lot of a job he can play, and for a way lengthy, stays to be seen.
Towards Serbia, Brazil didn’t get a breakthrough till the hour mark, and even then Neymar was their brightest spark. Towards Switzerland, with out him, they regarded lacklustre in assault, and wanted a surprise strike from Casemiro to win 1-0.
Brazil’s Casemiro celebrates after scoring his facet’s opening aim in the course of the World Cup group G soccer match between Brazil and Switzerland, on the Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Nov. 28, 2022. (AP Picture/Andre Penner)
The problem right here will likely be to search out the suitable stability between their wingers and attacking midfielders – whether or not or to not attempt to get Lucas Paqueta to play Neymar’s No. 10 function or play with three out-and-out forwards that prefer to get in behind the defence in entrance of striker Richarlison.
The second take a look at will likely be defending huge areas. South Korea’s most potent attacking – on this case most likely counterattacking – technique has been to advance down the wings with tempo and vitality, get the technically gifted Son to come back slender, and overload huge areas to launch balls into the field.
Towards Ghana, in what was arguably the perfect 20-minute part of the match once they had been in search of the equaliser within the second half, South Korea accomplished extra crosses than another staff in a single recreation in World Cup historical past.
South Korea fired in 35 open play crosses within the recreation in opposition to Ghana.
15 of these crosses discovered a team-mate, which has by no means been bettered in a #FIFAWorldCup match in recorded historical past (since 1966). pic.twitter.com/GnQaJdf4mv
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 28, 2022
Their means to create triangles across the huge defenders to open up house for the cross will likely be a giant take a look at for Brazil’s huge defenders – more likely to be Alex Sandro on the left and Danilo on the suitable, the place centre again Eder Militao may deputise – who could possibly be the most important weak spot of Tite’s facet.
So, regardless of the return of their famous person, and an easier-than-anticipated knockout fixture when it comes to their opponents’ rating, Brazil can not afford complacency. In some methods, this could possibly be the sternest take a look at of their World Cup-winning credentials.
Can Japan’s momentum take them by way of to the final 8?
Japan vs Croatia (Spherical of 16), 8.30 pm, Al Janoub Stadium
In the meantime, Japan’s nationwide staff will carry their outstanding momentum – beating each Germany and Japan to high the ‘group of dying’ this 12 months – right into a tough take a look at in opposition to the gifted and skilled Croatian staff.
A lot of Croatia’s nucleus is made up of the identical gamers that took them by way of to the ultimate of the 2018 World Cup, together with final version’s Participant of The Event Luka Modric. Modric stays the X-factor, however their engine-like midfield which additionally incorporates Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic, runs the present.
Japan are more likely to comply with the identical blueprint they’ve adopted for the remainder of this match, staying affected person of their buildings 5-2-3, not eager on holding a lot of the ball, and ready for the suitable second to hit on the counterattack.
In that case, Josko Gvardiol, Croatia’s standout performer on the World Cup and one of the promising defenders in Europe, will play an important function in each being switched on within the final line of defence, and progressing the ball as his facet builds up from the again.
Can Japan’s technique and intelligent substitutions pummel one other European powerhouse?