Korea Republic vs Brazil

Seoul World Cup Stadium is the venue as the Korea Republic and Brazil go head-to-head in a handsomely-looking international friendly.

A thoroughly dominant 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign saw the Korea Republic secure their place in a tenth successive final tournament with a few games to spare. Since the start of 2020, Paulo Bento’s lads have won all but one of their nine home matches in international action (D1), netting 2+ goals in 75% of those victories. Seeking their first triumph over a nation currently inside FIFA’s top 15 since October 2018, the Koreans can fall back on a stellar form in 2022 to date (W5, L1). Before slumping to a futile 1-0 defeat away to the United Arab Emirates last time out, the ‘Taegeuk Warriors’ had kept a clean sheet in all five previous internationals this calendar year. It should fill them with defensive confidence ahead of this mouth-watering fixture.

On the other hand, Brazil take a trip to Asia in a confident mood, having won their last three World Cup qualifying matches by an identical 4-0 scoreline. Furthermore, Tite’s men have recently leapfrogged Belgium as FIFA’s new #1 and will be keen to live up to their stature in Seoul. Indeed, the ‘Selecao’ are flying high after setting the record points tally for an 18-game CONMEBOL region World Cup qualification campaign with a round to spare (W14, D3). Delivering action from the onset, the Brazilians have scored precisely two first-half goals in their last two outings, highlighting the potential for a quick-fire start. It’s worth noting that Brazil had drawn three successive games on hostile turf – two of which without scoring – before thumping South American minnows Bolivia 4-0 on their most recent travel.