Brazil v South Korea predictions: Brazil can rediscover formula for success

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Brazil v South Korea in the last 16 of the World Cup on Monday.

Where to watch

ITV1 , 7pm Monday

Best bet

Brazil and under 3.5 goals
1pt 10-11 Boyles

Brazil’s games in Qatar have been slow-burners, characterised by goalless first halves before the Selecao make a breakthrough after the interval. Their last-16 tie with South Korea is expected to be another game of cat and mouse with a more cautious approach expected from the Koreans.

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Match preview

South Korea have already brought one South American nation to tears at this World Cup but reducing Uruguay’s Luis Suarez to a blubbering wreck is a far easier task than inflicting only a second last-16 defeat on Brazil.

Hee-Chan Hwang’s 91st-minute winner for the Taegeuk Warriors against Portugal saw them advance from Group H on goals scored at the expense of Uruguay in the latest shock of a tournament full of surprises.

A South Korea win over Brazil would probably top the lot in terms of upsets with the Koreans as big as 14-1 to follow in the footsteps of Argentina's class of 1990, who are the only nation to knock out the Selecao in the round of 16.

If matches were determined on heart and determination alone then South Korea would be a far shorter price, but it would be a mistake to think that’s all they will bring to the table for a first competitive meeting with Brazil.

Paulo Bento’s men were disciplined and well-organised for large parts of group games against Uruguay and Portugal - two sides who boast sizeable attacking arsenals. And going forward, Heung-Min Son’s excellent assist for Hwang’s winner against Portugal was a hint at a return to form for the Spurs ace and he could cause Brazil issues if allowed to roam.

However, Brazil’s performances when at full strength in Qatar suggest they can keep Son under control.

Switzerland and Serbia failed to muster a single shot on target between them when succumbing to the tournament favourites on the first two matchdays of Group G.

Cameroon bucked that trend with a 1-0 victory in the final round of group matches but Brazil coach Tite made nine changes for that match and the Selecao’s consistency under their pragmatic manager suggests the chances of successive poor performances are low.

Although injuries are starting to bite, the majority of Brazil's big guns will return on Monday, including Neymar, wo is trending towards a return from is ankle injury.

Reports on Neymar’s status have range wildly from him being on course to return for the knockout stages to being absent for the remainder of the World Cup but Tite says he will start if he comes through training on Saturday unscathed.

Neymar is no longer the be-all and end-all of Brazil’s attack but they do miss his influence and ending a run of five World Cup games without a first-half goal will be easier should the PSG star return.

Neymar scored twice when Brazil crushed South Korea 5-1 in a friendly six months ago but in the pressurised situation of a World Cup knockout game where goals tend to be at a premium, a repeat of such an emphatic victory seems unlikely.

Tite has preferred a far more measured approach at major tournament and, as they did against Serbia and Switzerland, Brazil will take their time to break down South Korea, who can keep the scoreline respectable.

Key stat

Eight of Brazil’s last 11 tournament wins have featured fewer than four goals.

Team news

Brazil
Neymar is pushing for a return while Danilo and Alex Sandro are set to feature. Gabriel Jesus and Alex Telles have been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with knee injuries.

South Korea
Defender Min-Jae Kim missed the win over Portugal with a calf injury but South Korea are hopeful he could play. Wolves’ Hee-Chan Hwang is in line for a start.

Probable teams

Brazil (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Danilo, Silva, Marquinhos, Sandro; Casemiro, Fred; Raphinha, Neymar, Vinicius Jr; Richarlison

South Korea (4-3-3): Seung-Gyu Kim; Moon-Hwan Kim, Young-Gwon Kim, Min-Jae Kim, Jin-Su Kim; Woo-Young Jung, Hwang In-Beom, Jae-Sung Lee; Hee-Chan Hwang, Gue-Sung Cho, Heung-Min Son.

Inside info

Brazil

Top scorer in probable team Richarlison
Star player Neymar
Penalty taker Neymar
Assist ace Vinicius Junior
Set-piece aerial threat Thiago Silva
Card magnet Casemiro

South Korea

Top scorer in probable team Gue-Sung Cho
Star player Heung-Min Son
Penalty taker Heung-Min Son
Assist ace Heung-Min Son
Set-piece aerial threat Min-Jae Kim
Card magnet Woo-Young Jung

Brazil v South Korea Bet Builder

Under 3.5 goals
Brazil’s last eight World Cup games have all featured less than four goals and they are unlikely to run up the score against a disciplined South Korea unit/

Second half to have the most goals
South Korea had never scored a first-half goal at a World Cup before their strike against Portugal, while all three of Brazil’s group games were goalless at the interval.

Casemiro over 1.5 shots
The Manchester United midfielder has not been afraid to let fly in Qatar, scoring the winner against Switzerland with one of five shots he’s had across two games.

Price guide 5-1 with bet365