South Korea vs Portugal: Selecao through but Reds’ hopes hanging by a thread
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World Cup 2022: South Korea vs Portugal betting tips and odds
Portugal were one of three teams to qualify for the knockout stage with a game to spare, but they still need a point from their clash with South Korea to ensure top spot which would mean they are likely to avoid World Cup favourites Brazil.
The Selecao put a poor first-half performance behind them to beat Ghana 3-2 in their opener and two goals from Bruno Fernandes sealed a deserved 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Monday night.
Portugal head coach Fernando Santos is likely to make changes to his side, who are 8/13 to beat 17/4 shots South Korea, while a draw is priced at 29/10.
Santos ponders decision to rest Ronaldo
With a place in the last 16 in the bag, Santos may decide to rest some of his first-choice players so the likes of Rafael Leao, Antonio Silva, Diogo Dalot and Joao Palhinha could come in.
Raphael Guerreriro is expected to replace the injured Nuno Mendes, but Cristiano Ronaldo may want to start after he thought he had matched Eusebio’s record of nine goals at World Cup finals against Uruguay only for it to be awarded to former Manchester United team-mate Bruno Fernandes.
South Korea started their group with a drab goalless draw against the Uruguayans, who had the game’s only shot on target, but their next match against Ghana was a classic as Cho Gue-sung scored two headers in three second-half minutes to haul his side level before Mohammed Kudus’ winner fired the Africans to their first victory at the World Cup in 12 years.
Head coach and former Portugal international Paulo Bento will not be in the dug-out after being sent off following a confrontation with English referee Anthony Taylor at the end of the match, so the Asian side are up against it, but they are at least playing Portugal at the best time with a spot in the last 16 assured.
Of the three potential runners-up, South Korea are the 7/1 outsiders and even a win may not be enough should Ghana draw their grudge match with Uruguay or the South Americans win comfortably.
Rocky ride for Reds
In the opposite camp, captain Son Heung-min is still playing with a mask after fracturing a cheekbone on Champions League duty with Tottenham.
He was in tears at the end of the Ghana game, claiming that there had been “a lack of justice” from Taylor’s decision not to allow a last-gasp corner for South Korea, making their 10th successive appearance at the World Cup finals.
Son and his team-mates are expected to burst out of the blocks in a bid to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2010 and suspect they could get the first goal at 19/10 in the World Cup odds.
However, the likes of Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix and possibly Ronaldo should have too much class for their opponents and so a win and both teams to score at 11/5 in the World Cup betting also appeals as one of our South Korea vs Portugal betting tips.
Both of Portugal’s matches have been goalless at the break which can be backed at 15/8, but an open game is expected and the opposite may well occur, with goals at both ends in the opening 45 minutes catching the eye at 7/2. Portugal to win from behind is 8/1.
In the scorer markets, Leao to score any time at 2/1 looks plausible having struck as a sub against Ghana having signed off for the World Cup with his seventh goal for AC Milan.
Match Info
Where: Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
When: 15:00, Friday, 2nd December
How to watch: BBC
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
