Brazil coasted into the quarter-finals of the World Cup as an exuberant first-half efficiency helped them to a 4-1 win over South Korea on Monday evening.
Tite’s aspect have been boosted by the return of Neymar – who suffered an ankle harm within the opening win over Serbia – and the 30-year-old introduced his return with a penalty that moved him one objective behind Pele’s worldwide file of 77 (13), which doubled Brazil’s lead after Vinicius Junior’s cool opener (7).
Richarlison scored his third objective of the event within the win
Richarlison then netted his third objective of the event after a few of the most beautiful build-up (29) and it was 4-0 earlier than the break when West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta guided in a shot to get in on the act (36).
However with the job already very a lot finished by the break, the momentum slowed after it. In consequence, South Korea didn’t let their heads drop and so they had a short second to have fun when Seung-Ho Paik decreased the deficit with a thumping strike (76).
Unsurprisingly, it was not sufficient to encourage a comeback from Paulo Bento’s aspect, who exit after having reached the knockout phases for the primary time since 2010
Brazil, in the meantime, advance to the final eight of the event, the place a conflict with Croatia awaits on Friday afternoon.
Neymar later revealed he had feared his event was over after his harm, saying: “Once I bought injured, I had a really tough evening.
“I used to be considering of one million various things and I used to be afraid I won’t have the ability to play on this World Cup once more, however I had the help of all my colleagues, my household and I attempted to search for energy the place I couldn’t discover it.
How Brazil sauntered into the quarter-finals
As the ultimate match at Stadium 974 earlier than it’s dismantled started, the excessive tempo of the opening exchanges hinted this is able to be a aggressive affair. Lower than quarter-hour in, it turned abundantly clear that may not be the case.
Brazil have been quickly very a lot within the groove when Raphinha brilliantly rode a problem on the left-hand aspect of the field and despatched a low ball skidding by a gaggle of gamers to Vinicius Junior, who took one contact to manage the ball and caressed it house together with his second.
And it was two very shortly afterwards when Neymar efficiently dispatched a penalty to maneuver nearer to a historic milestone after Richarlison had been caught by Woo-Younger Jung.
Brazil’s Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring their aspect’s first objective of the sport
The main setback made South Korea develop extra fearless, with Alisson producing a heroic save to push away Hee-Chan Hwang’s beautiful goalbound effort from 25 yards. On the similar time, gaps started to emerge on the again, which have been subsequently punished.
Brazil’s third oozed the South American aptitude that can undoubtedly see it featured among the many targets of the event. Richarlison juggled the ball together with his head and coolly completed after the slickest of exchanges between Thiago Silva and Casemiro. If that did not finish Korean hopes, Paqueta definitely did when he guided Vinicius Junior’s scooped cross house.
Brazil’s Lucas Paqueta celebrates after scoring his aspect’s fourth objective
Tite’s males tried to construct on their merely unassailable lead after the break, however an impressed efficiency from goalkeeper Seung-Gyu Kim prevented them from extending their benefit – and their opponents even managed to take a smidgen of gloss off the victory late on, when substitute Seung-Ho Paik rattled in a comfort from 25 yards after a nook was cleared into his path.
Seung-Ho Paik celebrates after pulling a objective again for South Korea
However this was Brazil’s evening and it’s they who inch nearer to glory after an imperious efficiency in Doha.
Bento steps down from South Korea function
It proved to be Paulo Bento’s last recreation in control of South Korea
South Korea coach Paulo Bento introduced his departure from the function within the wake of his aspect’s World Cup defeat to Brazil.
The 53-year-old, who took over in August 2018, stated he had already made the choice to bow out after the event previous to travelling to Qatar.
Bento stated: “We simply have to consider the longer term, and it’ll not be with the nationwide workforce of South Korea.
“I’ve simply introduced to the gamers and to the president of the South Korean federation and this was a call I had already taken since September that was set in stone.
“Immediately I’ve confirmed it and I’ve to thank them for the whole lot they’ve finished. They’ve given their highest and I’ve been very happy and proud to have been their supervisor.”
Nonetheless, on the finish of the press convention, a spokesperson appeared to contradict Bento by saying that he had misspoken and had not give up.
Tite: No disrespect meant by dancing – it helps me adapt with gamers
Brazil’s Vinicius Junior celebrates with Raphinha, Lucas Paqueta and Neymar after scoring his aspect’s opening objective
Brazil coach Tite stated his dance celebration throughout his aspect’s emphatic win was an expression of pure pleasure at his aspect’s daring attacking efficiency – and would assist him bond together with his younger workforce.
Brazil’s gamers rushed over to the dugout after Richarlison put the five-time world champions 3-0 up inside half-hour and Tite briefly joined of their dancing.
“We attempt to adapt to the traits of the gamers,” the 61-year-old stated when requested about his strikes at a information convention. “They’re very younger and I attempt to adapt a bit to their language, and a part of their language is dancing.”
He stated his gamers informed him earlier than the sport that they’d make him dance with them in the event that they scored.
Not everybody was impressed. Sky Sports activities’ Roy Keane, talking on ITV, stated: “Folks say it is their tradition. However I believe that is actually disrespecting the opposition.”
Tite was at pains to emphasize that was not the case.
“There is no interpretation apart from happiness on the objective, happiness for the workforce, happiness for the efficiency,” he stated. “There was no disrespect for the opposition nor in direction of (South Korean coach) Paulo Bento for whom I’ve a number of respect.”
Participant of the match – Vinicius Junior
The 22-year-old Actual Madrid ahead had been one of many brightest attacking sparks in Brazil’s subdued group-stage performances, so it was maybe no shock that he would play a key function when Tite’s males lastly turned on the model.
Vinicius Junior confirmed composure when he took a contact and positioned his shot into the web in a high-pressure atmosphere and the help he picked up got here from a second of brilliance too, together with his scooped cross nicely completed by Lucas Paqueta.
Brazil gamers show banner in help of Pele after victory
Brazil’s gamers displayed a banner in help of Pele on the pitch as they celebrated their victory at Stadium 974.
The squad unfurled the banner, which featured only one phrase – ‘Pele!’ – alongside an image of the Brazil nice, following their 4-1 triumph.
Talking after the match, Vinicius Junior stated: “Lets hope we are able to keep on dancing all the way in which to the ultimate. And we’re additionally sending an enormous hug to Pele. Let’s hope he recovers shortly.”
Pele had earlier despatched a message to his compatriots forward of the match.
The three-time World Cup winner stated on social media he could be watching the sport from the hospital in Sao Paulo the place he was admitted final week.
There have been considerations over the 82-year-old’s well being when information shops in Brazil reported that he had been moved to palliative care, however an replace from medical doctors about his remedy for colon most cancers was adopted by a message on Pele’s Instagram web page that he was “robust” and which referred to as for calm.
Forward of Monday night’s last-16 tie, Pele recalled reminiscences of his World Cup debut in 1958, when the 17-year-old helped Brazil elevate the Jules Rimet Trophy in Sweden.
He wrote on Twitter: “In 1958, I walked the streets excited about fulfilling the promise I made to my father. I do know that right now many have made related guarantees and are additionally going seeking their first World Cup. I will be watching the sport from hospital and I will be rooting for every considered one of you. Good luck!”
Harm affected Pele’s contribution to the 1962 and 1966 World Cup finals, however he returned to guide Brazil to a 3rd triumph in Mexico in 1970 as half of what’s broadly thought to be the best worldwide workforce of all time.
Neymar: I used to be afraid I won’t have performed once more at this World Cup
Neymar was grateful and completely happy to be again enjoying for Brazil of their snug 4-1 win over South Korea within the World Cup.
Following Brazil’s victory on Monday evening, Neymar spoke concerning the ankle harm he suffered in opposition to Serbia throughout their opening recreation of the World Cup.
“Once I bought injured, I had a really tough evening,” he stated. “I used to be considering of one million various things and I used to be afraid I won’t have the ability to play on this World Cup once more, however I had the help of all my colleagues, my household and I attempted to search for energy the place I couldn’t discover it.
“To start with, I wish to thank God for the energy I’ve to be again on the pitch, to have the ability to prepare and to have the ability to do the whole lot I wanted to do to be on the pitch once more. Thanks to my physiotherapist, my colleagues, to all of those that inspired me over the previous few days.
“I am very completely happy to be again on the sector of play and I am very completely happy to have performed nicely. We’re very pleased with our efficiency. We needed to maneuver to the following spherical, we needed to win and that is what we bought.
“I didn’t really feel any ache on my ankle tonight. I am very content material with my efficiency. That stated, I believe we are able to at all times enhance and that is what I attempt to do. I am not 100 per cent glad with right now, we wanted to purpose for extra.”
Brazil’s potential route to the World Cup final…
Quarter-finals – Friday December 9
Croatia vs Brazil – Kick-off 3pm
Semi-finals – Tuesday December 13
Netherlands or Argentina vs Croatia or Brazil – Kick-off 7pm
Brazil underscore favorite standing – Opta stats
- Brazil scored 4 targets in a knockout spherical recreation on the World Cup for the primary time since 1998 (4-1 vs Chile), scoring extra targets within the opening 36 minutes of this match (4) than they did of their three group-stage video games mixed (3).
- Korea Republic are winless in all seven of their World Cup video games in opposition to South American sides (D2 L5) – solely Scotland (8) have confronted such nations extra typically with out ever successful within the competitors.
- Neymar turned simply the third Brazilian to attain in no less than three editions of the World Cup (2014, 2018, 2022), together with Pelé (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970) and Ronaldo (1998, 2002, 2006).
- Brazil led 3-0 after simply 29 minutes, the earliest they’ve gone three targets forward in a single World Cup match. Ultimately, it was simply the second time they’ve scored 4 targets within the first half of a World Cup match, additionally doing so in opposition to Mexico in 1954.
What does the consequence imply?
Brazil now advance to the World Cup quarter-finals, the place they are going to face Croatia for a spot within the semi-finals of the event on Friday.
Kick-off on the Schooling Metropolis Stadium will likely be at 3pm.
