Brazil 4 – 1 Korea Rep

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 night time.

Tite’s facet have been boosted by the return of Neymar – who suffered an ankle damage within the opening win over Serbia – and the 30-year-old introduced his return with a penalty that moved him one aim behind Pele’s worldwide document of 77 (13), which doubled Brazil’s lead after Vinicius Junior’s cool opener (7).

Richarlison then netted his third aim of the match after a number 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 performed by the break, the momentum slowed after it. Consequently, South Korea didn’t let their heads drop and so they had a short second to rejoice when Seung-Ho Paik lowered the deficit with a thumping strike (76).

Unsurprisingly, it was not sufficient to encourage a comeback from Paulo Bento’s facet, 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 match, the place a conflict with Croatia awaits on Friday afternoon.

Neymar later revealed he had feared his match was over after his damage, saying: “After I received injured, I had a really troublesome night time.

“I used to be pondering 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 assist of all my colleagues, my household and I attempted to search for power 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 might 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 facet of the field and despatched a low ball skidding via a bunch of gamers to Vinicius Junior, who took one contact to manage the ball and caressed it dwelling along 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.

The key 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 match. Richarlison juggled the ball along 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 dwelling.

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.

However this was Brazil’s night time and it’s they who inch nearer to glory after an imperious efficiency in Doha.

Bento steps down from South Korea position

South Korea coach Paulo Bento introduced his departure from the position within the wake of his facet’s World Cup defeat to Brazil.

The 53-year-old, who took over in August 2018, mentioned he had already made the choice to bow out after the match previous to travelling to Qatar.

Bento mentioned: “We simply have to consider the long run, and it’ll not be with the nationwide group 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 all the pieces they’ve performed. They’ve given their best and I’ve been more than happy and proud to have been their supervisor.”

Nevertheless, on the finish of the press convention, a spokesperson appeared to contradict Bento by saying that he had misspoken and had not stop.

Tite: No disrespect meant by dancing – it helps me adapt with gamers

Brazil coach Tite mentioned his dance celebration throughout his facet’s emphatic win was an expression of pure pleasure at his facet’s daring attacking efficiency – and would assist him bond along with his younger group.

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 mentioned 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 mentioned 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, mentioned: “Individuals 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 not any interpretation apart from happiness on the aim, happiness for the group, happiness for the efficiency,” he mentioned. “There was no disrespect for the opposition nor in the 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 position when Tite’s males lastly turned on the type.

Vinicius Junior confirmed composure when he took a contact and positioned his shot into the online in a high-pressure surroundings and the help he picked up got here from a second of brilliance too, along with his scooped cross properly completed by Lucas Paqueta.

Brazil gamers show banner in assist of Pele after victory

Brazil’s gamers displayed a banner in assist 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 mentioned: “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 rapidly.”

Pele had earlier despatched a message to his compatriots forward of the match.

The three-time World Cup winner mentioned 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 retailers in Brazil reported that he had been moved to palliative care, however an replace from medical doctors about his therapy for colon most cancers was adopted by a message on Pele’s Instagram web page that he was “robust” and which known 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 carry 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 at present many have made comparable guarantees and are additionally going searching for their first World Cup. I will be watching the sport from hospital and I will be rooting for every certainly 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 extensively considered the best worldwide group of all time.

Neymar: I used to be afraid I won’t have performed once more at this World Cup

Following Brazil’s victory on Monday night time, Neymar spoke in regards to the ankle damage he suffered towards Serbia throughout their opening sport of the World Cup.

“After I received injured, I had a really troublesome night time,” he mentioned. “I used to be pondering 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 assist of all my colleagues, my household and I attempted to search for power the place I couldn’t discover it.

“To begin with, I wish to thank God for the power I’ve to be again on the pitch, to have the ability to prepare and to have the ability to do all the pieces 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 joyful to be again on the sphere of play and I am very joyful to have performed properly. We’re very pleased with our efficiency. We needed to maneuver to the subsequent spherical, we needed to win and that is what we received.

“I didn’t really feel any ache on my ankle tonight. I am very content material with my efficiency. That mentioned, I believe we are able to all the time enhance and that is what I attempt to do. I am not 100 per cent glad with at present, we wanted to goal for extra.”

Brazil’s potential path to the World Cup last…

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 sport 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 towards 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 at the very least 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. In the long run, it was simply the second time they’ve scored 4 targets within the first half of a World Cup match, additionally doing so towards Mexico in 1954.

What does the consequence imply?

Brazil now advance to the World Cup quarter-finals, the place they’ll face Croatia for a spot within the semi-finals of the match on Friday.

Kick-off on the Schooling Metropolis Stadium will likely be at 3pm.