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 aspect had been boosted by the return of Neymar – who suffered an ankle damage within the opening win over Serbia – and the 30-yr-outdated introduced his return with a penalty that moved him one objective behind Pele’s worldwide document of 77 (13), which doubled Brazil’s lead after Vinicius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 objective of the match after a number of the most beautiful construct-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).

But with the job already very a lot achieved by the break, the momentum slowed after it. As a end result, South Korea didn’t let their heads drop they usually 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 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: “When I bought injured, I had a really troublesome night time.

“I was thinking of a million different things and I was afraid I might not be able to play in this World Cup again, but I had the support of all my colleagues, my family and I tried to look for strength where I could not find 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. Less than quarter-hour in, it turned abundantly clear that might not be the case.

Brazil had 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 way of a bunch of gamers to Vinicius Junior, who took one contact to regulate 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-Young Jung.

The main setback made South Korea develop extra fearless, with Alisson producing a heroic save to push away Hee-Chan Hwang’s gorgeous goalbound effort from 25 yards. At the identical time, gaps started to emerge on the again, which had been subsequently punished.

Brazil’s third oozed the South American aptitude that may undoubtedly see it featured among the many objectives of the match. 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 actually did when he guided Vinicius Junior’s scooped cross house.

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.

But 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 aspect’s World Cup defeat to Brazil.

The 53-yr-outdated, 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 just have to think about the future, and it will not be with the national team of South Korea.

“I have just announced to the players and to the president of the South Korean federation and this was a decision I had already taken since September that was set in stone.

“Today I’ve confirmed it and I’ve to thank them for the whole lot they’ve achieved. They have given their best and I’ve been very happy and proud to have been their supervisor.”

However, at the end of the press conference, a spokesperson seemed to contradict Bento by saying that he had misspoken and had not quit.

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

Brazil coach Tite mentioned 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 crew.

Brazil’s gamers rushed over to the dugout after Richarlison put the 5-time world champions 3-0 up inside half-hour and Tite briefly joined of their dancing.

“We try to adapt to the characteristics of the players,” the 61-yr-outdated mentioned when requested about his strikes at a information convention. “They are very young and I try to adapt a bit to their language, and part of their language is dancing.”

He mentioned his gamers informed him earlier than the sport that they might make him dance with them in the event that they scored.

Not everybody was impressed. Sky Sports’ Roy Keane, talking on ITV, mentioned: “People say it’s their culture. But I think that’s really disrespecting the opposition.”

Tite was at pains to emphasize that was not the case.

“There’s no interpretation other than happiness at the goal, happiness for the team, happiness for the performance,” he mentioned. “There was no disrespect for the opposition nor towards (South Korean coach) Paulo Bento for whom I have a lot of respect.”

Player of the match – Vinicius Junior

The 22-yr-outdated Real 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 excessive-strain 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.

Speaking after the match, Vinicius Junior mentioned: “Lets hope we can carry on dancing all the way to the final. And we are also sending a big hug to Pele. Let’s hope he recovers quickly.”

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

The three-time World Cup winner mentioned on social media he can be watching the sport from the hospital in Sao Paulo the place he was admitted final week.

There had been considerations over the 82-yr-outdated’s well being when information retailers in Brazil reported that he had been moved to palliative care, however an replace from docs about his remedy for colon most cancers was adopted by a message on Pele’s Instagram web page that he was “strong” and which referred to as for calm.

Ahead of Monday night’s final-16 tie, Pele recalled recollections of his World Cup debut in 1958, when the 17-yr-outdated helped Brazil carry the Jules Rimet Trophy in Sweden.

He wrote on Twitter: “In 1958, I walked the streets thinking about fulfilling the promise I made to my father. I know that today many have made similar promises and are also going in search of their first World Cup. I’ll be watching the game from hospital and I’ll be rooting for each one of you. Good luck!”

Injury 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 crew of all time.

Neymar: I used to be afraid I may not have performed once more at this World Cup

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