An attacking quartet of Neymar, Richarlison, Rafinha and Vinicius Jr, brushed apart a drained South Korean aspect to win their Round of 16 tie and waltz their method into the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup.
The Brazilians got here to occasion. Their followers – a cover of canaries, sang and danced. Cameras panned to that quintessential Brazilian picture – a fan painted in yellow and blue lofting up a World Cup trophy. The cool youngsters had turned as much as Stadium 974 on Tuesday in Doha for Brazil’s Round of 16 match.
The Koreans on their half, had come into this sport an already burdened lot. Their coach had spoken about how bodily taxing the last-gasp win towards Portugal was. He spoke how 72 hours was far much less the time it required for his gamers to regain the vitality of their our bodies again. He spoke about how Brazil are favorites and that they must have a look at completely different methods to cease them. He lastly stated that every one this didn’t imply they’d surrender and that they’d attempt their greatest.
Brazil progress to the Quarter-finals! 🇧🇷@adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2022
The resistance lasted six minutes. And it couldn’t have fallen to a extra joyous group. Just the vitality differential of the primary aim spoke volumes of the place this sport was going to go. Rafinha surging forward and disregarding his marker after which slicing the ball again into aim, adopted by the ball being trapped by Vinicius Jr ought to have elicited a peaceful response by South Korea. But as a substitute, a rush of gamers, together with their goalkeeper adopted. Vinicius, in all his stillness, merely seemed on the oncoming rush of gamers, didn’t care an inch and deposited the ball to his far-left nook. First aim out of the way in which, the Brazilian gamers rushed to the touchline to bounce.
Three minutes later, they discovered themselves with a penalty. It was the nervous vitality of the South Koreans but once more, with their defender attempting to clear the ball however as a substitute catching Richarlison’s foot. Neymar stepped as much as the spot and transformed his penalty – regardless of Korean keeper Kim Seung-gyu who stayed to the best of his aim and solely began to maneuver to the center as soon as Neymar’s run-up started. It was showmanship within the face of the friendliest doom. Neymar, for his half, noticed the antics, and scored regardless.
What a first-half show! 🇧🇷⚡️#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/zVRiKvd3Hr
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2022
There are few issues greater in soccer than being down 2-0 all the way down to Brazil in a World Cup knockout sport. Do you keep again and stem the movement of objectives coming your method? Or do you attempt to claw again, hope for a miracle and maintain the sport open. The Koreans went with door No 2. Over the subsequent couple of minutes, it will be obvious simply how dangerous that choice was.
The Koreans had been drained however had been additionally hamstrung by their tactical decisions. Their line of defense stored backing into their very own territory and was then quietly adopted by the midfield. The end result – an open area for Brazil to march into after which a gaggle of disjointed gamers to bounce round. Richarlison scored the Selecao’s third. The transfer began with a dribbling contest that he gained by bouncing the ball on his head thrice earlier than lastly bringing it down, passing the ball to Marquinhos – who had deemed it essential to play as an attacking midfielder for the time being and lived as much as his evaluation with a move to Thiago Silva – who had additionally deemed it essential to be up entrance along with his defensive accomplice. Silva then slipped in a move that slit the Korean protection and landed plum on the ft of Richarlison, who had continued his run. The striker struck along with his left footed move into aim and promptly ran to the touchline to bounce along with his teammates after which later joined the bench for an impromptu jig with Brazil boss Tite.
The fourth aim adopted earlier than the top of the primary half and was as soon as once more a Korean midfield problem. It’s exhausting sufficient to defend towards an oncoming Brazilian wave however to place oneself in a four-on-four scenario towards Vinicius Jr, Richarlison, Rafinha and Neymar is asking for a aim and that’s precisely what occurred.
Richarlison flew ahead with the ball at his ft and handed to Neymar, who rapidly deposited the ball to Vinicius Jr. The goalscorer turned supplier with a looping dink into the center of the Korean field. Lucas Paqueta, who had arrived late, obtained to the ball and scored. He too went to the touchline and danced away. The referee quickly blew his whistle and the digital camera minimize to the face of a Korean supporter, face painted crimson and blue, trying on solemnly as a sea of yellow sang the praises of their staff round him. It was indicative of how in over their heads the Koreans had been. Tired, in need of the mentality for a stage similar to this and up towards a Brazilian staff within the temper for a mauling, the perennial Asia giants had been outclassed and the way.
The second half noticed one Korean aim, a lone pop from far afield that gave their night time some comfort. But barring that fleeting second, the Koreans couldn’t muster a lot else and quietly exited the World Cup. Brazil solely strengthened their credentials as one of many high groups in Qatar and the return of Neymar now units up a conflict towards Croatia. A win there after which a doable semi-final towards Messi’s Argentina beckons.
