This will be the eighth meeting between Brazil and Korea Republic, and the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides. Brazil have won six of the previous seven matches (L1), most recently a 5-1 victory in June.
Korea Republic have never previously beaten a South American side at the World Cup, drawing twice and losing four times.
Brazil have lost four of their last 10 matches at the World Cup (W5 D1) – their previous four defeats in the competition were spread across 36 matches (W26 D6).
This will be Korea Republic’s first game in the knockout stages of the World Cup since 2010, when they were beaten by Uruguay in the round of 16 (1-2). They have only won one of their five games beyond the group stage in the competition (D1 L3), with that victory coming against Italy in the round of 16 in 2002.
Brazil have progressed from each of their last seven round of 16 matches at the World Cup, only failing to win in normal time once during this run, progressing via penalties against Chile in 2014. They were last eliminated at this stage in 1990 against Argentina.
Between spells with Portugal and Korea Republic, Paulo Bento has only lost one of his last five games as a manager at the World Cup (W2 D2). This will be his first game in the tournament beyond the group stage, while he could become the first Portuguese manager to win a knockout stage game at the World Cup.
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Brazil have failed to score in the first half in any of their last five World Cup games, their joint-longest run of games without a first-half goal in the competition, along with another five-game run at the 1994 edition.
11 of Korea Republic’s last 12 goals at the World Cup have been scored in the second half of games, with four of the last seven being scored in the 90th minute or later. Their only first half goal in this run was Kim Young-Gwon’s equaliser against Portugal last time out (27th minute).
Brazil’s Rodrygo has drawn three opposition yellow cards at the 2022 World Cup, including two last time out against Cameroon. This is the most of any player who remains in the competition, despite only playing 114 of the 270 available minutes so far.
Son Heung-min registered his first goal contribution of the 2022 World Cup in the 91st minute of Korea Republic’s previous game, assisting Hwang Hee-Chan for the goal that secured their qualification from the group. He’s still looking for his first goal of the current tournament, and has only scored with one of his last 13 shots at the World Cup (v Germany in 2018).
BRAZIL VS KOREA REPUBLIC ??
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) December 5, 2022
Brazil is still the team to beat for @GaizkaMendieta6
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