World Cup: Brazil against the South Korean surprise, Japan-Croatia… What awaits you on December 5

The favorite, the vice-world champion and the two main providers of surprises in the World Cup are on the menu for this Monday.

After finishing the group stage ahead of Spain and Germany, Japan will try to rally the quarterfinals for the first time in their history against Croatia.

At 8 p.m., Brazil will have the mission of calming the ardor of the South Koreans, winners of Portugal in added time on Friday.

The program

• 4 p.m.: Japan - Croatia (BeIN Sports 1)

• 8 p.m.: Brazil - South Korea (TF1, BeIN Sports 1)

Big game: Brazil v South Korea

Tite is warned: South Korea has already beaten a Seleçao during this World Cup.

Badly embarked in their pool H after two games, the Taeguk Warriors nevertheless stole second place from Uruguay thanks to a victory in money time against Portugal (2-1).

Paulo Bento's men have the two perfect ingredients to lay the perfect trap: a fit goalkeeper and a top-quality player to lead the counterattacks.

Goalkeeper Seing-Gyu Kim kept his team alive after conceding an early opener against the Portuguese.

Heung-min Son, a domestic superstar, woke up in that same encounter after going through the first two matches of the competition in the guise of Casper the Ghost.

If he does not have the support of Harry Kane, his partner at Tottenham, to lead the South Korean transitions, the masked captain will deliver a duel from a distance to Richarlison, his club teammate.

Author of a double against Serbia, the Spurs striker carries Brazil's offensive line in 2022. He has scored 9 goals in 8 games with the Auriverde this year and could be accompanied by Neymar against the Taeguk Warriors.

The Paris-Saint Germain striker is in Tite's plans for this round of 16, after missing two games due to a sprained ankle against the Serbs.

I feel good, I knew that I would now

✋🏽😜🤚🏽 pic.twitter.com/LpJ3BZJaU9

— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) December 3, 2022

Despite a team of five-star hairdressers, the Brazilians lost their last group game against Cameroon (1-0).

They risk rubbing shoulders with a new low block against South Korea, the return of the Neymar-Paqueta pair would allow the Seleçao to regain their full creative potential.

On paper, the gap between the two nations is widened by the difference in freshness.

While Brazil rotated, South Korea snatched qualification in the dying moments.

"72 hours between two matches is too short, no team can do that," Bento complained.

Besides our physical fatigue after Portugal on Friday (2-1), there was emotional fatigue and we decided to give our players a rest yesterday (Saturday).

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Player to watch: Josko Gvardiol

Two players monopolized the attention during the Group F 'final' between Croatia and Belgium.

Romelu Lukaku and his clumsiness as well as Josko Gvardiol and his nerves of steel.

The Croatian central defender was completely clean throughout a game where the checkered selection suffered.

Symbol of its foolproof efficiency, this tackle made in added time to remove a qualifying ball from the unfortunate Belgian giant.

Joško Gvardiol 🤩 pic.twitter.com/8dFdse7Mx6

— 🇫🇷™ (@ConteSZN_) December 1, 2022

At only 20 years old, the Leipzig player displayed impressive composure to extinguish the many fires declared in the Croatian area.

Endowed with a good sense of anticipation, he is less sovereign in aerial duels.

The Japanese, Croatia's opponents in the round of 16, are not used to bombarding the opposing surface with crosses.

Gvardiol's 1.85m should not be undermined in this sector by the Japanese attackers.

If he looks like a warrior with this helmet to protect his broken nose, the central back also stands out thanks to his qualities in possession of the ball.

He advances Croatia on the ground with sharp passes or ball projections at the foot.

With a midfielder consisting of Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic, Croatia have the weapons to secure possession and push back Japan.

Spaces could open behind the men of Zlatko Dalic and Gvardiol may have a job to manage the depth against the lively Japanese.

The Blue Samurai only needed a few lightning bolts to shear through the German and Spanish defences.

Faced with Roja and Mannschaft, the Japanese have worked against, with success.

The sentence: Neymar, "I would prefer that he was not here"

In Qatar, Paulo Bento is not there to face the best.

The South Korea coach prefers to put the odds on his side.

"We would be hypocrites if I told you that I prefer to face Neymar," he said at a press conference.

It would be a lie.

I'd rather he wasn't there, obviously, but generally I'm more into seeing the best players lined up on the pitch.

And when it's not, I'd rather it wasn't because of an injury.

According to Tite, Bento's Brazilian counterpart, the PSG star will be present in the

group .

The number: 0

Qualified for its seventh World Cup final phase in a row, Japan has never passed the stage of the round of 16.

The Samouraïs Bleus had yet pulled out of the pools three times before joining Qatar.

In 2018, they led by two goals before being called to order by the Belgian gendarmes.

Will the fourth attempt be the right one?

Answer this Monday against the vice-world champions.