This Wednesday’s clash in Kazan between South Korea and Germany is a must-win affair for both squads. For Germany, this also an opportunity for them to get it together after two shaky outings. For South Korea, a win in Kazan will only be one of the two requirements they need to get a pass to the second round. Read more about it and the match below.
The Taegeuk Warriors have been pointless so far in Russia with a 0-2-0 record, but they’re technically still in the running for the No. 2 spot in Group F. However, the path to an unlikely participation in the round of 16 is something that the Koreans do not control entirely. Here’s what they could control, though: they need to beat Germany by three goals. That sounds impossible by itself, considering that South Korea has to do that against the defending champions. Apart from that, South Korea hopes that Sweden loses to Mexico to get a ticket out of the group stage. In any case, South Korea will look to use their speed advantage in Kazan against Germany. Mexico had plenty of trouble dealing with the Taegeuk Warriors’ attack last Saturday before finding a way to eke out a 2-1 win. Germany seem to have yet to hit their top form, and hopefully for South Korea, that remains to be the case this Wednesday.
Betting on Germany (-700)
Sometimes, it takes both luck and skill to win a game at the World Cup. Fortunately for the Germans, they have both in their 2-1 escape victory over Sweden last Saturday. On the verge of netting just a point, the Germans got a break that resulted to a free-kick strike in stoppage time by Toni Kroos. If it weren’t for that, Germany would have been shown the door out of World Cup title contention. With Germany looking relatively vulnerable despite that win over Sweden, they can recover their moxie against a potent but heavy underdogs South Korea. Germany must keep an eye out on Korean forward Son Heung-Min, who launched a total of nine shots (two on target, including his team’s lone goal) in their 2-1 loss to Mexico on Saturday. If anything, the Germans will face a lighter version of South Korea with the latter’s midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng out for two weeks with a calf issue.
Writer’s Prediction
Germany gets the win and a safe passage to the next round with a 3-0 win over South Korea.
