According to most soccer experts’ World Cup predictions, Russia is a near-unanimous choice to be one of the two teams to emerge from Group H. However, South Korea managed to advance to the Round of 16 in 2010 and will do their chances of returning there a lot of good with a decent result against the Russians in their first group game.
Fabio Capello has provided Russia with a defensive identity, their ability to hold the line will define their success, as we noted in our Group H preview. Can the Russians luck up a spot in the last 16? Enter to lock down a whopping $500 by entering our very simple World Cup contest, and read on to learn if Russia gets a good start in Group H.
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Russia vs. South Korea, World Cup 2014, Group Stage Betting Preview and Prediction
Under the direction of legendary Italian coach Fabio Capello, Russia should be a solid defensive unit in the World Cup. The Russians topped their qualifying group ahead of Portugal after they conceded just five goals throughout the campaign.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]However, Russia’s defensive stability could be significantly compromised with the loss of captain Roman Shirokov. Aside from being an extra body to defend in midfield, Shirokov also had a major impact on the team’s attack, as he can dictate play and offer support from his deep position.
Shirokov’s absence will place an added burden on the team’s primary playmaker, Alan Dzagoev. The 23-year old burst onto the scene with three goals at Euro 2012, and will have the responsibility of providing chances for the team’s lethal marksmen, Aleksandr Kerzhakov and Aleksandr Kokorin (nine goals in qualifying combined).
With Korea’s lack of threatening individuals on attack, Russia should have a relatively comfortable time protecting their net. It’ll just be a question of whether Dzagoev is up to the task of unlocking the Korean defense to grab the win.
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Betting on South Korea
South Korea may not have any outstanding individuals plying their trade in major European clubs like in years past, but they do have the energy and the work ethic to frustrate Russia’s more talented strikers. A legendary defender as a player, manager Hong-Myung Bo has crafted this Korean team in his own image. They are well-organized, disciplined and very hard to break down.
Up front, Park Chu-Young will have the burden of going against the Russian defense as a lone frontman. Park led the team in scoring with six goals during qualifying, but he wasn’t quite good enough to appear in more than one game for Arsenal in his three seasons with the English giants.
The talented Son Heung-min will provide Park with support as an attacking midfielder, while Ki Sung-yueng has some very good range of passing deeper in midfield that could catch the Russians out on the counterattack.
The Koreans will no doubt give it their all against Russia, but a lack of truly elite individual talent will make it difficult for them to escape with all three points.
Writer’s Prediction
The two well-organized, hard-working and defense-oriented teams will likely cancel each other’s offenses out. Take Russia and South Korea to play out a draw at +208.
