Brazil goes ‘jogo bonito’ on South Korea in Round of 16
Brazil had scored some nice goals at the World Cup and won two of three group games prior to Monday, but it hadn’t managed that all-encompassing performance the Selecao are capable of where they pump several highlight-reel goals past a helpless opponent.
Unfortunately for South Korea, they were just that opponent in the World Cup Round of 16.
The Selecao overwhelmed Korea with several textbook displays of “jogo bonito” (beautiful game), making it look ridiculously easy on their way to a 4-0 halftime lead and an eventual 4-1 win.
Prior to Monday Brazil had scored just three goals and as mentioned it also lost a group game: a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the group stage finale.
That, along with Neymar’s injury in the group stage, gave the slightest hint of vulnerability for the five-time champions heading into the knockout round. But Neymar was back against Korea and, maybe not coincidentally, Brazil looked the opposite of vulnerable in his return.
Vinícius Júnior gave Brazil an early lead with a ridiculously composed finish after a cross from the right, before Neymar double the lead with a penalty minutes later.
That’s where the Jogo Bonito intensified. Richarlison’s juggled control was followed by an eye-of-a-needle pass from Thiago Silva for the Tottenham man to finish, before Lucas Paquetá volleyed home a fabulous cross from Vinícius that took out no fewer than six Korean defenders.
From there, Brazil could ease off in a second half that even saw South Korea get one back through a great finish by Paik Seung-ho. But the game at that point was long past competitive.
This is the danger that Brazil has, and it’s one that Croatia will be acutely aware of ahead of their quarterfinal match Saturday. Whether they’ll be able to do anything to stop Brazil, though, may be another matter.
Japan’s Cinderella run is stopped cold by Croatia’s Livakovic
The World Cup group stage was full of upsets, but so far the knockout phase has gone exactly according to expectations.
Japan was close to becoming the first Cinderella team to reach the quarterfinal, but Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković was waiting in a penalty shootout in the Round of 16.
Livaković saved three of the four Japan penalties he faced in Croatia’s 3-1 shootout win, securing his team a spot in the quarterfinals.
The goalkeeper equaled a World Cup record for most saved penalties in a shootout, which was set by his predecessor Danijel Subasic during Croatia’s run to the final in 2018.
Japan took the lead Monday through Daizen Maeda, who scored after a scramble from a corner kick in the 43rd minute. Croatia struck back in the 55th minute with a header from distance by Ivan Perišić.
From there the game went goalless and entered a penalty shootout, where Croatia prevailed in the Round of 16 and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Croatia was a bit of a surprise finalist in 2018 but this time around there may not be many surprises in the knockout round. Croatia’s win Monday meant the favored team has won in all five last-16 matches thus far.