The attention moves to Group H for the second match of the FIFA World Cup on Monday as the two lower ranked sides in the section meet in an important match when Ghana take on South Korea in Al Rayyan.
Both of these teams failed to win their opening match so they will both be eager to win this one, Ghana more so because they actually lost their first outing whereas South Korea did at least claim a point.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the BBC 1 channel in the UK. There is a short build-up to the game which begins at 12.45pm with kick off coming 15 minutes later at 1pm.
South Korea
I have to say I was a little disappointed with South Korea in the opening match. I thought they were incredibly passive and way too far on the negative side of proceedings against a team who you would have thought their speed could have got something against defensively. In the end they twice rode their luck in getting what might be a valuable point for them but you suspect it will only mean anything to them if they win this match.
I understand teams playing on the counterattack but there wasn’t really too many signs of that either so as an attacking force we need to see much more from them, although with a Portuguese manager I’m not convinced it will happen. Technically a draw isn’t a bad result but with Portugal to come in their final match you would imagine this is their best chance of getting the win that could take them to the next stage.
Ghana
I think most judges expected Ghana to be a very defensive force in this tournament with Chris Hughton part of the coaching setup but actually in their opening match against Portugal they looked better when they were going forward than they did at the back. That might have been down to the style of the opposition but it bodes well for them here because they need to take the handbrake off if they are going to get themselves back into the qualifying picture.
Ghana had plenty of dynamism about them in attack and when they were forced to take the shackles off when they went behind they got plenty of men in the box and showed good quality in the process. You wonder if they can keep teams out at the other end and it will be interesting to see if they make changes to personnel and set up here just to try and tighten up, although there is no Cristiano Ronaldo or Joao Felix opposing them here.
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Team News
South Korea are expected to be without forward Hwan Hee-cham for this match as he continues to recover from a hamstring injured. Son Heung-min featured in the first game but didn’t look comfortable and it will be interesting to see how he goes here.
Ghana had a doubt over their captain Andre Ayew earlier in the week but the vibes are that he will be fit to start the match. His brother Jordan Ayew is waiting if he doesn’t make it. Tariq Lamptey will be hoping for a start.
Betting
This is one of the harder matches to bet on at the World Cup. It should be open and if chances are taken high scoring because both teams need to get a win but there are doubts over the ability of the attacking players and indeed whether South Korea will actually release the shackles and have a go or not. My gut feeling is that taking the over is the way forward here but I don’t really need to be on that and then was another game where South Korea barely come out of their own half.
That leads me to the player markets where the odds against on Mohammed Kudus to have a shot on target appeals to me. The Ajax midfielder looked really good when he was allowed to get forward against Portugal, having two shots of which one hit the target. He has five goals in 19 for his country and is one of the highly rated players at Ajax. Ghana have Thomas Partey sitting in midfield so in a game the African side have to win I am hoping and expecting him to be pushed further forward to get involved in more of the attacks. I’ll back him to hit the target across the course of the game.
Tips
Back M.Kudus – 1 or more shots on target for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with Coral
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