A High-Stakes Encounter Awaits in Group A
A high-stakes contest awaits Group A as Czechia and Korea clash in a crucial encounter on the opening day of the FIFA World Cup.
The Venue : The Guadalajara Stadium ( Estadio Akron) in Zapopan, Mexico.
Kick off Time: Friday, June 12, 7.30 am IST
The Match Up At A Glance
While Korea are playing their 11th consecutive World Cup, Czechia have reached the World Cup after a long wait of 20 years. A win in this match may almost guarantee a place in the next round, which makes this contest an extremely interesting one. Mexico will play South Africa in the first match and is expected to go through.
The High Altitude Will Test Players
The high altitude of the Estadio Akron will test the lungs of the Czechs and the Koreans in good measure. And if the battle turns out to be a slugfest, the team which is able to sustain playing at high altitudes will prevail without a doubt.
Czechs Have Supremacy In The Air
The Czechs have a strong team to boot, with Patrik Schick of Bayer Leverkusen having finished a great season. Tomas Soucek of West Ham will be lurking in the midfield, while Ladislav Krejci from Wolverhampton will be critical in defence. His ability to link up with the midfield will give a big boost to the Czechs. Under Miroslav Koubek, the Czechs are tough to break, and with the height advantage, they will win more battles in the air than lose them. They are a gritty side, and scoring against them will not be easy. They will have an advantage with set pieces, too.
The Koreans are Gifted with Pace & Are Dangerous on the Counter
Korea, under Hong Myung-Bo, have a supremely gifted team, led by the mercurial Son Heung-min. The former Tottenham star will be the linchpin of this team. The Koreans are gifted with pace and are skilled in breaking down defences. Lee Kang-in from PSG will be critical in the midfield, while Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich will be the player to watch out for in defence, with great ability to run through to the opposition box. On the counter, Korea is an extremely dangerous side.
The Midfield Gives The Koreans The Edge
Koreans, for me, have a clear edge in this game purely based on the skill they possess, the speed they are blessed with, the Midfield strength and the tenacity they display on the pitch. The Czechs are good, but lack a forward who can stand up to the quality of Son Heung-min.
However, it is a World Cup, and even stranger things have happened.
The match will stream on DAZN in Japan, the ZEE5 app and the Unit8 Sports 1 TV Channel in India and FOX One in America.
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