Group H at the World Cup in Brazil wraps up with South Korea and Belgium, who sit atop the table with six points, but haven’t looked like the team many predicted to make some noise. South Korea has a single point and are at the bottom on goal difference, which means they need a lot of things to go right to get to the knockout stage.
World Cup Odds: Belgium -125, South Korea +385, Draw +245
Why South Korea Can Win
South Korea has to play like a team with nothing to lose, which they really are. They can bemoan a horrible 12 minutes in the middle of the first half of their 4-2 loss to Algeria for putting them in this position, but they showed they can attack as they scored twice in the second half to make a game out of it. South Korea has now scored three times in two games and three different players have gotten on the scoresheet, but they have to throw everyone forward to have a chance on Thursday.
But that could be very dangerous as Algeria thoroughly carved up South Korea for most of their match, and Belgium is a much better team with proven playmakers. If South Korea isn’t careful, Belgium can run rampant and turn this game into an ugly affair.
Why Belgium Can Win
Belgium came into this World Cup as a darkhorse, but it seems like the expectations got so high, they’ve been playing nervous. They have managed to win both of their group games so far over Russia and Algeria, but they haven’t dominated either team like they were expected to and furthermore, they’ve gotten all three of their goals from substitutes, which seems to spark the team. They do have to get more out of Eden Hazard, who set up Divock Origi for the match-winner, and Romelu Lukaku, who has been a major disappointment through the first two games.
The Belgians just look like a team that doesn’t have any confidence about them, and a blowout win to cap the group stage would be huge for them. Getting six points is very good for how they have played, but Belgium definitely has another gear and they have to find it against South Korea because in the next stage, they’ll play one of four very good sides from Group G and the action will get much harder.
Outlook
This will be the fourth meeting for these two sides, the first since 1999. Belgium has two wins and a draw from those three games, and they are a deserved favorite in this match as well. South Korea has to come out firing and attack Belgium, but that leaves them in trouble at the back and Belgium has the horses to make them pay for it. Belgium knows they haven’t played very well and they’ll be motivated to make sure they win Group H, which isn’t wrapped up just yet.
Pick: Belgium
