The match report is here, stay tuned for Ken Early’s full report on Brazil’s first half masterclass to come. That’s all from me for tonight. Join us tomorrow for Morocco against Spain at 3pm.
[ Brazil steamroll South Korea in first-half attacking masterclassOpens in new window ]
FULL-TIME: Brazil 4 South Korea 1
Job done in the first half for Brazil with a sensational display that will leave future opponents worried. South Korea attacked well and Alisson actually had to make more than a few good saves, but they were far too open and Brazil cut them to shreds. One of the most exciting halfs of football in the tournament by Brazil in the first, second half the foot was off the pedal. Croatia is next up on Friday at 3pm.
Meanwhile, Neymar takes out a flag showing Pelé, the great striker who is hospital at the moment and the team pose with a photo. The first half was a great imitation of 1970 Brazil, he would have enjoyed that if he was watching.
90 mins: Nice play by Brazil that ends with Dani Alves of all people trying an acrobatic volley after a chip cross by Martinelli. Raphinha’s corner is headed wide by Bremer after hitting the keeper, clearly a corner but it’s given as a goal kick. Hwang hee-chan, maybe Korea’s best attacker, takes a slightly heavy touch from a long ball and blazes wide. Four minutes stoppage time.
86 mins: Brazil have taken the foot off the pedal completely in the last while, but you can’t blame them. They nearly score again though as Rodrygo closes down the keeper but misses the chance.
80 mins: Another chance for South Korea as Cho Gue-sung shot is saved by Alisson, but it’s offside. Random sub as third keeper Weverton comes on for Alisson. Rodrygo on for Neymar.
76 mins: GOAL FOR SOUTH KOREA! Paik Seung-ho. What a goal, even if a consolation. Ball is headed wide from a corner and he hits a screamer into the corner from 30 yards. They deserved that, they’ve been good in attack South Korea, despite the scoreline.
72 mins: On comes Bremer for Danilo and Martinelli is on for Vinicius jnr.
69 mins: Chances for South Korea. Alisson with another brilliant save. Bad defending and it falls to Hwang hee-chan in the box and Alisson with a strong right hand from a powerful shot. He’s been great. Scramble in the box but it’s offside.
66 mins: Dani Alves with a great ball over the top for Raphinha, who lays it back to Richarlison who dummies the ball to nobody but the offside flag was up. South Korea not giving up the pressing, with five or six up on the box.
63 mins: Neymar plays in Raphinha who again dummies the defender well but can’t score off his right. Move started by a flick by the exception Casemiro. On comes veteran Dani Alves at 39 years old. The crowd like that one, if there was a game to bring him on, it’s this one.
58 mins: Vinicius runs from one side of the pitch to the other before Neymar is fouled. Raphinha takes the free kick but it hits the wall.
55 mins: A more sedate last five minutes before Casemiro plays to Raphinha. Raphinha to Paqueta and Raphinha delays beautifully with two dummies but the keeper Kim Seung-gyu makes another great low save. Brazil can raise the tempo on command.
50 mins: South Korea have had chances despite the score, but it shows their strength through the team that their goalkeeper Alisson can shine even when they’re 4-0 up.
47 mins: Brazil have a chance immediately in the second half, Raphinha’s shot deflected and easily saved by goalkeeper. Son almost scores on the other end with a ball over the top, Marquinhos beaten, but Alisson saves superbly.
HALF-TIME: Brazil 4 South Korea 0
That was magic from Brazil, O Jogo Bonito is alive and well. Dancing when they have the ball, dancing when they celebrate. Skilful, devastating football which the South Koreans had no match for. The third goal was probably the pick of the bunch. This game looks over and it’s an ominous message sent out to everyone in the tournament.
48 mins: Richarlison gets the ball in a mile of space, under no pressure and the keeper saves again. Shocking defending by the Koreans. Lucky not to be five behind. Paqueta with a sloppy touch in the box but Korea can’t capitalise.
46 mins: Carving open South Korea again, lovely pass by Raphinha Paqueta has a good chance but it’s well saved by the keeper. Did he try to no-look it? It’s showboating time for Brazil. Raphinha almost scores from a Vinicius cross. This game is a complete mismatch so far.
44 mins: Son is down after a tackle by Marquinhos, South Korea trying their best but they’ve just been blown away by the skilful Brazilians who can’t play much better than this.
36 mins: GOAL FOR BRAZIL! Another dance, individual and team. Paqueta this time. Devastating attack. Neymar plays to Vinicius who hit a delicious dinked cross to Paqueta to volley in. Great football.
35 mins: More nice play by Brazil around the box and falls to Casemiro whose shot drifts wide.
32 mins: Hwang hee-chan dribbles down the wing and almost scores but Alisson makes himself big and saves sharply.
28 mins: GOAL FOR BRAZIL! Magic football by Brazil, wow wow. Richarlison does almost a seal dribble, with three headers in the air and then two kick ups, two quick passes from Marquinhos and Thiago Silva and he’s in, a composed finish into the corner. Now they’re dancing with the manager Tite. Samba football at its best!
26 mins: South Korea win corner as Kim Jin-su’s cross is blocked. Son’s corner fails to beat the first man. Hwang hee-can tries another long shot but Alisson saves easily this time.
23 mins: Brazil blew South Korea away in a five-minute spell, Korea haven’t been too bad otherwise and have competed well but Brazil look in the mood so far.
17 mins: Oof a brilliant shot by Hwang hee-chan from 30 yards that would have been goal for the tournament but it’s a wonderful save by Alisson. That was close but that’s why Alisson is one of the best in the world.
The Brazil celebration for their first goal:
12 mins: GOAL FOR BRAZIL! Neymar scores the penalty. He stutters and fools the keeper, into the corner. Another full team celebration. Could be a lot of them tonight. Richarlison was fouled in the box originally.
7 mins: GOAL FOR BRAZIL! Vinicius with the goal! Raphinha dribbles through, poor defending by the full-back and he pulls back. It goes through everyone, it falls to Vinicius who takes his time and composed curls it into the corner. Then they pull off an elaborate celebration dance, won’t go down too well with everyone that one. “They should be booked,” barks Ronnie Whelan on RTÉ.
6 mins: Another long ball to Son, but he’s offside, ball to the channels seems to be the Korean plan. Raphinha fouls after a poor pass by Casemiro.
3 mins: A long ball finds Son but Raphinha comes back and dispossesses him. Neymar with a sharp first pass of the game and then a run through the middle, looks fit anyway.
Jesus missing through injury, Raphinha only left Leeds in the summer, Fred, Fabinho, Bruno Guimaraes, Antony, Ederson and Martinelli on the bench. A distinct Premier League feel to the Brazil team at this tournament:
Head to head: South Korea once beat Brazil in a friendly, 1-0 in 1999. Brazil have won every other encounter between the two teams, all friendlies, and beat them 5-1 in a game in June. So there’s no doubt who are favourites in this match-up.
Pelé has sent the Brazil team a message of support from hospital as the prepare for today’s game.
He wrote on Twitter: “In 1958, I walked the streets thinking about fulfilling the promise I made to my father. I know that today many have made similar promises and are also going in search of their first World Cup.
“I’ll be watching the game from hospital and I’ll be rooting for each one of you. Good luck!”
Refreshed Brazil are expecting to be back to their formidable best, writes Sid Lowe. The A team is back tonight. There were only two full days between Brazil’s last group match and this knockout tie and, using Poland as the example, Tite explained that their fitness analysts had seen a 40 per cent drop in intensity in the third game, and that eight players had physical problems.
“It’s very tough for the human body,” he said. That rest allowed his players to come into this tie with almost a week’s break between starting games, Neymar and Danilo are back in the side.
[ Refreshed Brazil expecting to be back to their formidable bestOpens in new window ]
Team news:
Neymar returns to the Brazil line-up after missing the previous two games through injury. Danilo also returns but Eder Militao keeps his place in defence, with Alex Sandro missing.
Brazil: Alisson; Eder Militao, Thiago Silva (captain), Marquinhos, Danilo, Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta, Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Richarlison.
South Korea: Kim Seung-gyu, Kim Moon-hwan, Kim Min-jae, Kim Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su, Lee Jae-sung, Jung Woo-young, Jeong Woo-yeong, Hwang In-beom, Son Heung-min (captain), Hwang Hee-chan, Cho Gue-sung.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Brazil against South Korea in the World Cup last 16 at Stadium 974 in Qatar. Neymar is back and will he inspire Brazil to a quarter-final place against Croatia. South Korea will be looking for Tottenham’s Son Heung-min to do the same for them. Kickoff at 7pm.
