Cristiano Ronaldo and all of Portugal have already stamped their tickets to the Round of 16 for the second consecutive World Cup. A win or draw in this match would solidify Group H’s top spot.
Portugal appears to be slated for a deep run in this tournament based solely on its first two matches. Football fans from around the world have tuned into all 180-plus minutes of Portugal’s first two games to watch what many expect to be Ronaldo's final World Cup.
The legend has almost every accolade imaginable up to this point in his career, other than the World Cup trophy.
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South Korea will be fighting to salvage its tournament lives after failing to win either of its first two matches. Son Heung-min and co. will have to not only win Friday’s match, but likely do it by a significant margin. The Ghana vs Uruguay result could still send South Korea home from the tournament..
The two Group H matches kick off simultaneously, just about 35 km away from one another, with the results surely affecting who makes it to the next round.
South Korea vs Portugal Odds
- 3-way handicap: South Korea (+350) | Draw (+390) | Portugal (-135)
- Draw No Bet: South Korea (+225) |Portugal (-350)
- Over/Under Goals: Over 2.5 ( -125) | Under 2.5 (-115)
- Both Teams to Score: Yes (-125) | No (-115)
South Korea vs Portugal odds are current as of December 1, at 4 a.m. on BetMGM Sportsbook.
Portugal not being heavier favorites in the 3-way handicap is quite surprising based on its dominance of Group H. The -135 already seems like solid odds to hammer for one of the safer plays of this match.
South Korea got a pair of goals on the board against Ghana after a 0-0 draw in Matchday 1 vs Uruguay. A brace by Cho Gue-sung, along with seven shots on target as a team, was the best attack the East Asian side has showcased in this tournament. That strong performance, coupled with Portugal’s 12.3 shots per match this tournament, means you can back the Over 2.5 and both teams to score.
South Korea vs Portugal Betting Tips
- Ronaldo, Danilo Pereira, and Otávio all missed Portugal’s final training ahead of Friday’s match.
- Portugal’s five goals in two games are tied for the fourth most of all countries.
- South Korea has dominated in average possession and shots per match at 56% and 15.5, respectively.
- Both of South Korea’s goals have come in the second half, as they’ve failed to score in the first 45 minutes in their first two games.
- South Korea has only allowed a combined four shots on target, but three goals in two games.
South Korea vs Portugal Prediction
South Korea 1-2 Portugal
South Korea simply has not shown that it has the firepower to advance, and will fail for the third consecutive World Cup.
Meanwhile, Portugal should finish with the top spot in the group with a victory. Even if head coach Fernando Santos decides to rest some of his top talents, the likes of Rafel Leȁo, Bernardo Silva, and Joȁo Félix should be enough to get the job done.
For South Korea, the valiant comeback effort that fell just short in its last game all but sealed its fate heading into the final matchday. The East Asian side has been slightly underwhelming this tournament, picking up just one point in two games that they could have, and maybe should have, won. For pride’s sake, you can expect Paulo Bento’s squad to fight to the final whistle, but unfortunately, to no avail.
South Korea should be able to find the back of the net in this match, but similar to how Ghana scored against Portugal in Matchday 1, it’ll likely be a late, meaningless goal.
South Korea vs Portugal Best Bet
➕ Portugal to Win and Both Teams to Score (+250) at BetMGM Sportsbook
WAGER: 2 Units
Portugal has looked strong defensively, particularly in its last game where they did not concede to Uruguay. However, South Korea’s attack has been slightly better than Uruguay, which has not scored once in this tournament.
For this reason, I am giving South Korea at least one goal in this match, especially with the outcome not expected to affect Portugal’s seeding in the group.
That being said, Portugal should still find a way to pull this one out, making this one of the best plays of this game.
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