While they may have better credentials than Ghana, South Korea vs Portugal certainly looks to be one of the big David and Goliath meets of the Qatar World Cup 2022 Group Stage.
The Asian side is just as unfavoured to win Group H as their African rivals, but with superstar Son Heung-min ready to lead the attack, there’s always the chance for an upset.
Is Portugal destined to run riot against the Korean Republic? Check out how the teams match up and what the odds are saying for this game below.
- There’s always hope for South Korea with Son on the pitch.
- Portugal brings an overwhelming amount of talent to the table.
- FIFA World Cup 2022 Group H could hinge on this game.
- LV BET has all of your Qatar 2022 betting needs covered.
South Korea trusts in Son
In a similar way to Ronaldo in his earlier years for Portugal, head coach Paulo Bento puts a lot of faith in Son Heung-min playing his best football and sets up to allow that to happen. Often deployed on the left wing, Bento has his midfielders play fast passes up to the forwards, who’re encouraged to take on full-backs and get crosses into the box.
The road to the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification certainly wasn’t easy for the Korean Republic, which had to trek all of the way to the Middle East for each of its five away games. The Taegeuk Warriors managed to beat and draw against eventual group winners Iran, finishing with seven wins and only one loss. Now, they hope to emulate the record fourth-place finish achieved when hosting the 2002 World Cup.
Against Portugal’s menacing backline, Bento will be hoping that Son Heung-min can do enough to at least draw a lot of the attention, potentially making space for South Korea’s other savvy forwards. In the recent 4-1 dismantling of Egypt, a focus on Son allowed for Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan, Kwon Chang-hoon, and substitute Cho Gue-sung to find space and get the goals.
| Name | Position | Matches | Goals |
| Son Heung-min | Forward | 12 | 7 |
| Kim Shin-wook | Forward | 4 | 6 |
| Kwon Chang-hoon | Forward | 11 | 4 |
| Hwang Hee-chan | Forward | 13 | 3 |
| Kim Young-gwon | Defender | 12 | 2 |
| Hwang Ui-jo | Forward | 12 | 2 |
Portugal can be fearless with this much attacking talent
Fernando Santos has overseen one of Portugal’s greatest eras of football, but with this squad – possibly the most talented overall that the nation has ever had – questions are being raised as to whether he’s still suitable for the job. A more reserved and defensive approach has risen to the fore, despite the legion of world-class attackers and playmakers that Santos could unleash at any moment.
To land their Qatar 2022 dates, Portugal had to take the long road through the UEFA qualifiers. On the very last day of games in Group A of their FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers, Portugal only needed to draw with Serbia to automatically qualify. Instead, a 2-1 defeat forced the favoured side to take on Turkey and then North Macedonia. Now, Portugal can attempt to surpass the Round of 16 for the first time since 2006.
In any game, Santos could unleash a combination of Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix, Diogo Jota, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, André Silva, Gonçalo Guedes, and Otávio. It’s a terrifying batch of attackers who, if given licence to do so, could shred through just about any midfield and defence at Qatar 2022. Naturally, South Korea’s biggest task will be attempting to block the three/four players in this section, if they are to see any success.
| Name | Position | Matches | Goals |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Forward | 9 | 6 |
| Diogo Jota | Forward | 7 | 5 |
| Bruno Fernandes | Midfielder | 9 | 3 |
| João Palhinha | Midfielder | 8 | 2 |
Betting tips and odds on South Korea vs Portugal in FIFA World Cup 2022 Group H
As would be expected, Portugal is the favourite to take this game, just as they are the favourites to land the top spot in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Group H. Based on the odds, South Korea vs Portugal has the potential to be a high scoring game, but merely a stepping stone for Portugal’s progression.
The Korean Republic will likely be looking at this game as one that it’d be nice to get points from, but not essential, with the Asian side having a better chance of beating Ghana and Uruguay. At 11/1 to win Group H, South Korea is considered on par with Ghana to usurp the heavily favoured Portugal.
South Korea vs Portugal takes place on the final Qatar 2022 dates for the groups, the 2nd of December, and will be shown on the BBC at 3 pm in the UK.
Bets on South Korea vs Portugal at LV BET
Goals, goalscorers, and handicap markets look set to have the hottest odds for this collision of continents at Qatar 2022. With Portugal so heavily favoured, the LV BET Asian Totals slider looks to get a lot of use as this match draws closer.
To make the most of the World Cup odds and markets at LV BET, be sure to grab the Bet £10, Get £10 welcome offer, as well as the odds-enhancing promo Superduper Bet.
Whether you think Portugal will run away with the win or the Korean Republic will put up a good fight, place your wagers at LV BET!