South Korea VS Mexico Match Prediction
2018-06-23
15:00:00
South Korea
VS
Mexico
Our Prediction Tip
Mexico will win this match.
2018-06-2315:00:00 Mexico will win this match.
Mexico ended a run of four matches without a win against South Korea by beating them 4-0 in their most recent meeting – a friendly in January 2014. The two nations actually met at France ’98, when Mexico beat the ten-man Koreans 3-1, and it is the North Americans who just edge the head-to-head record with five wins and one draw from ten matches.
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South Korea have lost five of their last seven matches, including three of the last four
The Koreans have also failed to score in any of their last three matches
Mexico have won all three of their previous World Cup matches against Asian opponents - including beating South Korea at France '98'
South Korea have won just two of the 11 World Cup matches they have played since their run to the semi-finals on home soil in 2002
Mexico got their World Cup campaign off to the perfect start by beating Germany in their first game, and they should make it two from two against South Korea now.
South Korea created nothing against Sweden – failing to have a shot on target – so you would not back them to score against Mexico even if Guillermo Ochoa had not been in such excellent form in goal last time out.
Add to that Mexico’s recent record of five clean sheets in seven matches and the odds build even more in their favour.
The Koreans have lost five of their last seven matches, meanwhile – including three of the last four – and they have just two wins at the World Cup since their run to the semi-finals in 2002.
Such poor form makes it hard to look at anything other than a Mexico win in Saturday’s match, especially if they can take their chances better than they did against Germany.
Hirving Lozano got the crucial goal, but Miguel Layun will also feel he should have been on the scoresheet.
Mexico have never lost to Asian opponents at the World Cup and, given the comparative form of these two teams, it is difficult to imagine them failing to win against South Korea.
Mexico are odds-on favourites to beat South Korea in Saturday’s match – Bet365, Betfair, Ladbrokes and 10Bet are all offering 4/6 on a Mexican win.
Mexico’s recent clean sheet record, and South Korea’s poor attacking form, makes it worth upgrading that bet to a Mexico win to nil, meanwhile – which will return 6/4 with Bet365. Similarly, you can bet against both teams to score at 5/7 with 888sport.
A Mexico clean sheet, meanwhile, returns evens with Betway and Betfair.
At the other end, Hirving Lozano got Mexico’s goal against Germany and is 21/10 with 888sport to get another against South Korea at any time. All-time top goalscorer Javier Hernandez is 37/19 with 888sport, meanwhile.
1) Mexico to win to nil at 6/4 with Bet365
2) Mexico to keep a clean sheet at evens with Betway
3) Both teams to score = “NO” at 5/7 with 888sports
Mexico beat Germany in their opening match, and their solid defence should be more than enough against South Korea’s out-of-form attack. They should win, and they should win to nil as they look to close in on a last-16 place.
Left-back Park Joo-Ho has been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury after his freak injury against Sweden – landing awkwardly as he tried to control a misplaced pass. Kim Min-Woo replaced him in that game and, despite giving away the crucial penalty, is likely to retain his place. After lacking goals in their World Cup warm-up matches, South Korea played a more expansive 4-3-3 formation against Sweden but the changes did not pay off.
Son Heung-Min (forward) – Scored 18 times in all competitions for Spurs last season, as well as weighing in with plenty of assists.
Koo Ja-Cheol (midfielder) – Only Son has more international goals in the current South Korea squad than Koo’s 19 in 69 appearances.
Ki Sung-Yueng (midfielder) – South Korea captain boasts 103 international caps – the most in the current squad.
Sweden 1-0 South Korea
South Korea failed to have a shot on target as they lost to Sweden in their opening game – only mustering two shots of any kind in the whole game. Cho Hyun-Woo had already made a brilliant save to keep Korea in the game before Andreas Granqvist converted a second-half penalty - the only goal of the game.
South Korea have won just one of their last seven matches in all competitions, losing five and drawing 0-0 with Bolivia in the other. Their only win came against Honduras in Daegu thanks to goals from Son Heung-Min and Moon Seon-Min but they have scored just once more – a 3-1 defeat to Bosnia in the following game. Since then, Korea drew with Bolivia, lost 2-0 to Senegal and then slumped to their 1-0 loss to Sweden.
Giovani dos Santos missed out against Germany despite scoring his 19th international goal when Mexico beat Scotland in their warm-up match. Carlos Vela was his replacement, while Edson Alavrez came off the bench to replace him. Vela suffered a family bereavement this week but there is no indication the former Arsenal will miss out against South Korea.
Javier Hernandez (striker) – His next goal will be his 50th for Mexico. He is their all-time top goalscorer after 103 caps so far.
Hirving Lozano (winger) – Scored the winner last time out – his eighth goal in 29 appearances for the 22-year-old PSV Eindhoven talent
Guillermo Ochoa (goalkeeper) – Made nine saves in total against Germany to keep a clean sheet and earn Mexico victory against the defending champions.
Germany 0-1 Mexico (Lozano)
Hirving Lozano’s first-half goal combined with Guillermo Ochoa’s excellent goalkeeping earned Mexico team a surprise 1-0 win against Germany in their opening World Cup game. Lozano struck against the run of play before Mexico stood firm despite attacking changes from the defending champions to take the three points.
Mexico have won two of their last three matches, defeating Scotland at home thanks to Giovani dos Santos’ goal and then winning against Germany last time out. In between, they suffered a 2-0 friendly defeat to Denmark in their final warm-up match and have also lost against Croatia recently, but Hirving Lozano’s goal ensured they took three points last time out.
Two former World Cup hosts meets in Group F, facing off in the group stages just as they did in France ’98. Mexico won their opening game against Germany while South Korea lost to Sweden. Taking place at the Rostov Arena on Saturday June 23, the match is due to kick off at 6pm local time.
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