Group H First Place on the Line
Portugal has already qualified for the Round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup, but the Navigators need at least one more point to secure first place in Group H. On the other hand, South Korea needs to win to have a chance of advancing as the runner-up. The Group Stage is coming to an end with a bang.
Let’s check the latest World Cup odds, stats, injury reports and World Cup lines for South Korea vs Portugal. We’ve plenty of World Cup betting odds for you to consider.
South Korea vs Portugal Betting Lines
South Korea: Not Enough
Having a superstar such as Son Heung-min hasn’t been enough for South Korea. The Tigers of Asia put up a really good fight in their previous two games but only won one point. That’s why a victory over Portugal might not be enough for them to advance, because Ghana or Uruguay could also finish with four points and a better goal difference.
In its first game, South Korea drew 0-0 to Uruguay. The Tigers of Asia lost possession with 44 percent but finished with seven shots in total. They also finished with three corner kicks. In other words, they were pretty aggressive.
Most recently, they lost to Ghana in another back-and-forth battle that ended 3-2. At some point, the Tigers of Asia were down by two goals, but they managed to even the score in the second half thanks to Cho Gue-sung, who scored a brace in a three-minute span. Unfortunately for them, Mohammed Kudus went full beast mode. He also scored a brace, including the winning goal.
As expected, the Tigers of Asia come in as the betting online underdogs, but keep in mind that they opened at +415 and now are +375. In other words, we’re talking about a feisty underdog that has no other option but to win. They should also try to score as many goals as possible.
Scoop on Free Play from the Locker Room
Portugal: Exceptional Attacking Unit
Portugal is already qualified for the Round of 16, meaning the Navigators could even lose and nothing would happen. The thing is that knowing Cristiano Ronaldo, losing is not a real option.
They defeated Ghana 3-2 in their debut with Ronaldo, Joao Felix and Rafael Leao as the scorers. Leao came off the bench to seal the deal, and believe it or not, all five goals were scored during the second half.
Four days later, the Navigators defeated Uruguay 2-0 with Bruno Fernandes as Man of the Match after scoring a brace. Once again, both goals were scored in the second half. Portugal also won possession with 60 percent and finished with 15 shots in total.
Ronaldo is the alpha, no doubt about it, but we’re talking about a team with talent to spare, especially on offense. The following players have started both games on the bench: Andre Silva, Rafael Leao, Ricardo Horta and Goncalo Ramos. The four of them would be starters on pretty much any other team.
A draw would be enough for Portugal to secure first place, but none of the Navigators’ last eight games finished in a draw (6-2-0).
South Korea vs Portugal Match Information
- Match: South Korea vs Portugal
- Date: Friday, Dec. 2nd.
- Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
- Location: Education City Stadium, Al-Rayyan
- South Korea vs Portugal Live Stream: fubo.tv
South Korea vs Portugal Picks & Prediction
- Worth Betting on the Moneyline?
I really think so. Portugal is offering a -155 price. Considering they’re highly motivated and averaging 2.5 goals per game, that’s a great deal. On the other hand, if you were looking for an underdog to include in your soccer picks, South Korea could be the answer. They’ve no other option than to win and are offering a +375 price, meaning a $100 wager could turn into a $475 payout. There’s also the draw, which is offering a +340 price. In fact, my recommendation is to go with the draw, because Portugal will relax a bit and the Tigers of Asia are a very disciplined team.
- Worth Betting ATS?
I would stay away from the spread. Portugal is -1 at +110, but they suffered to defeat Ghana by one goal and defeated Uruguay by two thanks to a very late goal from the penalty spot. In other words, winning by two at the World Cup isn’t an easy feat, especially when you’re already qualified for the next round. As for South Korea (+1 -130), three of their last five games finished with a one-goal difference. The other two finished in a draw.
- Worth Betting on the Totals?
The total is set at 2½ goals, with the under offering a +115 price, so the answer is yes. First, like it or not, Portugal will relax a bit. The coaching staff could even rest several star players. On the other hand, South Korea scored 1.2 goals per game in its last five games.
Score Prediction: South Korea 1, Portugal 1
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
World Cup Standings
World Cup League Stats
