South Korea vs Czech Republic predictions: Cagey start in Guadalajara

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Patrik Schick has been in fine scoring form for Bayer Leverkusen

Second match in Group A, taking place at Guadalajara Stadium
South Korea appearing at 11th consecutive World Cup, Czechs have not qualified since 2006
Recommended bet: Draw

The second game in Group A pits two teams who will have designs on making the top two when South Korea and Czech Republic meet in Guadalajara. Alongside co-hosts Mexico and group underdogs South Africa, this looks to be a fairly open section, and all four teams do have a genuine chance of progressing to the knockout stage. South Korea, who are taking part in their 11th consecutive World Cup, are slight favourites at 13/8 to win, but the Czechs, who are back at this elite world level for the first time in 20 years, cannot be discounted.

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Team news

Captain Son Heung-min will start in attack, with the former Tottenham ace set to be supported by the likes of Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung and Lee Kang-in.

Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae will also be in the XI as part of a back three, but Cho Yu-min has been ruled out through injury with Jo Wi-je named as his replacement.

Ladislav Krejci is the Czech skipper after West Ham's Tomas Soucek was stripped of the captaincy earlier this year.

Krejci is set to start in a back-three, while Patrik Schick remains his country's chief goal threat after the Bayer Leverkusen striker scored five times in qualifying.

Pavel Sulc will likely start in midfield alongside Soucek, who remains a key member of the team.

See the confirmed South Korea vs Czech Republic line-ups before kick-off

See the latest South Korea vs Czech Republic odds on LiveScore Bet

The stats

South Korea's best run in a World Cup came as co-hosts in 2002, when they came fourth.

The Czechs (then competing as Czechoslovakia) were runners-up in 1962.

South Korea are ranked 25th in FIFA's rankings, 14 places higher than the Czech Republic.

The two teams last met in a friendly 10 years ago, when South Korea won 2-1.

South Korea qualified a year ago and have been playing friendlies since, winning five of their last seven games.

Czech Republic only made it after coming through the European play-offs, beating Denmark on penalties

The Czechs have won their last six games, although two were by penalty shoot-outs.

See the previous South Korea vs Czech Republic head-to-head results

See the latest South Korea vs Czech Republic odds on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

With co-hosts Mexico tipped to take top spot in Group A, these two nations will surely at least be battling it out for second, while they could also take advantage if the Mexicans do not deliver on home soil. This first game for both could be crucial in determining the outcome of the section, as a weaker South Africa side may just end up making up the numbers. Therefore, with a lot riding on this, we may see a cagey, defence-dominating affair. South Korea are judged to be the slightly better side by the market but there is talent on both sides, including Son, Hwang and Lee for the Asian nation and Soucek and Schick for the Europeans. Not losing your first game will be a major target for plenty of countries in this competition, considering third place can also secure a last-32 spot, so a draw may suit both in the early hours of Friday. There may be little to choose between them and the draw appeals at 2/1.

Back the draw at 2/1