World Cup Group A Predictions: Matchday 2

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The second round of games in Group A sees Mexico and South Korea square off in Guadalajara after opening successes, while Czech Republic and South Africa are on the rebound as Elliott Bretland picks out his best bets.

Tomas Soucek could be a major threat for the Czech Republic at set pieces as they face South Africa

Mexico have won both previous World Cup meetings with South Korea
Czech Republic were unbeaten in six prior to their opening reverse
Mexico have won all five World Cup games against Asian opposition

World Cup co-hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the opening game on home soil to top Group A.

El Tri now face South Korea who got the better of the Czech Republic in their first match of the tournament having had to come from behind.

Miroslav Koubek’s Czechs take on Bafana Bafana on Thursday with both sides aiming to put their first points on the board at this summer’s finals, while the co-hosts are in Guadalajara in the early hours of Friday to face South Korea.

Here we pick out the best bets for the second round of Group A matches.

Best Bets

Czech Republic vs South Africa, (Thursday, 5pm)

The Czech Republic took the lead against South Korea through Ladislav Krejci before Hong Myung-bo’s side came from behind to win 2-1.

With the scores level, Tomas Soucek scored a header but it was ruled out for offside. Despite the disappointment, it showed the Czech Republic’s threat at set-pieces and they will again look to make use of corners and free-kicks against South Africa.

The towering West Ham midfielder has frightened Premier League defences for more than six seasons and Koubek will look to use Soucek as a goalscoring weapon in the box at every opportunity.

Bafana Bafana have already conceded a headed goal at this summer’s tournament, allowing Raul Jimenez to find space at the back post to net his first World Cup goal, and will likely struggle to deal with Soucek’s aerial presence.

The Czech Republic had gone six games unbeaten before their opening game defeat by South Korea and are favourites to beat South Africa who have not yet won a match in six attempts this calendar year.

Soucek will be at the forefront of Czech Republic’s set-piece attacks and looks a smart bet to score anytime.

Score Prediction: Czech Republic 2-0 South Africa

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

Mexico vs South Korea (Friday, 2am)

Mexico and South Korea will be an evenly contested match-up in the early hours of Friday morning though El Tri may just edge it with fiercely passionate home support backing the team all the way.

Javier Aguirre’s men kept a clean sheet in the opener against South Africa and it was the team’s seventh shutout in the last nine games.

However, South Korea boast quality in forward areas, namely Son Heung-min who is the main scoring threat, and so Mexico will be up against it to halt the Taegeuk Warriors.

South Korea scored twice against the Czech Republic and also hit five past Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly at the end of May.

The side managed by Hong Myung-bo have scored in six of their last eight matches and will be dangerous, particularly on the counter attack, against the co-hosts..

While it may be difficult to separate the two sides when it comes to a definitive result, backing both teams to score appears a clever play.