Group H: Russia v South Korea
Venue: Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba
Kick-off: 11pm (6pm, Brazil time)
TV coverage: BBC1, from 10.40pm
Best bet: South Korea to win — 3/1
Referee: Nestor Pitana (Argentina)
Managers: Fabio Capello (Russia)
Hong Myung-bo (South Korea)
One to watch
South Korea's Bayer Leverkusen forward Son Heung-min was unplayable at times in the Bundesliga this season and was largely responsible for his side’s surprise 1-0 win away to Borussia Dortmund in December. Best used on the counter-attack, the 21-year-old will be crucial to his side’s chances of springing an upset.
Familiar face
Former England boss Fabio Capello is in Russia’s dugout.
History lesson
South Korea have won their last three World Cup openers.
Did you know?
Russia are slightly leaky in defence. They have kept only one clean sheet at their last six World Cup tournaments.
Head-to-head record:
Played 1, Russia Wins 1
Opta stats:
- Russia have only kept one clean sheet in their last six World Cup games, it was against Tunisia on June 5, 2002 (2-0).
- This is South Korea’s eighth World Cup in a row (since 1986); only Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Spain can boast a longer streak currently.
- South Korea have only won two of their last 10 World Cup games (against Togo in 2006 and Greece in 2010).
- The one previous meeting between Russia and South Korea came in a friendly in November 2013; Fabio Capello’s side won 2-1.
- Including games played as Soviet Union, Russia have lost seven of their last 10 World Cup games, winning the other three.
- South Korea have kicked off each of the last three World Cups with a win: v Poland in 2002, Togo in 2006 and Greece in 2010.
- South Korea have scored the most direct free-kicks in the World Cup since 1990 (5).
- Aleksandr Kokorin was the youngest player to score 10 or more goals in the Russian Premier League in 2013-14; he was born in March 1991.
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