Tonight, the Czech Republic will face South Africa in their second match of Group A. After their opening day defeats, both teams enter the game under immense pressure to secure a place in the next round.
According to former Vietnam national team player Pham Thanh Luong, the Czech Republic is considered the stronger team due to its squad quality and international experience. He stated: “The Czech Republic has many players currently playing in Europe and possesses experience in major tournaments. South Africa has good physical fitness, speed, and fighting spirit. However, considering the overall strength of the teams, the Czech Republic still has many advantages. With international experience, strong tackling and aerial ability, the Czech Republic can make a difference with their disciplined play and ability to organize attacks, and are capable of securing a victory.”
★ After their opening match victory, Mexico will face South Korea tomorrow morning to compete for the top spot in Group A and secure early qualification. Although they defeated South Africa 2-0 in their first match, even coach Javier Aguirre was not entirely satisfied, stating that the victory was not entirely convincing because his team missed too many opportunities despite having a man advantage for much of the second half.
The shortcomings in this match have certainly been analyzed by Javier's team, and they have sought solutions to overcome them. With high spirits, strong determination, home advantage, and a formidable attacking line featuring big names like Quinones, Jiménez, and Alvarado, the home team is considered slightly superior to their opponent. The only concern is the pressure on the defense due to the absence of center-back Cesar Montes, who received a red card in the opening match.
On the South Korean side, the 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic is a strong morale boost, giving fans hope that the team will continue their recent three-match winning streak. Against an attacking Mexico side, South Korea will focus on defense, playing more cautiously with three central defenders, but they are also dangerous with their fast-paced runs down the flanks and quick transitions, possessing strikers capable of creating breakthroughs such as Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Hwang Hee-chan, and Oh Hyeon-gyu. If they capitalize on the space when Mexico is focused on attacking, the East Asian representatives could score. Given the fast-paced and determined style of play from both teams, the match is predicted to be tense and full of clashes, but also likely to have more than two goals. Experts lean towards a Mexico victory.
★ After their opening matches all ended in draws, the game between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina early tomorrow morning is a pivotal match in Group B ahead of the final round of matches. Switzerland's greatest strength lies in their ability to control the game. Coach Murat Yakin usually builds his system on a solid defensive foundation, with Granit Xhaka acting as the playmaker, orchestrating the tempo and distributing the ball to the flanks. When in possession, Switzerland attacks patiently and dynamically, stretching the opponent's defense before finding space for Breel Embolo in the penalty area. The problem for the Swiss team is their ineffective conversion of opportunities into goals due to the lack of a striker capable of deciding the match.
Conversely, Bosnia and Herzegovina may not possess the same level of squad quality as their opponents, but they are a highly organized team. They might concede possession to their opponents, but they must maintain focus and avoid mistakes against a Swiss side capable of excellent ball circulation. If Xhaka has enough space to control the game, the South European team will create constant pressure, but even if they win, it will likely be by only one goal.
★ The clash between Canada and Qatar is seen as a match that could shape the competition for qualification. Playing at home, Canada is considered slightly superior due to the quality of their squad and the support of the local crowd, but Qatar has proven they are capable of creating surprises after a positive performance against Switzerland. A draw in their opening match meant Canada missed the opportunity to gain an early advantage, but coach Jesse Marsch's team remains dangerous with their high-intensity pressing, quick transitions, and ability to effectively exploit space on the flanks. The presence of Alphonso Davies, Jonathal David, and Cyle Larin can make a difference thanks to their speed, agility, and diverse finishing, but they need to be more incisive in their finishing.
Entering this match, Qatar has considerable confidence after drawing 1-1 with Switzerland. Coach Julen Lopetegui's team doesn't have any stars playing in Europe, but they compensate with strong cohesion, as most of the squad has played together for many years. Tactically, Qatar will play with a low defensive line to look for counter-attacking opportunities, similar to how they drew with Switzerland. If Canada pushes their formation too high, the space behind the full-backs could become an exploitable weakness for the Asian representatives.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/co-hoi-but-pha-o-luot-tran-thu-hai-post969806.html
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