Russia v South Korea World Cup 2014, 12th June Betting Preview
This is the final match of the first round of group stage matches, and therefore a Group H fixture. Russia will be looking to put a win on the board in order to challenge for top spot in the group, which will likely come down to a duel with Belgium. South Korea with some poor form ahead of the World Cup, go as underdogs.
Russia v South Korea Betting Tips
The Russians are undefeated (W4 L2) in their last six matches, so their current form is strong enough to suggest that they are going to get the job done in this one. Fabio Capello is the man in charge, so you know that you are going to get pragmatism and a tight ship. Russia have only conceded the one goal in their last four matches, so pretty much as you would expect. This may just be a comfortable warm up for the Russians before heading into the big Group H clash against Belgium. However, clean sheets haven’t been easy to come by for Russia at the World Cup, because they have posted just one in their last six, that one coming back at the 2002 World Cup against Tunisia.
There has only been the one meeting between the two of them and that was a friendly back in last November. Russia won it 2-1. Going back to Russia’s form at the World Cup, including games played as the Soviet Union, they have lost seven of their last ten played at the finals, with wins in the other three. However, they do look neat enough to get a comfortable job done in this opener, simply because they won’t give a lot of chances to the South Koreans. Russia’s big star up front is younger Aleksandr Kokorin, who was the youngest player to score 10 or more goals in the Russian Premier League. The 22 year old is 2/1 in the anytime goalscorer market, with Aleksandr Kerzhakov as even money favourite.
This looks like a game which will go under 2.5 goals, because that is the style of Russia. Efficient. South Korea lost their last two warm up matches ahead of the World Cup, going down against both Tunisia and Ghana without finding the back of the net. This is their eighth World Cup in a row, but they have only managed to win two of their last 10 in the World Cup finals. They did get one over Greece four years ago in South Africa. That was in their opening fixture and a word of caution for Russia is that South Korea have won each of their last three World Cup openers. They have also scored the most direct free kicks at the World Cup since 1990.
Russia v South Korea Betting Odds
Russia even money, Draw 23/10, South Korea 3/1
Russia are favourites here at even money, but with Titanbet you can get enhanced odds on this game and take the Russians at 3/1. This is part of Titanbet’s great enhanced odds campaign for the World Cup. Just place a maximum £10 stake and back a Russian victory. They also offer 87th minute insurance, where if a goal is scored from the 87th minute onwards, you’ll get lost stake refunds on the match outright market.
Russia v South Korea Predictions
You will see a lot of energy from South Korea, while Russia will try and stay as composed and collected as they can be and not rush things. Decent spattering of quality throughout the Russian side and they should get a win on the board here. It’ll probably be a low scoring affair, but back Russia to get the job done in the outright market.
