Prior to the Group H finale between South Korea and Portugal, the odds of the Taegeuk Warriors reaching the top 16 seemed slim to a near-comical level. Now after the Koreans have done the improbable, fans are waiting to see if they can keep on their miracle run in the next match against Brazil at the round of 16.
The odds are stacked against South Korea as high as ever; Brazil currently sits at the top of the FIFA ranking and has won the World Cup five times in the past -- more than any other nation in the world -- and most recently in 2002. South Korea, on the other hand, only made it to the knockout stage three times in history, with the team never making it past the top 16 except during its run to the semifinals in 2002.
The South Korean national team celebrates beating Portugal and making it to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, after the Group H finale of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Education City Stadium at Al Rayyan, Qatar on Saturday, Korean time. (Yonhap)
The betting odds for South Korea versus Brazil reflect these prospects, showing Brazil as the clear favorite. The opening odds for the contest according to the US-based DraftKings Sportsbook put Brazil at -400 odds, and South Korea at +1,200.
For those unfamiliar with the US sports betting system, the plus figure shows how much money you will get on a $100 bet, and the minus shows how much money you should bet to win $100. In this case, if one bets $100 on South Korea to win and it did win, one would win $1,200 and would also walk away with the initial $100, making the total $1,300.
In Brazil's case, if one bets $400 on Brazil to win and the results came back that way, one would only win $100 and walk away with the total of $500.
This is of course because most people in the world are expecting Brazil to handily beat South Korea -- ranked 28th in the world -- and are betting in favor of the Canary Squad. But if the Group H finale has proven anything, it is that “anything is possible,” in the words of NBA great Kevin Garnett.
Whether the popular predictions will be accurate remains to be seen, when the two teams take the field at the Stadium 974 in Doha at 10 p.m. Monday (local time) and 4 a.m. Tuesday (Korean time).
The South Korean team captain Son Heung-min (right) encourages his teammates during the Group H finale of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Education City Stadidum at Al Rayyan, Qatar on Saturday, Korean time. (Yonhap)
MOST POPULAR