Brazil are aiming to recover from September’s embarrassing defeat in Bolivia when they travel to Seoul for Friday’s international friendly with South Korea.
The Seleção booked their ticket to next summer’s World Cup back in June but have failed to sparkle during CONMEBOL qualification, They finished fifth in the final table and their loss at high altitude in El Alto epitomized a sloppy campaign, even since the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout.
The Italian has only overseen four matches as Brazil manager, winning just twice to date, and will be desperate to build some much-needed momentum ahead of the World Cup. Friendlies with South Korea and then Japan offer them the opportunity to sharpen their claws. Right now, the five-time world champions are not among the clear favorites to lift the trophy aloft next summer.
South Korea could be potential opponents for Brazil in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, securing qualification themselves in June. They finished top of their group and are on a mightily impressive 16-match unbeaten run that was maintained in North America last month with a 2–0 win over the USMNT and a 2–2 draw with Mexico.
South Korea and Brazil actually locked horns at the most recent World Cup, with the South American behemoths running out handsome 4–1 victors in the last 16. The Taegeuk Warriors have only beaten Brazil once before, claiming a famous scalp in a friendly in 1999.
Hereguide to the clash.
