Wednesday 18/06/2014, 00:00, World Cup Group H, Russia vs Korea Republic
Russia vs Korea Republic Betting Preview
If Belgium meets expectations, it should win group H without breaking a sweat and leave the other three teams playing for the second place. Russia and South Korea have a clear edge over Algeria, but the Europeans are only slight favorites to finish second. Past performance would suggest that the Asian nation is the better one, but a great deal has changed since they finished fourth at the World Cup.
Russia vs Korea Republic Betting Odds
Russia 2.10, Draw 3.20, Korea Republic 3.70
Russia vs Korea Republic Betting Tips
Korea Republic was at one point during the qualifying campaign in serious danger of missing World Cup 2014, but they turned the ship around just in time to avoid disaster. Russia's campaign wasn't a bed of roses either, but at least they didn't have to wait until the final match of the group stage to make sure that they have a seat booked for Brazil.
One of the reasons for why Russia should be taken seriously despite its lack of results is that they have Fabio Capello at the helm. The Italian manager is not intimidated by the pressure of Russian media and didn't hesitate to make brutal changes, such as replacing Arshavin.
His starting formation is nothing like the team that played in the previous World Cup and he is willing to go down with the ship instead of changing anything. The Italian is now relying on a 4-5-1 formation that at a first glance might seem to be a bit defensive minded, but this is only an impression. Dzagoev, Bystrov and Faizulin can easily join sole striker Kerzakhov up front when needed, while captain Denisov is more than capable of assuming defensive roles.
Korea Republic is only a pale shadow of the team that took the world of football by surprise when his country hosted the World Cup. In Brazil, they won't benefit from the suspect support from referees and they don't have a team competitive enough to win fair and square.
Key Facts
- Russia is invincible in the last nine games, winning six times and drawing three matches
- In the only game played between these two teams, Russia won by two goals to one, a friendly match that took place in 2013.
Russia vs Korea Republic Betting Odds Prediction
Pinnacle Sports correctly prices Russia at odds of 2.10, so punters can't expect to get an unfair advantage and capitalize on generous odds. Fabio Capello is fully aware that this is the most important game for his team and that winning all three points is mandatory to secure qualification. He has an obvious advantage in terms of experience and with better players under his command, he should lead Russia to victory in the opening match.
Bet: Russia @ 2.10 with Pinnacle Sports
