World Cup LIVE: Brazil fans, players salute Pele after South Korea romp

Here’s how things stand with two matches remaining in the second round.

That’s it from us this morning, thanks as always for your company on a morning which has seen Brazil and Croatia advance to the last eight at Qatar 2022.

Those sides do battle for a semi-final spot in the wee small hours of Saturday morning, but before then we’ll wrap up the round of 16 with Spain taking on Morocco and Portugal facing Switzerland. We’ll be covering that second match live from 6am Wednesday.

Until then, we’ll leave you with Vince Rugari’s look at another double-edged sword —Socceroos legend Tim Cahill’s role in the team’s success in Qatar.

Tim Cahill congratulates Ajdin Hrustic after the historic win over Denmark last week.Credit: Getty

Read the full column here, and we’ll see you tomorrow. Be good.

Switzerland are well aware of the highs and lows of a penalty shootout, and it is something coach Murat Yakin would prefer to avoid when his team play Portugal for a World Cup quarter-final place.

The memories are fresh for the Swiss and their supporters who, in a matter of days at last year’s European Championship, experienced the elation that comes with winning on penalties and the pain of going out the same way.

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin.Credit: Getty

The Swiss pulled off a huge shock when they knocked out world champions France in a last-16 shootout but four days later they felt the other edge of the sword when they lost to Spain.

“We’ve seen this in the past a few games were decided by penalty kicks,” Yakin said. “Players after every practice they do practise penalty kicks.

“Whether a coach really focuses on that, it’s not really me. I’d like to really make a difference before it comes to penalty kicks.

“There are many things before it gets to penalty kicks that are important and we want to make sure we can decide this game in regular time. But if it gets to penalty kicks, my team is familiar with that situation.”

Switzerland, as they often do, have flown under the radar in Qatar, reaching the knockout stages for the third straight time by finishing second in their group behind Brazil with victories over Cameroon and Serbia.

Reuters

Here’s how things stand with two matches remaining in the second round.

If you’re just joining us now, you can catch up on what went down here.

Beautiful stuff.

Another Pele tribute in the stands in Doha.Credit: Getty

Speaking of tournament heavyweights, on Wednesday morning Spain face surprise packets Morocco at 2am (Sydney time) before Ronaldo and Portugal wrap up the round of 16 against Switzerland. We’ll again be covering the latter match live from 6am.

Full-time: South Korea can take some consolation from winning the second half and arguably having the better chances. But the damage was done in the first 30 minutes. Was that the performance that inspires Brazil to a record-extending sixth World Cup crown?

Brazil’s players in Qatar unveil a banner in support of Pele after their 4-1 round-of-16 win over South Korea.Credit: Getty

They’ll have to do it the hard way - that win sets up a quarter-final against Croatia at 2am Saturday (Sydney time), before a date with either a young Netherlands side who might just be dark horses, or Argentina and Lionel Messi who are anything but. On the other side of the draw - France, England, Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. It’s going to be an exciting fortnight.

The Brazilian players unveil a banner in tribute to Pele in the centre of the pitch.

Brazil 4 South Korea 1.

90 min+1: There will be four minutes of extra time and it doesn’t look either side particularly wants it.

Neymar is off, which is not a huge shock, but Tite has also opted to replace first-choice goalkeeper Alisson. Palmeiras gloveman Weverton Pereira da Silva gets his first taste of action in Qatar and that means every member of Brazil’s squad has now seen some game time at the World Cup.

Goalscorer Neymar comes off after a job well done.Credit: AP

Rodrygo is the man to replace Neymar.

Brazil 4 South Korea 1.

76 min: A free-kick ends up at the feet of Paik Seung-ho who unleashes a screamer from well outside the box. If you’re going to score a consolation goal, that’s not a bad way to do it.

Paik Seung-ho.Credit: AP

There’s a check for offside but the goal is ultimately given.

Brazil 4 South Korea 1.