Brazil celebrates, and then Neymar pulls out a giant flag in honor of Pelé, who is now ill in a hospital in So Paulo. O Rei will have been pleased with the Seleço’s performance today.
They were fantastic in the first half, then eased their way through the second, focusing on energy conservation.
It was a strange final score, though: South Korea’s totally shambolic defense is flattered by the 4-1 result, while its offense may feel cheated. Hwang Hee-chan was a continuous threat, Paik Seung-ho scored a screamer, and Alisson had to put in three world-class stops.
But Brazil were unstoppable in the first half, with Richarlison’s goal in particular a blend of boldness, charm, and beauty. They are not flawless. But in this attitude, they’ll be hard to stop.
On Friday, the tournament favorites will face Croatia in the quarter-finals!
