- Team form: Czech Republic have won five consecutive games, beating Kosovo 2-1 and Guatemala 3-1 at home in their last two outings
- Recent form: Republic of Korea have won three of their last five matches, including back-to-back home victories over Trinidad And Tobago (5-0) and El Salvador (1-0)
- Coach record: Czech Republic have won seven, drawn two and lost one of their ten matches in all competitions since Miroslav Koubek took over as head coach in December 2025
Narrow, gritty Czech Republic are a tough nut to crack
This World Cup group-stage game will be a tactical matchup in which Czech Republic try to stop a more attack-minded Republic of Korea from playing on the front foot. The Czech Republic are a compact, pragmatic 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 team that prefers to keep the game narrow and clog up the center while their number 9, Patrik Schick, is left to finish off chances.
Czechia will put bodies in front of Son Heung-min, so he won't be as effective. Republic of Korea's system under Myung-Bo Hong is a brave one. Hong has implemented a three-at-the-back system that gives his players licence to be bold on the ball and has been getting results with it since he took over in July 2024.
Cagey game likely in Seoul
Tactical approach
The game-plan is to try to stretch the field wide with the two wing-backs, who operate in front of the three centre-backs, and get the ball into the feet of Son as quickly as possible. Lee Kang-in operates behind Son and is a great ball-player, but it can leave the team vulnerable on the counter-attack and the defence, spearheaded by Kim Min-jae, has to be on their game.
Odds and form
- These two teams appear evenly matched on paper and the oddsmakers have set the Czech Republic as narrow favorites at 2.83 with the South Koreans at 2.76 and draw at 3.16.
- But we like Czechia's odds a little better here because they have won their past five games and have shown the consistency that is rare when a new head coach takes over a team.
- A run of seven wins, two draws and only one defeat in the ten games since Miroslav Koubek took over in December 2025 suggests they are a cohesive unit that can make the most of their strengths.
Czechia’s Schick is the focal point of their attack
Schick's physical presence in the air and clinical finishing make him the focal point of their play and Adam Hlozek's youthful energy and versatility gives them options in attack that can be used to good effect. Tomas Soucek is a box-to-box player who can add a presence in the box at either end of the field and offers a set-piece threat.
Czechia have only played two away games during their unbeaten run, winning one and conceding two goals, so they will set up to be compact and make it difficult for Korea to break them down. Korea have five wins in their last seven home matches, including their two most recent matches. We think there will be a tight battle in Seoul on Friday and, as the odds are even for both teams to score and both teams not to score, we're going with the latter.
Under 2.5 goals is only marginally better at 1.67, so a narrow Czechia win will be the best option on the exact score market.
