{"id":149324,"date":"2022-12-06T02:57:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-06T02:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/brazil-dismantle-south-korea-to-dance-into-world-cup-quarter-finals-world-cup-2022\/"},"modified":"2022-12-06T02:57:00","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T02:57:00","slug":"brazil-dismantle-south-korea-to-dance-into-world-cup-quarter-finals-world-cup-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/brazil-dismantle-south-korea-to-dance-into-world-cup-quarter-finals-world-cup-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Brazil dismantle South Korea to dance into World Cup quarter-finals | World Cup 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It was a still and sultry night in Qatar’s capital: the grass a little greasy to the touch, the stadium bouncing and jiving, the football from a brighter and less troubled world. And there were times when watching Brazil’s symphonic demolition of South Korea when it was briefly possible to leave behind earthly cares, parttake of the simpler pleasures in life, lose oneself in the pure, riotous joy of football.<\/p>\n

Brazil really were that good. For the first 40 minutes, as they waltzed and wove their way to a four\u2011goal lead, they played the sort of football we have not seen from them for many years: special-effects football, computer-game football, football so filthy you needed a cigarette and a shower after watching it.<\/p>\n

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For 40 minutes Neymar and Richarlison and Raphinha and Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior and Lucas Paquet\u00e1 blazed little triangles, quadrilaterals, shapes that didn’t have a name yet, shapes embroidered and gilded with wicked flicks and outrageous stepovers, crowned with the choreographed dances they have been preparing for months in advance.<\/p>\n

The crowd bayed for more, not because they wanted to see the Koreans humiliated, but because how could you possibly want something this fun to end? It was a reminder, perhaps, that while football may have been invented on the public school playing fields of England, it was perfected on the pampas and praias<\/em> of Brazil. And it was possible to imagine, watching on a hospital television somewhere in Sao Paulo, an 82-year-old cancer patient offering a quiet nod of approval at this hypnotic whirl of yellow shirts.<\/p>\n

Afterwards, Brazil’s players gathered up a banner bearing a single word: \u201cPELE!\u201d It was respectful and restrained, fitting and stirring: everything, in other words, that their preposterous Neymar tribute eight years ago was not. Perhaps this is a Brazil side that are not only inspired by their history, but have learned from it too.<\/p>\n

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And so, will this be 2002 or 1982? There will be no grace for Brazil in leaving Qatar as beautiful losers. None of this means anything unless they win. The tightly-wound fist of Croatia, who await them in the quarter-finals, will offer an entirely different flavor of test to the cavalier and exhausted South Korea. There remains a qualm or two about the defending, with Paik Seung\u2011ho claiming a late consolation and Alisson required to make at least two magnificent saves. But really, this was no time for cold realities.<\/p>\n

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\nQuick Guide<\/span><\/p>\n

Qatar: beyond the football<\/h4>\n

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This is a World Cup like no other. For the last 12 years the Guardian has been reporting on the issues surrounding Qatar 2022, from corruption and human rights abuses to the treatment of migration workers and discriminatory laws. The best of our journalism is gathered on our dedicated Qatar: Beyond the Football home page for those who want to go deeper into the issues beyond the pitch.<\/p>\n

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<\/svg>Photograph: Caspar Benson<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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That much was clear from the moment Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior opened the scoring with an incredible, improvised practical joke of a finish: a little punt of the toe, Ronaldinho-like in its cheek. It was Raphinha who set up the chance with some brilliant skill on the right. The clock showed seven minutes.<\/p>\n

Almost immediately Richarlison was fouled and the returning Neymar scored the penalty, sending Kim Seung-gyu the wrong way with a little comedy shuffle.<\/p>\n

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<\/svg><\/span>Brazil’s Richarlison scores the third goal to complete a fine team move.<\/span> Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That was the point when South Korea may have suspected it was going to be a long evening. Richarlison would go on to score the pick of the goals on 28 minutes: dribbling the ball three times on his head, laying it off, getting it back, and finishing with an affected coolness. Even coach Tite joined in with the jig this time.<\/p>\n

South Korea went for it. What else could they do? Alisson made two good saves from Hwang Hee\u2011chan, but every Korean attack left them ever more vulnerable to the speed of the break, and shortly before half\u2011time one such counter led to a dinked cross from Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior, finished with a scathing finality by Paquet\u00e1 on the volley.<\/p>\n

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