Korea vs. Brazil: Why South Korea Can Pull off the Shocking Upset

The South Korean men’s soccer team is on a mission.

On top of the pride and accomplishment that comes with winning a gold medal in such a prestigious Olympic sport such as soccer, this team is playing for something more.

All South Koreans are required to put in 18 months of military service time before the age of 29, but winning a medal would excuse them from these requirements (via Telegraph).

Now that’s what I call motivation.

They will be playing a Brazilian team who has been nothing short of unbeatable in its first four matches. Brazil has scored three goals in every match en route to an unblemished record.  

With studs like Neymar, Thiago Silva, Hulk, Marcelo and Alexandre Pato playing with terrific chemistry and balance, they are going to be incredibly tough to knockoff.

While we all know you can only take history with a grain of salt, it’s worth mentioning that Brazil has never won an Olympic gold. They lost in the finals in back-to-back Olympics (1984, 1988), and were awarded bronze in Beijing.

It’s something that can’t be ignored despite the dominance this country has displayed in the sport over the years.

While Brazil has breezed, South Korea has shown incredible perseverance in their route to the semis.

They needed a penalty shootout to eliminate England in the quarterfinals, and have been winning by outlasting their opponents. They are in exceptional shape and superior conditioning has been the catalyst for their success in the Olympics.

Lee Beom-young has quickly become a national hero after drilling the game-winner against Great Britain, and has been one of South Korea’s biggest stars. His ability to create scoring opportunities is special, and it has made the entire squad better.

He’ll need another monumental performance today to ensure his team stays in contention.

It’s no secret the offense has been lackluster, and three goals in four matches back that up. But if they are able to grab a lead early, the defense will take care of the rest.

Keeper Sungryong Jung has been unreal. Only two goals have slipped by him thus far, with countless saves that have rescued his team. His instincts and reaction time have been outstanding. Jung is red-hot and is capable of stymieing the prolific Brazilian attack.

He just needs the offense to do enough to land one goal. They are the X-factor against Brazil.

It’s going to be an extremely competitive match that features two tremendously talented teams, but with the additional motivation of South Korea and a scorching hot goalie…don’t expect a Brazil romp.

Expect a South Korea upset. 

Follow Eric Ball on Twitter.