Don’t forget that it’s not just the one game being played on the opening day of this World Cup. We also have an interesting matchup between South Korea and the Czech Republic, which kicks off late on Thursday.
For South Korea, it’s still all about Son Heung-min. The winger is by far the most experienced player on the national side and has been introduced to the US public since signing for Los Angeles FC at the start of the season. He will be supported though by some talented players in Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in, Midtjylland forward Cho Gue-sung and Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan.
An industrious Czech Republic team, though, will keep its eyes on the one main job to do: Keep South Korea’s talisman quiet if it’s going to get anything from the game. The Repre will be buoyed by the fact their opponents are notoriously slow starters – the Taegeuk Warriors have failed to win their opening World Cup fixture in each of their last three tournaments.