Prediction World Cup Qualifying - South Korea vs Thailand

World Cup Qualifying - South Korea vs Thailand
Match Time: 21-03-2024 19:00 Thursday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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South Korea

South Korea return to action on Thursday aiming to strengthen their claim to reach an 11th consecutive World Cup in 2026, having most recently progressed through a tough group alongside Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana in 2022 before dropping out in the round of 16 at the hands of Brazil.

Their latest qualifying campaign began in the second-round group last November, and the Taegeuk Warriors have quickly established themselves as the frontrunners to progress, beginning with a 5-0 thrashing of Singapore as Cho Gue-sung, Hwang Hee-chan, Son Heung-min, Hwang Ui-jo and Lee Kang-in all got on the scoresheet.

A trip to China then followed, and they would make it back-to-back wins and clean sheets by prevailing in a 3-0 triumph, as Son netted a brace and Jung Seung-hyun added a third late on, before they turned their focus to the AFC Asian Cup early in the new year under the tutelage of Jurgen Klinsmann.

The Taegeuk Warriors progressed through their group in second place, and after scraping past Saudi Arabia and Australia, they fell short of reaching the final, suffering a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Jordan as Yazan Al-Naimat and Mousa Tamari netted second-half goals.

Such a result and end to the campaign spelled the end for Klinsmann's tenure, and now under the temporary stewardship of Hwang Sun-hong, South Korea will turn their focus back to World Cup Qualifying and bid to move further clear at the top of the group at the halfway point of the second-round group stage.

Thailand

Thailand will bid to move level with the Taegeuk Warriors at the top of the group, in their bid to reach a first-ever World Cup in 2026.

Having also earned a bye to the second round, Thailand began at home to China in November, and despite going ahead through Sarach Yooyen they would come away empty-handed as Wu Lei quickly levelled the scores before Wang Shangyuan netted the winner 16 minutes from time.

A trip to Singapore then followed, and the War Elephants were able to put their first points on the board, going ahead early on through Supachok Sarachat before Suphanat Mueanta restored their lead and wrapped up the victory with a brace in the final 25 minutes.

Masatada Ishii's side now also return to action on the back of the AFC Asian Cup early this year, having progressed through their group in second place only to drop out at the round-of-16 stage following a 2-1 defeat to Uzbekistan, having drawn level in the second half through Supachok Sarachat only to concede the decisive goal 25 minutes from time.

Now returning to World Cup Qualifying with the need to build a lead over China and Singapore in the fight for the top two spots in the group, which would book a third-round place, Thailand will bid to take a major scalp and come out on top in Seoul.

Prediction: South Korea 3-0 Thailand