Korea Republic vs Egypt
ANSAN, SOUTH KOREA – OCTOBER 07: Son Heung-Min of South Korea celebrates after team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier Final Round Group A match between South Korea and Syria at Ansan Wa Stadium on October 07, 2021 in Ansan, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Will Korea Republic end this four-game window with a victory?
The Taegeuk Warriors are preparing for their tenth successive World Cup appearance, so have arranged some high-profile friendlies this month.
However, in the first of these, Paulo Bento’s side suffered a spirit-crushing 5-1 defeat to Brazil; two late goals exacerbating the scoreline.
Since, South Korea have bounced back by beating Chile 2-0, before Friday’s comeback 2-2 draw against Paraguay in Suwon.
Son Heung-min halving the deficit before Jeong Woo-yeong bagged a stoppage time equaliser so salvage the latter.
At the World Cup, Korea Republic are in a very competitive Group H, alongside Uruguay, Portugal and Ghana.
In this one, facing African opposition for the first time since June 2018, will they end the month on a positive note?
Egypt meanwhile do not have a World Cup to look forward to, having been heartbreakingly beaten on penalties by Senegal in March’s play-off.
A month earlier, the Pharaohs had missed out on their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 12 years, again beaten by Senegal in a shootout.
So, new Head Coach Ehab Galal has come in, tasked with winning next summer’s AFCON and, ultimately, qualifying for 2026.
He hasn’t made the best start though, narrowly beating Guinea in an AFCON qualifier before a shock 2-0 defeat in Ethiopia last Thursday.
Given this, South Korea will be confident of a victory at Sangam Stadium in Seoul.
Chile vs Ghana
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 10: Players of Chile pose for official photo before the match between Brazil and Chile for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifier at Allianz Parque Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
After both were beaten on Friday, the third-place match at the Kirin Cup kicks off the double-header of action in Osaka.
In last week’s semi-final in Kōbe, Chile suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat to Tunisia, conceding late in each half.
Eduardo Berizzo has taken a largely youthful squad with him to the Far-East as this is a transition period for Chile.
La Roja have now failed to qualify for back-to-back World Cups, despite winning successive Copa Américas in 2015 and 2016.
Including friendlies, Chile have now lost four successive matches, the first time this has happened since 2012, a streak they’re desperate to end.
Ghana meanwhile, unlike their opponents, do have a World Cup to look forward to, defeating rivals Nigeria on away goals back in March.
This is despite the fact the Black Stars crashed out in the AFCON group stages in January, meaning they’ve actually only won one of nine games in 2022.
This win came at the start of June, beating Madagascar 3-0 in an AFCON 2023 qualifier, but that was followed by a 1-1 draw with Central African Republic.
On Friday, Jordan Ayew did bag his 19th Ghana goal but they were eventually hammered 4-1 by Japan in this tournament.
Otto Addo’s team severely lack quality and will do extremely well to win any of their World Cup games, against Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
Here, will Ghana enjoy a morale-boosting win?
Japan vs Tunisia
OSAKA, JAPAN – JULY 12: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Japan is seen during the U-24 international friendly match between Japan and Honduras at the Yodoko Sakura Stadium on July 12, 2021 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
Later on at Panasonic Stadium Suita, the final of the Kirin Cup takes place, with Japan looking to win this friendly tournament for the first time since 2015.
In the semis, Miki Yamane, Kaoru Mitoma, Takefusa Kubo and Daizen Maeda all scored as the hosts hammered Ghana 4-1 in Kōbe.
The Samurai Blue began this four-game window with another 4-1 win, this against Paraguay, before a narrow 1-0 defeat against Brazil.
Hajime Moriyasu is preparing to take Japan to their seventh successive World Cup, at which they’ll face Spain, Germany and Costa Rica/New Zealand.
This, obviously, is going to be extremely challenging, so every bit of preparation is vitally important.
Tunisia too are looking forward to November’s World Cup after they ousted Mali in March’s African play-offs.
This will be the Eagles of Carthage’s sixth appearance at the tournament, hoping to reach the second round for the first time ever.
Jalel Kadri’s team find themselves in Group D, along-with reigning champions France, Denmark and Australia/Peru, so are rank-outsiders.
So far this month, Tunisia have began AFCON qualifying by demolishing Equatorial Guinea 4-0 but were then held to a goalless draw by Botswana.
Nevertheless, in this competition, they beat Chile in Friday’s semi-final clash thanks to goals from Ali Abdi and then Issam Jebali.
Here, Japan are big favourites to claim the trophy.
