2022 FIFA World Cup: 'We have to be very careful' - Brazil manager Tite on South Korea clash

Brazil manager Tite says that the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar Round of 16 clash with South Korea will be "different" from the 5-1 friendly demolition in Seoul earlier this year and that his team will need to be " very careful" to avoid falling victim to a giant-killing.
Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images

Speaking to the press after Brazil's 1-0 loss to Cameroon on Friday, Tite said that his side needs to take be wary of South Korea following their win over Portugal:

“Portugal lost to South Korea, France lost to Tunisia, Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia… Nobody won all three games. I think the results speak for themselves. They are very strong, very tough matches, I don’t think that any prior situation makes it easy. We need to be very careful.”

Brazil, of course, have played and beaten South Korea once already this year - a 5-1 demolition in a friendly at Seoul World Cup Stadium in June. However, Tite says that this will be different:

"I'm aware that a lot is different from the friendly game (in June). Tomorrow (Saturday), we will think about which players we will play against Korea."

South Korea's players, meanwhile, insist that the loss to Brazil in June will serve as a learning experience for when the teams meet on Monday. 

Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu said: "Even though we conceded a lot of goals in the friendly, we played the style of football we wanted to play. I think that experience should help us prepare for the next one."

Portugal match-winner Hwang Hee-chan had similar sentiments:

"Just because we're playing Brazil, it doesn't necessarily mean we'll just be happy to be there in the knockouts. We want to play well and win for our fans."

South Korea face Brazil at 4 AM on Tuesday morning.

Sources: Yonhap News, Yonhap News English & The Athletic