PLAYER RATINGS: Neymar sparkles on Brazil return at the World Cup

PLAYER RATINGS: Neymar sparkles on Brazil return while Vinicius Junior also stars for the World Cup favourites… but it was a miserable night for Son Heung-min who struggled for hapless South Korea

• Brazil eased to a comfortable 4-1 victory over South Korea in World Cup last-16
• Attacking stars including Neymar, Richarlison and Vinicius Junior all scored
• Alisson though still impressed in the Brazil goal despite a largely quiet night
• Son Heung-min though could never offer much of a threat for South Korea 
• Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results

Brazil breezed easily into the quarter-finals of the World Cup after thrashing South Korea 4-1 in a one-sided last-16 clash.

Goals from Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta effectively won the game in the first half before South Korea substitute Paik Seung-ho netted a late consolation. 

But on a night where Brazil flexed their attacking muscles, here is how both sets of players rated at Stadium 974. 

Brazil stars celebrate during their 4-1 victory over South Korea in the last-16 of the World Cup

Alisson – Despite Brazil’s very easy night, Alisson still had to produce three excellent saves to keep out the Asian side, displaying an impressive alertness when he could have easily allowed his concentration to slip. 7

Eder Militao – Comfortable night for the right-back who had little to do defensively and was only replaced on the hour mark to protect him from another booking that would have seen him suspended from the quarter-final. 7 

Marquinhos – Even on a night of rare Korea attacking he was too easily outdone by Son Heung-min in the second half and only a smart Alisson save ensured his error went unpunished. 6

Alisson had little to do overall but still pulled off an impressive few saves when he was tested

Thiago Silva – Still going strong at 38, and yet his game appears to be evolving – after turning into a skilled attacking midfielder to play a brilliant first-time through ball to allow Richarlison to score. 6

Danilo – Came into the team and did little wrong on the left flank in a faultless if also quite anonymous display. 7

Casemiro – Effectively acted as Brazil’s only defensive midfielder, yet still bullied the South Korea midfielders into submission ensuring that the Asian side never stood a chance of causing Brazil problems. 8.5 

Lucas Paqueta – Took his first goal extremely well with a cushioned volley across goal and should have scored a few moments after too. His movement off the ball left Korea bamboozled. 8.5

Raphinha – Not on the scoresheet but a total menace on the right side of the attack, setting up the first goal and seeing a couple of efforts on goal well saved. 8.5

Neymar – Back in the side and back among the goals. Skillfully slotted home his penalty kick to finally announce himself on the tournament. 8

Neymar starred on his return to the Brazil team following an injury suffered in the first game

Vinicius Junior – Scored an excellent opening goal, and also added a delightful chipped assist for Brazil’s fourth goal. Excellent showing. 9

Richarlison – His fine goal game after three headers to control the ball in yet another masterclass of flair. Tottenham fans will be hoping he brings back his World Cup form from Qatar where he has looked world class. 8.5

Substitutes

Weverton – Given a cameo 10 minutes after coming off the bench with the goalkeeper having been the only Brazil player not to have been on the pitch at that point. 6

Dani Alves – Long in the tooth now at 39 yet still nearly scored a stunning scissors kick shortly after coming on. 6

Rodrygo – A late replacement who with 10 minutes to play and a Brazil side playing with the handbrake on was never going to be able to show his best form in attack. 6

Bremer – One of four Brazilian full-backs to get on the pitch and he found it just as easy as the others to enjoy a comfortable 18 minutes on the field. 6

Gabriel Martinelli – Also only given 18 minutes, but it was his byline dinked ball to the back post that nearly set up Alves’s well struck scissors kick that was blocked. 6

Vinicius Junior though was Brazil’s star man, scoring an playing an excellent assist in Doha

South Korea

Kim Seung-gyu – Couldn’t organise his collapsing defence although did make a few smart saves to prevent Korea suffering total humiliation. 4

Kim Moon-hwan – Struggled from the moment the game kicked off – nowhere to be seen when Vinicius Junior had time to control and kick off the goal scoring rout then gave away the penalty. 3

Kim Min-jae – Meant to be the star of the defence having starred for Napoli this term, but was made to look extremely ordinary at best. 4

Napoli defender Kim-min-jae could do little to stop the constant attacks from Brazil

Kim Young-gwon – Won all his duels, but that was when he wasn’t getting caught standing like a statue as Brazil easily played the ball around and through him. 3

Kim Jin-Su – All over the place as Brazil ripped apart the South Korea left flank. At times he was AWOL to allow constant attacks and even when present he was ineffective. 3

Hwang In-beom – Never got involved in the game and was a total passenger as Brazil passed the ball around him in the midfield with effortless ease. 5.5

Jung Woo-young – About the only Korean player who could get anywhere near a Brazil player in the first half – only problem was he couldn’t get the ball at the same time as he was booked before being replaced at the break. 4

Hwang Hee-chan – The Wolves star was probably South Korea’s best attacking player having a couple of chances that required some excellent saves from Alisson. 6.5

Lee Jae-sung – One of Korea’s better attacking options if such a thing existed. A couple of key passes but Brazil were never really troubled by his presence on the pitch. 4

Son Heung-min – The Tottenham star hardly touched the ball in the first half and while he did well to create a chance of his own in the second period, he lacked a clinical edge in front of goal. 5

Son Heung-min fluffed his lines in front of goal in a disappointing display from the Spurs star

Cho Gue-sung – Never really stood a chance in attack and his evening was summed up by blocking his own team-mate’s shot and being flagged offside in the process. 5

Substitutes

Hong chul – On as a second half substitute and helped settle the defence if only by not allowing Brazil to score more. 6 

Son Jun-ho – Another half-time switch who like Hong helped South Korea gain some sort of control in the midfield even if it was to a measure that was never going to threaten a comeback. 6 

Paik Seung-ho – Made the most of his 25 minutes on the field with a superb consolation goal he fired home from 25 yards out. 7 

Lee Kang-in – The midfielder came on late in the second half with the game not just dead but being played like a friendly. Little impact otherwise. 6 

Hwang Ui-jo – Hapless task of leading Korea’s attack once Cho had departed for the final 10 minutes. 6 

Paik Seung-ho came off the bench to net an excellent consolation goal for South Korea

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