Mexico vs South Korea

Really looking forward to this game. Would've much preferred it to have been the last game, group winners being decided by it. In this spot, BOTH may be happy to be more determined to avoid defeat, over risking the L for the W. If that mentality is there, hopefully it only kicks in as we're nearing the close of the match.       

The Koreans one of the most visually impressive on opening, even if we need to take into account the turgid side they were facing. This is a good test for Mexico, and I fully expect them to perform much better than they did in their opener.. where quite frankly they appeared happy enough not to expend unnecessary energy in such a simple 3pt grab against such toothless opposition. Against this type of dangerous outfit they won't be allowed to coast for 90+.

Always hard to bet against Mexico on home soil, esp in the Azteca where that arena, the demanding raucous crowd piled with the challenge of dealing with the abnormal altitude makes things extremely tough for all visitors.

High Altitude (2,000m+): The Estadio Azteca (2,200m) crosses squarely into true high altitude. At this threshold, the human body's ability to absorb oxygen drops sharply.

The great news for Korea is they've avoided the Azteca and the EXTREME conditions that come with that, and landed with playing in Guadalajara, where conditions are more manageable. Which is where they played so well in their opener. 

Low-to-Moderate Altitude (1,000m - 1,500m): Guadalajara sits right at the upper edge of this boundary. The body experiences mild stress, but elite lung capacity can compensate relatively well.

“We’ll play at about 1,600 meters (5,250 feet),” said head coach Hong Myung-bo. “We’ve had very little exposure to this environment, so I’ve consulted with experts to determine our needs. We now have detailed plans not only for training but also for what happens off the pitch during our stay.”

To prepare, the Korean squad has been stationed at more than 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) in Salt Lake City, Utah, since May 18.

“Spending two to three weeks at altitude stimulates the body to produce more red blood cells and improves oxygen-carrying capacity, meaning players arrive with some degree of adaptation rather than experiencing the full, acute environmental stress on match day.”

Had Korea been impressing for more than 1 solitary game, and against better opps than the rotten Czechs, I'd have defo considered taking a chance on them as solid underdogs at a nice price. As it is, I'll enjoy this one with no money staked on it.

As always, hoping for some good entertaining play with plenty of GOALS, and happy for all backers who've chanced them