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Wales vs South Korea tips:
- Wales to win - 7/4 with Spreadex
- Both teams to score - 10/11 with Betway
- Brennan Johnson to score anytime - 13/5 with Bet365
Wales will play their first match since the disappointing back-to-back defeats to Armenia and Turkey on Thursday, with Robert Page’s team hosting South Korea in Cardiff (7.45pm, S4C).
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two countries and Page will use the opportunity to prepare his team for next week’s crucial match against Latvia, which Wales must win to get their Euro 2024 qualification campaign back on track.
Page and his players have faced criticism after a run of just one win in 12 matches, but now have the chance to prove their doubters wrong against South Korea at Cardiff City Stadium.
Football betting sites have priced Wales as the slight favourite to claim a win on Thursday evening as they look for their first victory since March.
Wales vs South Korea tips: Hosts can find form with friendly victory
Both Wales and South Korea enter Thursday’s friendly encounter in poor form - Wales have won just one of their last five outings while South Korea are winless in their last five.
However, Page has selected strong squad for this international window with new Tottenham Hotspur signing Brennan Johnson expected to play an important role for Wales over the next two matches.
South Korea have only played friendlies since exiting the 2022 World Cup in the round of 16 to Brazil, but their poor form has seen new manager Jurgen Klinsmann face questions.
Indeed, South Korea have failed to win matches against Colombia, Uruguay, Peru and El Salvador. Klinsmann’s team don’t start World Cup qualification until November, but they could still use some positive momentum before then.
However it's hard to see them winning against a Wales squad with so many great options to choose from and that's why we are tipping a home victory later.
Tip: Wales to win - 7/4 with Spreadex
South Korea will carry a threat in Cardiff
South Korea might be in poor form right now, but they still have the attacking threat to cause damage to Wales on Thursday - as demonstrated by their recent record.
Only once in the last seven matches have South Korea failed to find the back of the net and so there’s good value in backing the visitors to Cardiff City Stadium to get on the score sheet against Wales.
Son Heung-min has been included in Klinsmann’s squad to face Wales and Saudi Arabia with the 31-year-old fresh from scoring an impressive hat-trick for Spurs against Burnley.
Wolves’ attacker Hwang Hee-chan is another Premier League star betting sites believe could do damage to the Wales defence, although the hosts - who have scored in nine of their last 10 home matches - will also carry a threat.
Tip: Both teams to score - 10/11 with Betway
Brennan Johnson to improve Wales scoring record
Transfer deadline day saw Johnson complete a move to Tottenham from Nottingham Forest and the 22-year-old will be a threat for Wales on Thursday night.
South Korea will likely control the majority of possession which will present opportunities for Wales to turnover the ball and feed it in behind the opposition - this is where Johnson’s pace could be dangerous.
Gareth Bale’s retirement left Wales without an outlet in transition so Johnson could be the natural heir to the former Real Madrid winger for both club and country now that he has joined Spurs.
Goals against Belgium and the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League last year demonstrated Johnson’s ability to make an impact against even the strongest of opponents. South Korea will have their hands full defending against him.
Son will be another attacker worth keeping an eye on, but Wales might do a better job of denying him space if they sit deep and stay compact against South Korea.
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
