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South Korea vs Belgium player ratings World Cup 2014: Did Adnan Januzaj make an impact?

A look at the individual performances after Belgium's win

Friday 27 June 2014 00:00 BST

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The dark horses of this World Cup must soon be considered among the favourites if results are anything to go by.

This was another performance short on consistent quality but again it resulted in three points thanks to a 1-0 win.

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen scored the only goal after 78 minutes after reacting first after Kim Seung-gyu could only parry a shot.

The result sees Belgium go through as group winners where they will play the United States.

South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

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1/23South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Kim Seung-gyu

Made a couple of decent saves but will have expected a much busier evening’s work. That’s not his fault, though, and he was commanding when called upon. 7

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Lee Yong

Raced forward when needed to support his midfield and defended admirably – especially from set-pieces. 7

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Yun Suk-young

Like Lee Yong, Yun Suk-young was exciting down the flank but lost possession quite frequently. This poor distribution ultimately cost South Korea. 6

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Kim Young-gwon

Was a warrior at the back for South Korea. Headed every ball, cleared every cross and tackled every player who dared stray too close. 8

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Hong Jeong-ho

An impressive performance on what should have been a more pressing evening. While the Belgians were poor at times, this was in some part down to the Korean defending. 7

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Ki Sung-yueng

Was able to maraud forward at his pleasure after Steven Defour’s dismissal and made the most of his newfound freedom. His deliveries were top quality too. 7

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Han Kook-young

Protected his defence well but lacked the ambition to venture into the Belgium half. 6

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Lee Chung-yong

While showcasing the ability to craft chances out of nothing, Lee Chung-yong’s final ball was something of a disappointment. 6

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Son Heung-min

Was a tireless pest which the Belgians struggled to deal with all night. Ran the line with enthusiasm and was unlucky not to be rewarded. 7

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Kim Shin-wook

Unfortunately lacked the ability to finish off some encouraging South Korea attacks. Had another striker been on the pitch, tonight’s scoreline could have been very different. 5

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Koo Ja-cheol

Proved his work rate with some encouraging forays into the Belgium penalty area but, like his colleague Kim Shin-wook, he struggled to make his chances show. 5

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Thibaut Courtois

Despite his side going down the ten men on the brink of half-time, the Chelsea shot-stopper was barely tested. Dealt with any situation which presented itself. 7

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Anthony Vanden Borre

While striving to gallop forward on many occasions, Anthony Vanden Borre struggled to make his mark. Will have been expected to achieve more. 6

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Jan Vertonghen

A rock in the heart of the Belgium defence and scorer of their winning goal, the Tottenham Hotspur man was on top form. 8

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Daniel van Buyten

A surprising choice by Marc Wilmots, at 36-years-old, Daniel van Buyton was as imposing as he’s ever been. A stellar performance. 7

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Nicolas Lombaerts

Really struggled to match the pace of his peers and ultimately proved to go missing for large periods. A disappointing night. 6

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Steven Defour

Gave possession away cheaply until his red card confirmed a poor evening for the Porto midfielder. 3

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Marouane Fellaini

Worked tirelessly for much of the game but lacked the penetration which has defined his distribution so far in the tournament. Decent but unremarkable. 6

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Moussa Dembele

Was called upon to step into Steven Defour’s shoes after his dismissal and did a commendable job in the centre of Belgium’s system. 7

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Dries Mertens

Not nearly as impressive as his previous outings, Dries Martens' shift will be remembered for his horrendous miss in the first half. Could have cost his country dearly. 6

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Adnan Januzaj

Non-existent for large swathes of the match, Manchester United’s wonderkid found the big stage difficult. 5

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Kevin Mirallas

Started the game upfront and is, perhaps, the reason for Belgium’s early impotency. When moved back into midfield the Everton man proved more of a threat. 6

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South Korea 0 Belgium 1 player ratings

Divock Origi

If the rumours of Liverpool's interest prove to hold any credence, then the Reds may have a talent on their hands. Made a noticeable difference after coming on. 7

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Who do you think was the man of the match? Let us know in the comments below.

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