Korea Republic vs. Czechia Prediction & Best Bets

After co-hosts Mexico get the World Cup up and running, Group A's second fixture pits Korea Republic and Czechia against each other in Guadalajara.

Both nations will be acutely aware that an opening success in Group A could all but pave the way for a place in the last-32.

For Korea Republic, this is a landmark tournament as they become the first Asian nation to appear in 12 World Cups, their 11th in succession.

For Czechia, this is just a second World Cup appearance as an independent nation, two decades on from Germany in 2006 where they failed to get past the group stage.

Korea Republic vs. Czechia betting picks and predictions

Half-Time/Full-Time - Draw/Czechia (+550)

Korea breezed through qualifying unbeaten, but there are reasons to doubt the Taegeuk Warriors on this stage as they have won just seven of 38 games at the World Cup - the bulk of those successes coming in 2002 as co-hosts when they reached the last four.

Current manager Myung-Bo Hung was the captain of that team and is now in his second stint as manager, having also served during a winless World Cup in Brazil 12 years ago.

He has recently switched to a 3-4-3 formation but with mixed results, despite pre-tournament wins over Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador. His team are accused of being ponderous in possession and will meet a physical challenge in Czechia.

The first half could have a 'feeling each other out' aspect to it and a half-time stalemate is possible on that basis.

The Czechs were strong and resolute in the playoffs win over Republic of Ireland and Denmark in March, twice surviving penalty shootouts.

Miroslav Koubek has a disciplined and often hard to break down team, with just one defeat in 10 games and they can edge this contest in the second half with the impressive Pavel Sulc in midfield, Patrik Schick up front and Tomas Soucek a menace at set-pieces.

Patrik Schick anytime goalscorer (+200)

Schick has developed into a proven goalscorer at Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga in 2023-24 and routinely hitting double figures for his club.

He has 25 goals in 52 caps for Czechia, six of those coming in two European Championships in 2021 and 2024. He netted both goals in the Euro 2020 opening win over Scotland in Glasgow.

He found the net in the final warm-up win over Guatemala and will likely be on penalty duties.

He's the only Czech player to score 100 goals in Europe's top league and his class could be the difference.

Under 2.5 goals (-150)

Korea completed their preparations in scoring six times against Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador, but previously had scored just once in three games against Ghana, Ivory Coast and Austria.

The Czechs leaked just eight goals in eight games in their qualifying group, the majority coming in a 5-1 defeat to Croatia in Osijek 12 months ago.

They have only conceded multiple goals in the same game just twice in 10 games since, one of those a shock loss to the Faroe Islands that cost previous manager Ivan Hasek his job.

They were stunned by two Irish goals in four first-half minutes in Prague in March, but recovered well to stay in the hunt for qualification.

With Korea's talisman Heung-Min Son perhaps no longer the force he was of old, there can be plenty of defensive containment in a contest where a draw may ultimately please both camps.

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Korea Republic vs. Czechia odds

Korea Republic	+138
Tie	+230
Czechia	+200

Korea Republic vs. Czechia player props

Anytime goalscorer

Heung-Min Son (Korea Republic)	+175
Patrik Schick (Czechia)	+200
Hyeon-Gyu Oh (Korea Republic)	+240
Jan Kuchta (Czechia)	+260
Gue-Sung Cho (Korea Republic)	+275
Mojmir Chytil (Czechia)	+275

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.