Brazil secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup by sweeping aside South Korea 4-1 on yesterday evening.
It was a comprehensive performance from the Brazilian side that looked ruthless going forward and showed a lot of balance. In light of the victory, star player Neymar has talked about his team’s performance and has picked Barcelona star Raphinha as the Man of the Match.
It’s not easy to pick just one player to give this [MOTM] award as everyone played well – but if I had to choose one, it would be Raphinha,” he said (h/t Reshad Rahman).
Neymar’s comments come in the midst of an excellent performance from Raphinha, who was a live wire down the flank and caused all sorts of problems for the South Korean defence.
Starting on the right flank, Raphinha attempted three shots on goal and created two big chances. He also attempted five crosses and kept feeding the centrally oriented attackers such as Richarlison and co.
In addition, Raphinha used his flair and pace to effortlessly drift past opposition defenders. He notably attempted three dribbles in the final third
An important aspect of Raphinha’s performance was his defensive work. He made three interceptions on the night. Overall, he was one of the best players on the night. even though the Barça forward was not able to register a goal or an assist.
Following the win, Brazil have booked a place in the quarterfinals, where they will face Croatia. Raphinha’s services could be important against the Croats as well, who have built a reputation for their defensive solidity in the tournament lately.