The result has been much easier. Of course, the performance in the group league is nothing but sighing, but it is true that the second-ranked team in Group E is better than advancing to the round of 16 as the first-ranked team in Group E. This is because Japan, Iran, and Qatar are all facing one side.
First of all, Japan lost 1-2 in the second Group D match against Iraq. As Japan's expected No. 1 ranking in Group D became impossible as the final match, there is a possibility of a match between Korea and Japan in the round of 16. If Korea passes the group stage as No. 1 ranking in Group E, the round of 16 match between Korea and Japan was scheduled to take place.
However, Korea was not as good as expected. The team tied Jordan 2 to 2 in the second match, and the team had a 3 to 3 draw with Malaysia, the weakest team in Group E, which is ranked 130th in the FIFA rankings. The team advanced to the round of 16 by ranking second, not first, in Group E.
The team avoided a round of 16 match between Korea and Japan. Both the quarterfinal match against Iran and the semifinal match against Qatar failed to take place. In the FIFA rankings, Japan ranks 17th and Iran 21st. It is ahead of Korea, which ranks 23rd. Qatar ranks 58th, but is a strong candidate for the title as the defending champion and host country.
Thanks to the second place in Group E, relatively easy teams were included in the match against the other side.
Of course, there is no easy opponent in the current level of performance. However, Saudi Arabia's FIFA ranking is 56th. Australia, which is highly likely to play against the quarterfinals, is also 25th, two places lower than Korea's. Korea and Saudi Arabia have had five wins, eight draws, and five losses in their previous matches. However, they have never lost in the recent five matches, with two wins and three draws. Korea has had eight wins, 11 draws and nine losses in its previous matches. In the recent six matches, the team had two wins, two draws and two losses.
Above all, if they advance to the round of 16 and 8, they will meet one of the Middle Eastern countries (Tazikistan, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan) ranked 60th in the FIFA rankings in the semifinals.
