The Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba will play host to two of the tournaments most tenacious sides, as Russia take on the South Korea in their Group H opener. View our World Cup live scores, odds and preview for the game between Russia and South Korea.

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However, it may be that Russia opt for a more disciplined and rigid style in counterpoint to their usual attacking ferocity, as they are without their main playmaker Roman Shirokov who has been ruled out due to injury. Russia have won their last four of five games, and have shown a pretty watertight defence, having conceded just twice. They have been away from the World Cup finals since 2002 and will probably have high hopes of a win here this evening. Indeed, they may even be seen as rather impudent when the squad’s collective ambitions are voiced to the media, which are simply to “win the tournament”.

Given the company they are in in this tournament, it may seem a little bit ambitious, especially since even if they do triumph this evening, they still have to face an extremely strong Belgian side to even get out of the group. Indeed, they may even be seen as thinking a little too far ahead considering they are going up against players who reached the semi finals of the 2002 tournament. Still, Fabio Capello, the coach of Russia is still confident of reaching at least the quarter finals, with his defender Vasili Berezutski saying simply “No-one really knows these players outside of Russia, but I know what they are capable of”.

With the South Koreans renowned for their tenacity and discipline, the Russians will expect to be put through the ringer this evening. South Korea have actually played Russia once already recently, when they actually lost back in November. For all their battling play, they have also lost to Ghana in a friendly in Miami, with the game finishing 4-0. Tonight’s game could prove to be vital for either team, with the other teams in the group, Belgium and Algeria not likely to lie down tonight.

Managing the South Koreans or “Taeguk Warriors” is Hong Myung-bo, who led his side to the semi-finals in 2002 shockingly beating Spain and Italy on the way to a very respectable fourth place finish. Cut from the same mold of tenacity, robustness and desire is midfielder Ki Sung-yeung who is hoping that his side can emulate that performance of 2002, when his country hosted the tournament.

In an interview with Sky Sports, the midfielder said “We have a good memory from the last World Cup because we qualified from the group stage. So we also want to qualify from this one. But it’s not easy. It will be tough. We will suffer from every single game”. These are ominous words perhaps, but at the very least, honest. With Russia likely to come out with gloves off, are these words just a cover up for a full on South Korean assault on the tournament? In any case, tonight’s game is a vital one for both teams, with a very tough looking Belgium still on the agenda.