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Neymar scores penalty as Brazil routs South Korea at FIFA World Cup, Croatia beats Japan on penalties at Qatar

Neymar has scored a penalty in his return from injury as Brazil put South Korea to the sword in their round-of-16 game at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The tournament favourites thumped the second-placed side from Group H 4-1 on the back of a four-goal first half.

Neymar had not played in Qatar since Brazil's opening match against Serbia due to a foot injury, but returned to a stunning performance by the Seleção.

Vinícius Júnior scored the opener in just the seventh minute and it carried on from there, with Richarlison winning a 13th-minute penalty, which Neymar converted.

Richarlison then scored a beautiful team goal approaching the half-hour mark, before Lucas Paquetá sent home a volley in the 37th minute to complete Brazil's scoring for the half and, as it turned out, the match.

South Korea got one back in the second half through substitute Paik Seung-ho, but the result was never in doubt.

Brazil will face Croatia in the quarterfinals after goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved the day for the 2018 runners-up, stopping three Japanese penalties in the shootout after scores were tied 1-1 after regulation and extra time.

Look back on the penultimate day of round-of-16 matches with our live blog.

Key events

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Live updates

We'll sign off there

By Jon Healy

So, after the tightest of matches to start off the day, it ends with an absolute rout and a chasm of class.

We'll have more coverage throughout the day at abc.net.au/sport, but I'll bid you adieu on this blog for now.

Thanks for sticking around.

The beautiful game

By Jon Healy

That first half was truly the beautiful game at its most telegenic.

Richarlison's goal in particular was about as bonito as joga gets.

No doubt Brazil took their foot off the throttle a bit, but they still created quite a few chances after half-time and Croatia should be terrified about the quarterfinal after just barely beating Japan.

Not a lot in that game did anything to strip this team of their favouritism for the title, not least Neymar getting through more or less unscathed.

Brazil pays tribute to Pelé

By Jon Healy

Key Event

There have been some conflicting reports about the severity of Pelé's condition, with suggestions that he's in palliative care rejected, but he is 82 years old, is in hospital and has had a lot of health issues in recent years.

The entire football world is pulling for him, and the nation of Brazil is watching particularly closely.

So it's no surprise the players are showing their support on the pitch after that game.

FULL-TIME: Brazil goes through to the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over South Korea

By Jon Healy

Key Event

Well, all you can say really is credit to South Korea for winning the second half 1-0, but the first half was really where the rubber off this match met the road.

Absolute domination by Brazil.

89' Dani Alves tries the aerial highlight

By Jon Healy

The veteran snuck in off the right wing as Gabriel Martinelli played with the defender out on the left. The cross came in and Alves tried the stunning scissor kick and it was well blocked.

The corner almost bore fruit for substitute Bremer, but the big man's header was blocked almost right off his bonce by Kim Seung-gyu.

Should have been a corner, but it was given as a goal kick for some reason.

80' Alisson saves again, and comes off

By Jon Healy

Close range after a good run from Jo Gyu-seong, Alisson makes a reflex stop.

Neymar and Alisson come off for Rodrygo and Weverton. Gotta love a goalie swap.

What a strike! South Korea get one back

By Jon Healy

Substitute Paik Seung-ho uncorked a rocket of a shot after a free-kick was headed away by Brazil.

It looked like South Korea were off side off the free-kick, but the goal, which may have deflected off a Brazilian defender, stands.

'Twould be cruel to take it off them at this point.

72' This is painful for South Korea

By Jon Healy

Danilo and Vini Junior come off. Gabriel Martinelli and Bremer come on for Brazil.

You'd have to think Neymar will come off soon to protect that injured foot.

68' Alisson and Marquinhos are impassible!

By Jon Healy

A great cross came in from the left and found Hwang Hee-Chan wide on the right. He belted one towards goal, but Alisson got a hand to it, and actually into the bum of a fallen Korean player who was offside.

Anyway, Son Heung-min tries off the deflection, and Marquinhos block him from close range twice.

66' Another chance goes begging for Brazil

By Jon Healy

Dani Alves finds Raphinha on a great run (glad he's been so influential considering I spent the first hour misspelling his name) and the rare Brazilian attacker who hasn't scored, rather than go himself from a tight angle again, actually turns it back towards Richarlison, who leaves it behind.

The stakes are low when you're up 4-0 but that's another opportunity on goal missed.

62' Raphinha again misses out

By Jon Healy

Neymar had options as he dribbled across the top of the 18-yeard box but eventually settled on Raphinha out wide. He got down towards the byline, but couldn't get it past Kim Seung-gyu from a tight angle.

Meanwhile, Eder Militao is replaced by veteran defender Dani Alves.

57' Brazil still trying to get Raphinha on the board

By Jon Healy

There's a free-kick a few metres outside the box. Neymar and Casemiro are lurking around, but they let Raphinha take it and it rebounds away off the wall for corner, but that too ends harmlessly for South Korea.

55' Raphinha's shot brilliantly stopped

By Jon Healy

Raphinha is yet to get on the scorer's sheet, and he looked certain to get his name on there as he weaved and turned and baffled the defence, but his shot was superbly saved at full stretch by Kim Seung-gyu.

Considering what's been thrown at him, he's had a decent match. (Sue me, I'm trying to make some Koreans feel a bit better about this nightmare.)

47' Another Alisson save

By Jon Healy

While Brazil's attacking class is shining through up front, coach Tite's pride and joy, the defence, is answering every test thrown at them.

Son Heung-min got himself into a really good position to curl one in off his right boot, but he was pressured well by Marquinhos and Alisson made a superb save off his shoulder.

46' Brazil immediately back in on goal

By Jon Healy

There was a turnover in defence and Rapinha swooped.

He had half a chance but couldn't connect how he would have liked.

Half-time stats

By Jon Healy

 Pretty lopsided stuff everywhere you look but it doesn't tell on the stat sheet as much as it does on the pitch. Brazil have just been so clinical, even taking into account perhaps a bit of relaxation in the latter stages of that half.

HALF-TIME: Brazil demolishing South Korea 4-0

By Jon Healy

Key Event

I mean, you expect dominance from this team, but even by their standards, that was a complete performance.

Honestly, it could have and should have been more, but they're basically just having fun out there at this point.

Neymar, Richarlison, Raphinha, Paqueta ... they all could have scored in injury time alone.

45'+5 Chance after chance for Brazil

By Jon Healy

And Lucas Paqueta has almost nabbed a double, but his flick from the outside of his left boot from a tight angle is stopped by Kim Seung-gyu.

A flying Raphinha misses out on a close-range volley, as Vini Junior sends a ball across the face of goal and his teammate can't quite connect with a high boot.

Neymar tries to skin both Kim Min-jae and Kim Moon-hwan on the edge of the area, but he stumbles.

And then Richarlison breaks and has all the options in the world, but his shot is brilliantly stopped by the goalkeeper. Neymar holds his hands out, asking Richarlison why the hell he didn't square it after the ricochet hits him and goes out for a goal kick.

44' Frustration for South Korea?

By Jon Healy

Marquinhos calmly shuts down an attempted cross to the left wing and Rapinha gathers, turns and gets clattered by Jung Woo-young, who is shown a yellow card.

Maybe a bit of caution to the wind with their tournament already effectively over.

39' Hwang misses out on penalty

By Jon Healy

Hwang Hee-chan made his way into the box and really probably should have been awarded a penalty as Eder Militao ran him off the ball and sent him to the turf, but the referee was unmoved.

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