The standout moment of the final 45 minutes came in the .
By halftime, the story was seemingly over. Brazil had "ripped South Korea to shreds" with four goals in just 36 minutes—a feat not seen in a World Cup knockout stage since Germany's 7-1 demolition of Brazil in 2014. Goals from Vinícius Júnior, Neymar (returning from injury), Richarlison, and Lucas Paquetá had turned Stadium 974 into a literal carnival. The Second-Half Narrative
Tite's side took their "foot off the gas" to conserve energy for their upcoming quarter-final against Croatia.