Look for Czechia to earn a minimum of four corners against South Africa.

The Czechs were strong flag kick performers during World Cup qualification, averaging 7.50 corners per game. In fact, only Belgium (83) recorded more corners than Czechia (75) across European qualification.

A closer look shows that Miroslav Koubek’s side earned at least four corners in each of their eight qualifiers during the regular campaign, as well as their two playoff ties. The case is strengthened by the fact that Czechia also won the corner count 5-4 against South Korea in their opening World Cup game last Friday.

On top of all that, South Africa were forced to defend at least four corners in two of their four outings at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, including nine against Angola.

After losing their opening games, both sides will need to go all out for three points, which should set up an open and entertaining encounter.

Moreover, nine of Czechia’s 10 World Cup qualifiers produced at least two goals, including each of their two playoff ties. That trend also carried over into their two pre-World Cup friendlies, and they opened their campaign last week with a 2-1 defeat to South Korea.

As for South Africa, seven of their last nine games have produced two goals or more, including three of their four outings at the Africa Cup of Nations. That trend also held in last week’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico, and all signs point towards a repeat in Atlanta.

Patrik Schick looks well placed to hit the target at least once against South Africa on Thursday evening.

The Czech forward has long been a talismanic figure for his country, and that was no different during qualifying, when he scored five times across his eight appearances.

He averaged 3.47 shots per game, with 1.60 on target. Indeed, Schick tested the opposition goalkeeper in six of his eight qualifying outings, including a key strike against the Republic of Ireland in a playoff semi-final tie.

On top of all that, Schick averaged a sizeable 1.58 shots on target per game for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga last season.

In what is a must-win game for Czechia, Schick should get ample opportunity to hit the target at least once against a South Africa side that conceded 16 shots against Mexico last time out.

Take Tomas Soucek to be fouled at least once against South Africa on Thursday evening.

The Czech ace was a consistent source of winning free-kicks during World Cup qualifying, drawing an average of 0.81 per game. A closer look shows Soucek was brought down a total of eight times across his ten qualifying appearances.

There is further encouragement in the fact that the towering midfielder drew an average of 0.90 fouls per game in the Premier League last season, earning West Ham eight set-pieces in his final seven outings of the campaign.

Soucek is likely to come into close contact with Teboho Mokoena, who has committed a combined total of seven fouls across his last three competitive appearances for South Africa and was booked against Mexico last Thursday.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi is extremely effective when it comes to drawing fouls.

The South African centre-half demonstrated that trait against Mexico last week when he was fouled on three separate occasions. Mbokazi’s foul-drawing ability was also a feature of South Africa’s qualification campaign, as he drew an average of 1.34 fouls per game.

He has also been reliable when it comes to winning free kicks for club side Chicago Fire in MLS this season, earning an average of 0.94 per game during the early stages of the campaign.

He is likely to come up against Czechia’s Patrik Schick, who leads the line with plenty of aggression and physicality. The Czech forward committed an average of 1.60 fouls per 90 during qualification and was guilty of four fouls against both the Republic of Ireland and Denmark in Czechia’s two playoff ties.

Kang-In Lee was fouled four times against Czechia last time out, which was more than any other player in the South Korea squad. 

That means he has now landed this selection in each of his last four international starts, averaging 3.22 fouls drawn per 90 in his last ten appearances for the national side. 

The PSG winger should find duels against Jose Gallardo on the flank - the Mexican defender is averaging 1.82 fouls per 90 this season playing for Toluca in Liga MX.

Raul Jimenez is another player to back to hit the target against South Korea on Friday. The veteran Mexico forward made the net bulge with one of his 2 shots against South Africa in last week’s World Cup opener.

A deeper look shows that 11 of Jimenez’s 46 goals for Mexico have come since the start of 2025, underlining just how consistently he has been hitting the target at international level. He also tested opposition goalkeepers regularly in the Premier League last season, averaging 0.78 on-target efforts per game for Fulham.

Like the aforementioned Son Heung-min, Jimenez also tends to be on spot-kick duty, which only adds weight to this angle.

In 78 minutes against Qatar in the opening match, Ruben Vargas picked up a hefty four fouls won.

Against a Bosnia midfield that is prolific in giving away free kicks – Ivan Basic committed two fouls in the opening game while the fit-again Ivan Sunjic, who was their leading foul-maker in qualifying, may well start – this trend is primed to continue.

Vargas has been fouled on 2+ occasions in each of his last two starts for club and country, while he has also drawn at least one foul in each of his last five starts.

With the Bosnian midfield so prolific in giving away free kicks, he should draw another high foul count.