The Mexico vs. South Korea clash is unlikely to be a dull one, and Over 2.25 looks like the right side. An old scout who has covered four World Cups put it bluntly: don’t just look at the two teams’ defensive rankings and get fooled by appearances. In Mexico vs. South Korea, Over 2.25 really doesn’t need to be overthought, and as a simple reference point, it’s a fairly solid option. First, why it’s hard to expect a cagey game: both teams are stronger in attack than they are in defense, and neither side can afford to lose this match, so it probably won’t be played too conservatively. Mexico are aiming for the top spot in the group, and are likely to push up, control possession, and work the ball through passes and combinations rather than sit deep. South Korea, meanwhile, are built on counterattacking football. If you commit bodies forward, they will happily attack the space behind you. The speed combination of Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan can cause serious problems, and Mexico’s aging back line may struggle to recover. There’s a good chance South Korea can turn counters into goals. Looking at the defenses on both sides, there are quite obvious weaknesses. Mexico’s back line is relatively old, slow to turn, and not especially strong in the air, which makes them vulnerable to pace-based attacks. South Korea’s defense is also not particularly stable; in their opening match, Czechia’s aerial strength caused them plenty of trouble. Against Mexico’s quick, sharp passing combinations, South Korea’s defense will be under considerable pressure, and the risk of conceding is not low. Set pieces are another factor. Both teams are quite capable of scoring from dead-ball situations, and this match is expected to be fairly physical, with plenty of fouls and corners. Just one or two good chances could easily produce goals. Overall, the tempo is unlikely to be slow, and both sides have ways to score, so the chance of the total going over 2.25 is not small. Of course, football never offers a 100% sure thing, but from a tactical and form perspective, this angle has pretty good value.