South Korea will be making their seventh successive appearance at a World Cup finals when they take to the field against Greece in their first game.
With seven wins and seven draws, the Taeguk Warriors were the only side to remain unbeaten during the AFC qualifying campaign.
Two key protagonists in this were captain Park Ji-Sung and striker Park Chu-Young. The Manchester United midfielder was the top scorer in qualifying, while the latter was second in the charts, and is a big threat from set-pieces.
This is coach Huh Jung-Moo's third stint in charge, and many critics were left nonplussed by the appointment. He is highly unlikely to match 'Golden' Guus Hiddink's feat of taking the team all the way to the semi-finals when they co-hosted the tournament with Japan in 2002. Swept along by a fervent support and some favorable refereeing decisions, the South Koreans overachieved dramatically.
Huh played for South Korea when they lost 3-1 to Argentina at the 1986 World Cup. While this Argentina side cannot be compared to that World Cup winning team, the South Americans will be South Korea's toughest rivals in Group B.
Quick Facts:
- Best World Cup Result: Semi-Finals (2002)
- Best Asian Cup Result: Winners (1956 and 1960)
- Record Scorer: Cha Bum-Kun (55 goals between 1972 and 1986)
- Most Capped Player: Hong Myung-Bo (136 caps between 1990 and 2002)
- Coach: Huh Jung-Moo
- Captain: Park Ji-Sung
23-man South Korea World Cup Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kim Young-kwang (Ulsan), Lee Woon-jae (Suwon), Jung Sung-ryong (Seongnam)
Defenders: Kim Dong-jin (Ulsan), Kim Hyung-il (Pohang), Oh Beom-seok (Ulsan), Lee Young-pyo (Al Hilal), Lee Jung-soo (Kashima), Cha Du-ri (Freiburg) Cho Yong-hyung (Jeju United) Kang Min-soo (Suwon)
Midfielders: Ki Sung-yong (Celtic), Kim Bo-kyung (Oita), Kim Nam-il (Tomsk), Kim Jae-sung (Pohang), Kim Jung-woo (Gwangju), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanderers), Park Ji-sung (Manchester United)
Forwards: Park Chu-young (Monaco), Ahn Jung-hwan (Dalian), Lee Seung-ryul (Seoul), Yeom Ki-hun, (Suwon), Lee Dong-gook (Jeonbuk)
Group Matches:
Saturday, June 12, 2010 v GreeceThursday, June 17, 2010 v Argentina
Tuesday, June 22, 2010, v Nigeria
Prediction: Second-Round
South Korea are not an easy team to beat, as they demonstrated in qualifying. Their qualification for the semi-finals in 2002 was more than any of the other sides in this group managed and it is not unreasonable to assert that they have just as much chance of making it through to the second round as Greece and Nigeria.Given the inconsistency of the Europeans, and the turmoil that engulfs the Nigeria camp on a regular basis, South Korea's togetherness, organization and recent World Cup experience could all be factors in them making a second-round appearance against France.
To find out more about the tournament, visit the World Cup section.
