RSS Feed
Twitter
World-Unbeaten run makes South Korea confidentSEOUL, May 18 (Reuters) - South Korea swaggered through Asian qualifying with an unblemished record and will head to the World Cup finals with an air of confidence not seen since the wonder years of Guus Hiddink. While skipper Park Ji-sung remains the beating heart of the team, the dynamic Manchester United midfielder now has a supporting cast that should help South Korea to advance from Group B and reach the last 16.
Surprise semi-finalists on home soil in 2002, the Koreans stumbled at the group stage in Germany four years ago but have enjoyed a purple patch under coach Huh Jung-moo, going 27 games unbeaten until a 1-0 loss to Serbia in November.
While some feared the appointment of Huh marked a return to the 'Old Guard' and would undo years of progress under coaches such as Hiddink, Dick Advocaat and Pim Verbeek, the hard-nosed 55-year-old has been quick to embrace the youth and zest coursing through the squad.
Park Chu-young, the foal-like striker once thought too frail to make the grade, is banging in goals with AS Monaco while a midfield duo dubbed "Double Dragon" have made fiery debuts in Europe.
Lee Chung-yong and Ki Sung-yong's partnership at FC Seoul earned them lucrative transfers to Bolton and Glasgow Celtic. The 21-year-olds share the Chinese character "yong" (dragon) in their names and will hope to rekindle their fire in South Africa.
South Korea will be targeting maximum points from Greece and Nigeria but getting anything from Argentina will be a tall order.
The Koreans were brushed aside 3-1 by Argentina at the 1986 World Cup, a game Diego Maradona remembers as being more like taekwondo than football thanks to the heavy-handed tactics employed by the Asian side.
Maradona's marker that day, a certain Huh Jung-moo, makes no apologies for their approach and suggested Lionel Messi and his team mates could be in for a rough ride when they meet in Johannesburg on June 17.
"If I am asked to play Maradona and Argentina again, I will do the same thing," the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) website (www.the-afc.com) quoted Huh as saying.
"I don't want to give them an easy win. I will stop them. I will fight them.
"We will try to cut down their speed and reduce their tempo. Counter-attacks are crucial. They will be the key."
South Korea, who stand to earn $150,000 per man for reaching the second round, kick off their World Cup finals campaign against Greece in Port Elizabeth on June 12 and meet Nigeria 10 days later in Durban.
World-Factbox on South Korea
May 18 (Reuters) - Factbox on South Korea who are in Group B at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa: Colours: Red shirts, blue shorts, red socks.
Nickname: Taeguk Chunsa (Korean Warriors)
Previous World Cup appearances: 7: 1954, 1986, 1990, 1994,
1998, 2002, 2006
Best World Cup performance: Fourth, 2002
Coach: Huh Jung-moo
Most capped player: Hong Myung-bo (136)
Top goalscorer: Cha Bum-keun (55)
Talking points:
Park Ji-sung has been the focal point of South Korean soccer since his breakthrough at the 2002 World Cup, but he finally has strong team mates to share the load.
The burgeoning potential of Lee Chung-yong, Ki Sung-yong and Park Chu-young has blossomed in Europe and given the South Koreans the cutting edge they have lacked for years. Whether coach Huh Jung-moo will boldly play to his side's attacking strengths remains to be seen.
Player to watch:
Park Ji-sung. The South Korean skipper burst on to the world stage in 2002 and has gone from strength to strength since joining Manchester United from PSV Eindhoven in 2005. Nicknamed "Three-lunged Park", his boundless energy and terrier-like tenacity have endeared him to Alex Ferguson and the Old Trafford faithful.
World-Penpix of South Korea squad
SEOUL, June 4 (Reuters) - Penpix of South Korea's 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa:
1-Lee Woon-jae (Suwon). Goalkeeper. Born: April 26 1973. Caps 130. Goals 0.
Known as 'Spider Hands', Lee broke Spanish hearts in the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals. Excellent shot-stopper and there are few better in penalty shoot-outs. Suspended from the national team for a year after breaking a team curfew during the 2007 Asian Cup.
21-Kim Young-kwang (Ulsan). Goalkeeper. Born: June 28 1983. Caps 14. Goals 0.
Starting goalkeeper for the Olympic side that made it through the group stage in 2004. Hit with a six-game ban in 2007 after throwing a bottle back into the crowd during a playoff. Went 977 minutes without conceding a goal in 2004.
18-Jung Sung-ryong (Seongnam). Goalkeeper. Born: Jan. 4 1985. Caps 15. Goals 0.
Struggled for playing time thanks to the longevity of Lee Woon-jae but was thrust into the starting slot after Lee's one-year ban and is seen as his successor in the long term.
12-Lee Young-pyo (Al Hilal). Defender. Born: April 23 1977. Caps 112. Goals 5
Explosive left-sided defender who earned rave reviews during the 2002 World Cup and was snapped up by Guus Hiddink when he left Korea to manage PSV Eindhoven. Also played for Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund before joining Al Hilal in 2009.
3-Kim Hyung-il (Pohang). Defender. Born: April 27 1984. Caps 2. Goals 0.
Rising talent who has suffered because of his inexperience and inability to read the game. Hard-working, physical centre-back who gives the team height at the back. Earned first cap against Oman last year.
2-Oh Beom-seok (Ulsan). Defender. Born: July 29 1984. Caps 37. Goals 2.
With the nickname "King of Fouls", Oh is noted for his physical attributes rather than his technique. Enjoyed a year in Russia with Krylya Sovetov but returned to Korea in 2009 after a pay dispute. Oh's father is on the Korea Football Association's technical committee and his sister was a Miss Korea runner-up.
15-Kim Dong-jin (Ulsan). Defender. Born: Jan. 29 1982. Caps 61. Goals 2.
Strong, left-sided defender. Released by Zenit St Petersburg in 2009 due to several fainting episodes and his career looked to be over after he collapsed at national training camp. Was diagnosed with circulation problems in his brain but has recovered and been given full medical clearance.
4-Cho Yong-hyung (Jeju). Defender. Born: Nov. 3 1983. Caps 31. Goals 0.
Elegant Jeju United sweeper who has helped to transform one of the leakiest K-League defences into one of the best. Comfortable in possession but on the slight side for a defender. Can struggle against physical strikers but is a favourite of coach Huh Jung-Moo.
23-Kang Min-soo (Suwon). Defender. Born: Feb. 14 1986. Caps 31. Goals 0.
Not a fans' favourite and unkindly dubbed the "automatic door" after poor performances at club and international level. Was sent off against Japan in 2007 Asian Cup but coach Huh still rates him and he has a chance of starting in South Africa.
14-Lee Jung-soo (Kashima). Defender. Born: Jan. 8 1980. Caps 24. Goals 2.
Pacy centre-back with a decent scoring record. Played for Anyang, FC Seoul, Incheon and Suwon in South Korea before moving to J-League side Kyoto. Signed for Kashima this year. Made his international debut against North Korea in 2008.
22-Cha Du-ri (Freiburg). Defender. Born: July 25 1970. Caps 46. Goals 4.
Son of Korean great Cha Bum-keun, Cha has struggled to emerge from his father's shadow. Lightning quick and with a solid physique, earned the nickname "Human Weapon" for injuring opponents, team mates and coaches in games and during training sessions. Switched to defender in 2006.
7-Park Ji-sung (Manchester United). Midfielder. Born: Feb. 25 1981. Caps 88. Goals 12.
Korean captain Park burst on to the world stage at the 2002 World Cup and has gone from strength to strength since joining Manchester United from PSV Eindhoven in 2005. Nicknamed "Three-lunged Park" for his boundless energy and tenacity.
16-Ki Sung-yong (Celtic). Midfielder. Born: Jan. 24 1989. Caps 21. Goals 4.
Asia's Young Player of the Year in 2009, Ki signed for Celtic in January. Has struggled with the physical Scottish game but impressed with his passing and set-piece expertise. Has developed a formidable midfield partnership with Lee Chung-yong at FC Seoul and in the national side.
17-Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanderers). Midfielder. Born: July 2 1988. Caps 23. Goals 3.
Lee and Ki Sung-yong form a partnership dubbed "Double Dragon" at FC Seoul ('yong' means dragon). After a slow start in England, Lee has become a fan favourite with his flair. Lee will provide the width for South Korea in South Africa.
8-Kim Jung-woo (Gwangju). Midfielder. Born: May 9 1982. Caps 54. Goals 4.
Tough-tackling midfielder who played a key role in Ulsan's romp to the K-League championship in 2005. Had a spell in Japan and signed for South Korean military side Gwangju this season. Fiercely competitive and decent on the ball.
5-Kim Nam-il (Tom Tomsk). Midfielder. Born: March 14 1977. Caps 92. Goals 2.
Quietly effective anchorman, dubbed "Vacuum Cleaner" for sucking up errant passes and clean tackling. Shot to fame during South Korea's 2002 World Cup run. Local media coined the term "Kim Nam-il Syndrome" after an avalanche of endorsement offers and outpouring of affection from Korea's female population.
13-Kim Jae-sung (Pohang). Midfielder. Born: Oct. 3.1983. Caps 7. Goals 2.
Key figure in Pohang's AFC Champions League victory last season and is challenging for a place in the national team having scored twice in five appearances.
6-Kim Bo-kyung (Oita Trinita). Midfielder. Born: Oct. 6 1989. Caps 6. Goals 0.
Scored two goals at the under-20 World Cup and earned his first full cap against Zambia in January. Promising rookie who was signed by Osaka in the Japanese league and loaned to Oita Trinita in the second division.
19-Yeom Ki-hun (Suwon). Midfielder. Born March 30 1983. Caps 33. Goals 3.
Broke a bone in his foot in February and has only just made his first appearance of the season in the domestic K-League. Excellent delivery from set pieces. Surprise selection given his history of injuries.
9-Ahn Jung-hwan (Dalian Shide). Forward. Born Jan. 27 1976. Caps 70. Goals 17.
Ahn's golden goal knocked Italy out of the 2002 World Cup and he earned a recall after coach Huh received glowing reports about his form with Dalian Shide. The team's former pin-up boy is one of the most skilful players the country has produced but his questionable work ethic and lack of pace can be his undoing.
10-Park Chu-young (Monaco). Forward. Born July 10 1985. Caps 40. Goals 14.
Once deemed too frail to make the grade, Park has blossomed with Monaco. Broke into FC Seoul's first team in 2005 and finished second in the scoring charts. Won K-League Rookie of the Year award.
20-Lee Dong-guk (Jeonbuk). Forward. Born April 29 1979. Caps 83. Goals 25.
The "Lion King" has been unable to live up to his potential after a succession of injuries. Overlooked by Guus Hiddink in 2002, he was Dick Advocaat's first-choice striker ahead of the 2006 World Cup but tore cruciate ligaments. Resurrected his career by returning to Korea and finished top scorer in 2009.
11-Lee Seung-ryul (FC Seoul). Forward. Born March 6 1989. Caps 9. Goals 3.
Lee was named K-League Rookie of the Year in 2007 and represented the national team at under-18, -20 and -23 level before getting his first senior cap in January.
Roster
Trainer
Huh Jung-Moo
Goalkeeper
1 Lee Woon-Jae
21 Kim Young-Kwang
18 Jung Sung-Ryong
Defender
12 Lee Young-Pyo
22 Cha Doo-Ri
15 Kim Dong-Jin
2 Oh Beom-Seok
4 Cho Yong-Hyung
14 Lee Jung-Soo
3 Kim Hyung-Il
23 Kang Min-Soo
Midfielder
7 Park Ji-Sung
5 Kim Nam-Il
8 Kim Jung-Woo
19 Yeom Ki-Hun
16 Ki Sung-Yueng
17 Lee Chung-Yong
13 Kim Jae-Sung
6 Kim Bo-Kyung
Forward
20 Lee Dong-Gook
9 Ahn Jung-Hwan
10 Park Chu-Young
11 Lee Seung-Yeoul
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar