WORLD CUP 2006
South Korea
Introduction
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If expectations in South Korea are anything to go by, Dick Advocaat and his team will be riding forth into the latter stages of the finals in Germany, just as Guus Hiddink and company did
on home soil four years ago.
The spectacular achievement of reaching the semi-finals last time, and the success in Europe of players such as Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo, has given Korean fans the belief that the Taeguk Warriors are now capable of consistently competing with the world’s best.
Understandably, Advocaat is much more cautious. Although there has been an air of quiet confidence around the camp over the past few months, the Dutchman is aware that South Korea’s first objective is simply to bring to an end the nation’s big World Cup hoodoo – the team have never won a finals game on foreign soil, a run of 14 matches over five tournaments.
The Koreans have gone through a period of transition since they lost to Turkey in the third-place play-off four years ago. Of course, Hiddink left the scene, and so did a number of key veteran players. Hong Myung-bo, long considered the most accomplished defender to come out of Asia, has moved into coaching and is currently working as an assistant to Advocaat; Kim Tae-young, Yoo Sang-chul and Hwang Sun-hong have also retired from the national team.
That said, a large part of the 2002 squad remains, and new arrivals such as defensive midfielder Lee Ho have impressed. But, ironically, preparations for Germany have been hit by the loss to a cruciate ligament injury of striker Lee Dong-gook, who also missed out on the Korea/Japan tournament. Lee is unique among Korea’s current crop of strikers because of his ability to spearhead Advocaat’s three-man attack, and one of the Dutchman’s greatest challenges will be to find an adequate replacement.
Whether he can or not, the Koreans will be looking for a winning start against Togo in Frankfurt. Next up are France, who may boast a squad with impressive talent but are not held in awe by Korea. The final group opponents, Switzerland, are viewed as a second-tier European nation whom the Koreans believe are beatable.
Anything more than reaching the second round would probably be too much to ask, but the Koreans are equipped well enough to show that the performances of four years ago were not just a result of having home advantage.
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