South Korea World Cup 2006 Team Profile

World Cup Match Tickets

John Duerden

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One thing can't be disputed - South Korea are easily the most successful World Cup nation in Asia; when the Taeguk Warriors take the field against Togo in Frankfurt on June 13 it will be their seventh successive appearance on the global stage - the next best Saudi Arabia are only on their fourth.

Another fact - South Korea have gone further in the competition than any other Asian nation - the semi-finals. Few inside or outside the country will forget the incredible scenes of 2002, the joy, the drama, the shock wins against Portugal, Italy and Spain and the general redness.

What has been and will continue to be argued for the next few months at least is that Guus Hiddink's boys didn't deserve to be a match away from the final of the World Cup, they were, at best, lucky or at worst beneficiaries of a global footballing conspiracy - to get the hosts into the latter stages.

Portugal were reduced to nine men, Totti was shown the same colour-card in the second-round and Spain had two goals disallowed in the quarter-finals - such incidents seemed fairly innocent taken in isolation but in the eyes of some, especially ones that had just seen stars fall out the competition, it was collective evidence that FIFA wanted South Korea to reach the final.

Such accusations took the sting out of the happiness of Koreans, if only slightly. Still, there is a general desire to prove that 2002 was no fluke and that South Korea can dine at the top table in Germany too. It won't be easy, the team had never tasted victory in five previous overseas World Cups.

The party had gone a little flat by the time that Humberto Coelho and Jo Bonfrere had left the Land of the Morning Calm, both muttering darkly about lack of time with the players after tenures that lasted barely twelve months.

The coaches left having secured qualification for the World Cup - the former coach of Portugal took the first faltering steps on the road to Germany while Nigeria's ex-boss elbowed him aside to complete the journey.

However, Bonfrere wasn't allowed to enjoy the fruits of his labours and 'resigned' in August 2005, leaving the preparation work for an energetic Dick Advocaat.

The Dutchman set about revitalizing the team that had perhaps become complacent and unmotivated after facing the likes of Maldives, Oman and Vietnam.

The back-line of 2002 had retired from international football, taking their experience with them but Advocaat, supported by 2002 coaches, Pim Verbeek and Afshin Ghotbi, quickly recalled veteran Choi Jin-cheul to look after a defence that had concentration issues.

Another 2002 star Lee Eul-yong had been in enforced international retirement and regarded as too slow for international football by Bonfrere.

Perhaps more important than the return of faces from 2002 was the re-introduction of the fast, aggressive and pressure game that impressed four years ago. Friendly results since Advocaat arrived have been pretty good while performances have been impressive.

The team attacked such opponents as Sweden, Serbia, Croatia and Mexico - World Cup opponents that at times couldn't live with the speedy running and aggression of the determined Taeguk Warriors.

Naturally, things will be different in the World Cup and that is the real challenge that the nation faces.

Star Players

Park Ji-sung

The beating heart of the South Korean team is by nature a quiet chap but his actions really do speak louder than words as his energy and running provide the example that the team follows.

A steady, if unspectacular, first season at Manchester United will stand the star in good stead; the only problem is where to play him.

Lee Chun-soo

After his unsuccessful Spanish sojourn, Lee returned to the K-League and Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I with a new attitude and an array of talents. His goals and assists helped the Tigers to a first title for nine years and won him the K-League MVP award, despite only playing in the second half of the season.

World Cup Squad

Bet on the World Cup

Goalkeepers Lee Woon-Jae (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Yong-Dae (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Young-Kwang (Chunnam Dragons)
Defenders Lee Young-Pyo (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Kim Dong-Jin (FC Seoul), Cho Won-Hee (Suwon Bluewings), Song Chong-Gug (Suwon Bluewings), Choi Jin-Cheul (Chonbuk Motors), Kim Jin-Kyu (Jubilo Iwata, Japan), Kim Young-Chul (Seongnam Ilwha)
Midfielders Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United, England), Kim Do-Heon (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Sang-Shik (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Nam-Il (Suwon Bluewings), Lee Eul-Yong (Trabzonspor), Lee Ho (Ulsan Tigers), Baek Ji-Hoon (FC Seoul)
Strikers Ahn Jung-Hwan (MSV Duisburg, Germany), Cho Jae-Jin (Shimizu S-Pulse, Japan), Park Chu-Young (FC Seoul), Seol Ki-Hyeon (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Lee Chun-Soo (Ulsan Tigers), Chung Kyung-Ho (Gwangju Sangmu)

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