Alternative South Korea World Cup Squad Preview

Written by James Beckett Thursday, 10 June 2010 20:25

England World Cup Blog

In 2002 South Korea stunned the world by reaching the semi finals of the World Cup. Eight years on, and after qualifying for their 7th straight tournament, they will be out to produce the same sort of performance again.

Under coach Huh Jung-Moo, South Korea qualified for the World Cup with relative ease, although in truth it would have been a disaster if they hadn't. But Jung-Moo guided his team to an unbeaten qualification, which included an impressive win in Saudi Arabia.


Jung-Moo has assembled a group of few star players, but the Red Devils certinaly aren't shy of work. The man most known to English fans will be Manchester United midfielder Ji-Sung Park, and we all know how hard he works.


Park is the talisman of the team and one of six European based players in the squad. Bolton midfielder Chung Yong Lee is another player who England fans may be aware off, after he caught the eye with a series of good displays in the Premier League. Yong Lee is one of the players who may prove a real threat to defenders with his good touch and vision.


Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yong has also made it in to the squad, despite only playing 10 times for the Hoops last season, but there isn't a place for Fulham striker Ki-Hyeon Seol. But South Korea do have Monaco striker Chu-Young Park who has 14 goals in his 38 caps to date, and he will be the man who Jung-Moo is banking on for goals.


Elsewhere there is little creativity in a side that came under criticism for their negative tactics, however it would appear that South Korean fans need to be a little more realistic in their aims. While they did so well in 2002, it must be remembered that they were the host nation, and this counts for a great deal. Apart from 2002, they have never made it beyond the group stages.


There warm up games suggest that this trend may continue in South Africa, with a disappointing build up been topped off with a defeat to Belarus. However they did narrowly lose to Spain, and have beaten the Ivory Coast in recent months, so maybe it would be unfair to say that they are out of form.


But in truth Jung-Moo faces a big ask to reach the Last 16. His squad has very little quality, and shouldn't pose too much of a threat to their Group B rivals. However if Ji Sung Park can play to his potential, who knows, maybe we will be left surprised once again.


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 Antlers), Cha Du-Ri (SC Freiburg), Cho Yong-Hyung (Jeju), Kang Min-Soo (Suwon);

Midfielders: Ki Sung-Yong (Celtic), Kim Bo-Kyung (Oita), Kim Nam-Il (Tom Tomsk), Kim Jae-Sung (Pohang), Kim Jung-Woo (Gwangju), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United);

Forwards: Park Chu-Young (AS Monaco), Ahn Jung-Hwan (Dalian Shide), Lee Seung-Ryul (Seoul), Yeom Ki-Hun (Suwon), Lee Dong-Guk (Jeonbuk) 

South Korea Squad Profile -Take One

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