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Korea Republic - Team Profile
30/03/2006
It's hard to imagine any European side or indeed any South American side being 300/1 to win the Fifa World Cup having qualified for the last five tournaments and having reached the semi-finals in 2002 but that is how the bookies rate the chances of South Korea.
Coached by Guus Hiddink in that last home-soil tournament, another Dutchman is in charge for this year's assault. Former Glasgow Rangers manager Dick Advoccat has taken the reins and his previous international experience should serve his team well. With more European-based players this time round, only Ahn Jung-hwan and Seol Ki-hyeon played abroad in the 2002 squad, and the national K-league improving all the time South Korea have an excellent chance to reach the same stage as last time.
Lee Woon Jae will hope to retain the goalkeeper's jersey he wore so well in 2002 with Kim Young Kwang in reserve. Lee Young-pyo has been performing well for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premiership and he looks the star of the defence. Choi Jin-cheul and Song Chong-Gug both have experience and will be battling it out for starting places with the younger players Kim Dong-Jin and Kim Young-Chul.
The star midfielder is Manchester United's Park Ji-sung whose performances last season for PSV encouraged Alex Ferguson to sign the 22-year-old. Not always a certain starter at Old Trafford his form will be key to Korea's chances. Ahn Jung-hwan plays in Germany for Driusberg and his experience will be an advantage to the squad. Kim Nam Il is an experienced holding midfield player and should make the starting line up.
Scoring has always been a problem for South Korean strikers exacerbated by the prevalence of Brazilian strikers in the K-League. Seol Ki-hyeon has had limited opportunities for Wolves this year in the English Championship. He will face competition from Cho Jae-Jin, Choi Tae-uk, Chung Kyung-ho and Park Chu-young.