World Cup Team Checks: South Korea
April 29, 2006
World Cup Qualifiers
South Korea got its World Cup ticket as second in Group A behind Saudi Arabia.
Stars
With midfield star Park Ji-Sung from Manchester United and left full-back Lee Young-Pyo from Tottenham Hotspur, two of the biggest Korean talents are on contract in Europe. The Frankfurt striker Du-Ri Cha is hoping to play during the World Cup.
Trainer
South Korea is Asia's most successful team at soccer World Cups. It has qualified seven times already. Despite the successful qualification for 2006, trainer Jo Bonfrere surprisingly stepped down due to strong criticism of the team's performance. His successor is his Dutch countryman Dick Advocaat.
World Cup History
South Korea is participating in the World Cup for the seventh time.
1954: Preliminary round, 1986: Preliminary round, 1990: Preliminary round, 1994: Preliminary round, 1998: Preliminary round, 2002: Fourth place
Match Schedule: Preliminary Round
June 13, 2006: South Korea -- Togo in Frankfurt
June 18, 2006: France -- South Korea in Leipzig
June 23, 2006: Switzerland -- South Korea in Hanover
World Cup Base
South Korea's international team will be staying at the Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg in Bergisch Gladbach during the World Cup.
Outlook
The South Koreans would like to continue where they left off in 2002. On their home turf four years ago, the team under trainer Guus Hiddink sparked a true soccer euphoria and was only stopped in the semi-finals by Germany. Realistically, Hiddink's successor Dick Advocaat will have a hard time repeating that success.