Coach: Shin Tae-yong
Star player: Son Heung-min
World Cup best: Fourth place, 2002
Unfortunately for them, things look even tougher this time around with champions Germany, Mexico and Sweden in their way.
Their presence at a ninth consecutive World Cup was in doubt during qualifying as a series of poor results, including defeats to China and Qatar, saw manager Uli Stielike replaced by Shin Tae-yong. There were not many signs of progress and they only qualified thanks to two goalless draws against Iran and Uzbekistan.
As if they were not under enough pressure, South Korea have only twice advanced from their group at a World Cup, something the demanding fans back home do not consider good enough. When they co-hosted the event with Japan in 2002 they reached the semi-finals, and in 2010 in South Africa they went out in the round of 16.
The recent warm-up games have seen a change in focus, with Shin looking to build his team around Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min. Son is by far the team’s biggest name and midfielders Kwon Chang-hoon and Lee Jae-sung will be the men tasked with providing him with the chances to score.
While Son is a guaranteed starter up front, Kim Seung-gyu is the No. 1 in goals but some impressive showings by Cho Hyun-woo have thrust him into contention.
A regular cast of Lee Yongk, Kim Min-woo and Kim Jin-su and Jang Hyun-soo do not have much competition for spots at the back but they are often undone by a lack of height lapses in defensive lapses.
Ki Sung-yeung, the captain, will be overseeing matters from central midfield, and either Han Kook-young or Park Joo-ho should line up alongside the Swansea player, with Lee Chang-min another candidate for a starting spot.
The 25-year old Son has 20 goals in 63 games for South Korea, and many think that return should be better, especially given his prolific form for Spurs. The problem is where and how to play him. He has been deployed on the left, as part of a pairing and as a lone striker. If, as expected, he plays alongside another frontman, one of Lee Keun-ho, Kim Shin-wook and Hwang Hee-chan should be his strike partner.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu, Kim Jin-hyeon, Cho Hyun-woo
Defenders: Kim young-gwon, Jang Hyun-soo, Jung Seung-hyun, Yun Yong-sun, Oh Ban-suk, Kim Min-woo, Park Joo-ho, Hong Chul, Go Yo-han, Lee Yong
Midfielders: Ki Sung-yueng, Jung Woo-young, Ju Se-jong, Koo Ja-cheol, Lee Jae-sung, Lee Seung-woo, Moon Seon-min
Forwards: Kim Shin-wook, Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan.
