Prospects
South Korea stunned the world with its 2002 run - by far its best performance at a World Cup - but it is unlikely to come close to repeating the feat in South Africa. Led by Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung, South Korea is a solid outfit which is extremely hard to break down and concedes very few goals. However, this team lacks the striking firepower that sparked its success eight years ago, which could prove to be its undoing in South Africa. Alongside Argentina, Nigeria and Greece in Group B, South Korea certainly has a chance of progressing but will have to be at its best to do so.
History
In 1954, Korea Republic (South Korea) became the first team to represent Asia at the FIFA World Cup, but it wasn’t until 1986 when the next appearance took place. In their most successful tournament to date - Korea/Japan 2002 - the South Koreans beat Portugal 1-0 to reach the second round and went on to defeat Italy and Spain to advance to the semifinals, losing 1-0 to Germany. But their journey to Germany four years later came to an abrupt end, as the Taeguk Warriors made an early exit from the group stage.
| Korea Republic - Qualifying Path |
| Date |
Opp |
Result |
| 2/11/2009 |
@ Iran |
D 1 - 1 |
| 4/1/2009 |
vs. Korea DPR |
W 1 - 0 |
| 6/6/2009 |
@ United Arab Emirates |
W 2 - 0 |
| 6/10/2009 |
vs. Saudi Arabia |
D 0 - 0 |
| 6/17/2009 |
vs. Iran |
D 1 - 1 |
| 2/6/2008 |
vs. Turkmenistan |
W 4 - 0 |
| 3/26/2008 |
@ Korea DPR |
D 0 - 0 |
| 5/31/2008 |
vs. Jordan |
D 2 - 2 |
| 6/7/2008 |
@ Jordan |
W 1 - 0 |
| 6/14/2008 |
@ Turkmenistan |
W 3 - 1 |
| 6/22/2008 |
vs. Korea DPR |
D 0 - 0 |
| 9/10/2008 |
@ Korea DPR |
D 1 - 1 |
| 10/15/2008 |
vs. United Arab Emirates |
W 4 - 1 |
| 11/19/2008 |
@ Saudi Arabia |
W 2 - 0 |
| Record: 7-7-0 |
|
Qualification
South Korea qualified comfortably for its seventh consecutive World Cup by topping both qualification groups, not losing a game and conceding just seven goals in 14 matches. The Red Devils were twice held to a draw by neighbor and fellow qualifier North Korea in the third stage of Asian qualifying, but they still managed to top the group on goal difference to ensure top-seed status for the final round of qualifying. Once again, South Korea faced its neighbor, but after a draw away from home, a 1-0 win in Seoul put Huh Jung-Moo’s side in control of Group B and it would finish at the top with four points to spare.
| Korea Republic - History |
| Year |
Rounds |
MP |
W |
D |
L | GF |
GA |
| 2006 |
Group Stage |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
| 2002 |
Semifinal |
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
| 1998 |
Group Stage |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
| 1994 |
Group Stage |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
| 1990 |
Group Stage |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
| 1986 |
Group Stage |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
| 1954 |
Group Stage |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
16 |
|
![[see more]](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/graphics/specialreports/css/images/arrrow-more-dark-blue.gif){kind=small}
© 2013 by STATS LLC.