Our team-by-team coverage of the 32 World Cup qualifiers finally comes to its conclusion with a look at South Korea. Hong Myung-Bo’s side open their campaign against Russia on June 17 at 11pm before a couple of contrasting fixtures – five days later they play outsiders Algeria at 8pm before squaring up to group favourites Belgium at 9pm on Thursday June 26:
Road to Qualification
South Korea finished top of a four-team group that also included Lebanon, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. Winning four and drawing one of their six fixtures, they scored 14 times and conceded four goals and clinched a spot in the final qualifying AFC group along with Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Lebanon. After winning four and drawing a couple of their subsequent eight games, they finished second and qualified automatically for Brazil 2014 on goal difference alone – scoring 13 goals and conceding on seven occasions, they mustered just two clean sheets to suggest they may struggle to keep out high-calibre opponents this time around.
Most Starts Jung Sung-ryeong (8), Kwak Tae-hwi, Lee Keun-ho (7), Ki Sung-yong, Kim Bo-kyung, Lee Dong-gook (5) Kim Shin-wook, Lee Chung-yong (4)
Most Goals Lee Keun-ho (3), Kwak Tae-hwi, Kim Bo-kyung (2)
The Key Targets
What’s worth noting is that Myung-bo only took the helm last July, so results during qualifying are not a reflection of the team under his guidance. Since the new manager’s installation, though, South Korea have played 12 friendlies with fairly limited success – five wins and six losses, 14 goals for and 16 against, with just a single clean sheet over that run (in the first match against Peru) is not too convincing.
Set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Koreans tend to favour a quick counter-attacking approach under Myung-bo. On the flank, the full-backs push up and offer support to the wingers, who look to get in behind opposition defences and seek out late runs from central midfield.
At the back, two of the likely defence are Bundesliga-based for the roles in front of keeper Jung Sung-Ryeong . Augsburg’s Hong Jeong-ho (who sets you back 4.7 in FantasyiTeam) played 16 times in the German top-flight last term and should partner Kim Young-gwon or Kwaj Tae-hwi in the heart of defence, whilst on the left, Mainz’s Park Joo-hoo (4.4 in FantasyiTeam) has turned in some strong displays at club level and is likely to get the nod ahead of Kim Jin-soo, with Lee Yong on the opposite flank.
Providing he’s fully-fit after suffering a knee injury on loan at Sunderland, Swansea’s Ki Sung-yeung is likely to be partnered by a ball-winner such as Park Jung-woo in the double-pivot. Available for only 4.8 in FantasyiTeam, the former’s distribution from deep and penchant for a long shot could boost his points potential and ensures he’s essential to his manager’s plans. On the right, Bolton’s Lee Chung-yong (5.0 in FantasyiTeam) seems a certain starter, whilst another European-based winger, Son Heung-min of Bayer Leverkusen, will take up the opposite flank. Aged just 21, the latter scored 10 times in last term’s Bundesliga campaign and can be snapped up for 5.3 in FantasyiTeam.
The role in “the hole” looks set to be taken by Mainz’Koo Ja-cheol, who was captain of the 2012 Olympic side under Myung-bo. He struggled for form and fitness last term and started just eight league matches in the German top-flight and his Fantasy prospects dented further by the fact he is classified as a forward (priced at 6.1) in the in FantasyiTeam game. Up front, the new manager has turned to Park Chu-young in recent matches despite the Arsenal man’s failure to start a single league match in 2013/14. Having scored in a recent friendly win over Greece in March, he can be acquired for 6.5 in FantasyiTeam.
The Long Shots
Available for 6.3 in FantasyiTeam, Kim Shin-Wook is likely to be “Plan B” late on in games. Standing six foot five, the introduction of his height up front is usually the catalyst for plenty of high balls into the box, with the possibility of Myung-bo even moving to a two-man frontline if needs require a more offensive game plan.
Further Analysis
Group A – Brazil,Cameroon, Croatia, Mexico
Group B – Australia, Chile, Holland, Spain
Group C – Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group D – Costa Rica, England, Italy, Uruguay
Group E – Ecuador, France, Honduras, Switzerland
Group F –Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria,
Group G – Germany, Ghana, Portugal, USA
Group H – Algeria, Belgium, Russia
Fantasy iTeam
Fantasy Football Scout is supporting Fantasy iTeam, a free World Cup game available on a number of mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch and Android. There’s a £5000 holiday to be won for the overall winner and a £500 voucher available for the winner of our official Fantasy Football Scout League.
Click here for details and here to sign up.
Our League name is Fantasy Football Scout and the pin is 4915.
Relevant Community Articles
Scouting South Korea by FortunesAlwaysHiding, Fantasy World Cup Early Options by Bowstring the Trout, The World Cup – The Players by the Sarjeant, World Cup Qualifiers – Goals Scored and Conceded by Blue Lion.
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