World Cup

World Cup 2018 – Team Analysis – South Korea

There are very few World Cup Fantasy assets on offer in South Korea’s squad.

No player scored more than twice in the final round of Asian qualifying and clean sheets have been very hard to come by in the last year.

Nevertheless, we’ve still got everything you need to know about Shin Tae-yong’s side.

ROAD TO QUALIFICATION

Not much is expected from South Korea as they head into a tough World Cup group on the back of a difficult qualification campaign. Furthermore, there are lots of problems with their team that still need solving, defence one of their greatest concerns as it is still susceptible to pace and set-pieces.

Perhaps Korea’s biggest problem is their inability to perform when away from home. During qualifying, under previous manager Uli Stielike, they mustered just two points on their travels. Displays have improved slightly now that Shin Tae-yong is at the helm, especially in a 2-1 win against Colombia and a 1-1 draw with Serbia in November. After making progress in those results, Korea then lost to Northern Ireland and Poland due to some lapse defending, although they did look good going forward. However, Shin’s side looked very poor in a 3-1 defeat to Bosnia and a 0-0 draw with Bolivia in their two World Cup warm-up games.

Coach Shin has admitted that he has struggled to work out how exactly to balance training players who train in Europe with those play in their own continent. Key players like Ki Sung-yeung and Koo Ja-cheol have finished their respective campaigns in the Premier League and Bundesliga while much of the squad are still in the middle of their seasons and are in a different state of mind.

Also counting against the Asians is that Kwon Chang-hoon, seen as one of the most promising and dangerous attacking talents in Korea injured his achilles tendon in the final match of the 2017/18 Ligue 1 season with Dijon and has been ruled out.
Ultimately, South Korea’s success at the World Cup may come down to whether or not Shin can get the best out of Son Heung-min. The Spurs midfielder has been a wide-man most of his career but his standout quality has seen his national managers shift him to a centre-forward position. He has performed well in that position but there are concerns, even from his manager, that he may be burned out come the opener with Sweden on June 18.

AFC QUALIFYING THIRD ROUND

Most starts: Jang Hyun-soo (10), Ki Sung-yeung, Son Seung-min (both 8), Ji Dong-won, Koo Ja-cheol (both 7).

Most goals: Ki Sung-yeung, Koo Ja-cheol (both 2).

Most assists: Ji Dong-won (2).

THE KEY TARGETS

Son Heung-min (£8.0m on McDonalds World Cup Fantasy) will have to replicate his explosive club form at the World Cup if he is going to be worthy of Fantasy investment this month. The Tottenham Hotspur man scored just once in the third and final round of Asian qualifying but has found the net three times in six friendly starts since, assisting once too. Son is capable of being a match-winner for his country bagging a brace in a 2-1 win over Colombia back in November. His quality is obvious too as he racked up 12 goals and eight assists in another strong campaign with Spurs.

Coming into the frame more in recent friendlies is Jeonbuk Motors striker Kim Shin-wook (£7.0m), who has scored four times in four starts. Known affectionately as ‘The Wookie’, the 6ft 6 forward is traditionally seen as the plan B but he has been most effective at his job.

Captain Ki Sung-yeung (£6.5m) is a hugely important player for South Korea and is worth having on your Fantasy radar. He was the joint top-scorer in qualifying for the Asian outfit and is usually ever-present, injury permitting. The Swansea City man made eight starts from a possible 10 as South Korea booked their place in Russia. Since qualification finished he has only featured form the beginning in five matches but is believed to be crucial to Shin’s World Cup plans.

AREAS TO AVOID

South Korea’s defence is a dangerous to invest in for World Cup Fantasy, not only was there a huge amount of rotation in that area of the pitch during qualifying, Shin’s outfit conceded 19 goals in 12 friendlies since October. Jang Hyun-soo (£5.0m) was the only ever-present in the third round of AFC fixtures and has only just returned to the side following an injury lay-off.

Further Analysis

Our comprehensive World Cup guide can be found here.

Group A Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group BIran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain

Group CAustralia, Peru, France, Denmark

Group DArgentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

Group EBrazil, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Serbia

Group FMexico, Germany, Sweden, South Korea

Group GBelgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

Group HSenegal, Japan, Poland, Colombia

Our editor’s Fantasy World Cup tips as told to Proper Sport

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. We have an official Fantasy Football Scout League open to UK users only, with a £1000 of Amazon vouchers to give out, split between the top three performers. There’s also the small matter of £10k worth of prizes available in the main competitions: Overall World Championship and Manager of the Gameround.

Click here for details and here to sign up.

Our League name is Fantasy Football Scout and the pin is 1887.

Please note, users must be over 18 and based in the UK to join our league.

377 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Only decent games in a WC are the SFs - discuss.

    1. Essan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Interesting. Maybe QFs though? You can set a team for the first 2 semis and then WC for the second 2?

      1. Essan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        first 2 quarters ....

        But only 3 transfers before the QF. 5 before the SF.

        I need to consider this as had been working in GW2 WC

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          reread his post

          1. Essan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Or is Jafooli confusing me here - the only decent games in a World Cup are the Semi Finals ....

            See how easy it is to confuse us poor Englishmen ..... 😛

            I think I need more wine 😀

        2. Essan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          idiot ... you have to play the WC before the round.

          But with only 3 FTs for the QT that might be a good time for a WC?

          1. rocrocodile
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Reread his post - again.

            1. Essan
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              stop ganging up on me ..... I am English and of very little brain 😛

              (I got it (I think) in the end) 😉

              1. Jafooli
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 9 months ago

                My brain is smaller 😎

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Actually I meant QFs 😀

      Last eight teams always seems to be a good battle and great games...

  2. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    What is the best squad for people who are playong their bench boost at gameweek 1 ?
    How to spread money to have good 15 players and drop big hitters?
    Maybe a hot topic will be needed soon

  3. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Liverpool fans on twitter now claiming Fekir never was any good to begin with.

    1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      They probably feel like they are the victims again

  4. el polako
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    The whole transfer was fekir news.

  5. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Is Hakimi decent 4.5 m Morocco defender option to have in round 1 v Iran?

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Pretty obviously yes.

  6. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Never thought there was going to be a day where Paulinho and Shaqiri are priced higher than Iniesta in a fantasy game.

  7. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    The strongest team in the WC having 4.5 defender playing is?

    1. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      columbia

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Columbia aren't in the World Cup.

        1. Jambot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Epic Fail

        2. Norman Conquest
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          sorry was thinking of cumbria

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Morocco (Hakimi)
      Columbia (Mojica)
      Denmark (Dalsgaard)
      Uruguay (Varela- if fit)

  8. rocrocodile
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Me and some friends are organizing a DIY draft based on the scoring of the McDonalds game. We select a squad of 15, and will not be able to do substitutions during the MD - we pick 11, and fare with them. There's just six of us, so there will be plenty of stars for each.

    Which players would be your top priority among the 8-10 best?
    Do you have any tips for a dark horse who could be a steal in an early-to-mid round?

    1. Binimini
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      The game you are describing pretty much already exists at draftfantasy.com. It’s almost the same scoring as mcdonalds, and with no substitutions mid gw, so you could check that out to make it easier on yourselves.

      As far as your question, I would love other peoples input on this as well. So far my own list looks something like this:

      Neymar
      Messi
      Müller (mid)
      Werner
      Jesus
      Lukaku
      D. Silva (mid)
      Ronaldo
      Kane

      It’s still a work in progress. It’s very important to note that in a draft, players who play for teams who are likely to go far have significantly higher value than otherwise.

    2. Binimini
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Having that in mind, I might even have to bump down Messi a few spots on my list

    3. Binimini
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I forgot Griezmann in there, he would be #4 I guess

  9. NEW POST
  10. Prøfeßör …
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    "A Kvist long throw causes all sorts of problems for Mexico at the back..."

    That's the 4.5 mid sorted. 😎

    1. Binimini
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Denmark is playing what looks to be their strongest 11 against Mexico indicating that Kvist will start in the WC, but apart from long throw ins, he has almost zero chance of assists or goals. He is always very defensive and has often been ridiculed by the fans for his refusal to ever play a forward pass (I’m danish)

      1. Niemi
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Hareide loves him. He's not nailed on for Copenhagen anymore, but he still is for Denmark.

        1. Prøfeßör …
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Would you say he's the pick of the 4.5 bunch (not expecting you to know this but I'm guessing you've seen him play)?

      2. Prøfeßör …
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks, very useful.

  11. DantheManinaPan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Bloody hell the Sun Dream Team version is so lenient! I made a first draft, full of players I wanted without any fodder at all, and still have £10.5million left in the bank!!!

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Tailored to suit Sun readers.

  12. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Messi or Neymar?

  13. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    If funds didn’t matter, which 3 would you choose?

    A) Messi
    B) Neymar
    C) Griezmann
    D) Lukaku
    E) Cavani
    F) Werner

    1. Binimini
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Definately B and definately not E. Probably A B C

    2. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      A B D

  14. funny money
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    1st draft - Mcdonalds

    Navas/uzuho
    granqvist/godin/trauco/hegazy/dalsgaard
    kvist/carrasco/mueller/paulinho/sanchez
    ronaldo/messi/Jesus

    Would really appreciate it if anyone let me know of anything glaringly wrong.

    Thanks!