Korea Republic

The Korean Republic is one of two Korea's taking part in this years World Cup, but unlike their neighbours across the 39th parallel, South Korea will foster realistic hopes of reaching the last 16 for the second time in a decade.

Qualification for the finals is almost a certainty every four years. The Republic have played in the last six installments and this will be their eight in total. They went through qualifying unbeaten this time around, coming through a group containing Saudi Arabia and North Korea, arguable the weaker of the two final qualifying groups, but a win in the Arabian gulf was the first of the Saudi's in 19 years.   

Football has enjoyed a huge growth spurt in the southern half of the Korean peninsula over the past ten years. The formation of the K-League in 1998 and the success of the Red Devils in the 2002 World Cup on home soil have aided that developement. Guus Hiddink set a new standard in Asian football, but his long term legacy has proved to be unrealistic expectations. Korea's showing in 2006 was a big step backwards: three games, one draw, two defeats, two goals. Not exactly the fairytale adventure of four years previous. 

2010 may yield more of the same, but the inconsistencies of their three group opponents is cause for hope. Currently ranked at 47 in the world, they are the weakest in that regard, but a repeat of the high energy performances of 2002 could make a difference to the outcome of Group B.

SCHEDULE- Group B

Greece       June 12th- Port Elizabeth

Argentina   June 17th- Johannesburg

Nigeria       June 22nd- Durban

The task in front of Korea is daunting yet not insurmountable. Argentina are by far the favourites for the group and to win all three of their games, but Greece and Nigeria will represent point scoring opportunities. One feels that points will need to be on the board after that first encounter, with Greece, if they are to have any chance of getting through. The odds are stacked against the Asian team but their effort and commitment will not be questionied, whatever the outcome.

KEY PLAYERS

Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung is a superstar in Seoul. He is the epitomisation of a Korean footballer: fit as a flee, a team player and commited to his team's cause. Endeavour cannot be faulted. The team captain will need to be all this and more in June.

Joining Park in midfield will be Lee Chung-Wong of Bolton Wanderer's. In his first season in Engand he has become a creative influence on the Bolton team, playing 34 times. A huge amount of game time for a 21 year oll Asian playing his first season in Europe.

The majority of the squad selected by Huh Jung-Moo ply their trade in their home land, or else the J-League in Japan, but that isn't to say their isn't plenty of European experience. Park Chu-Young has had two decent seasons with Monaco. Veteran defender Lee Young-Pyo spent a chunk of his career with Totteham before returning to Asia. Lee Dong-Gook also spent time in England, but it was an unsuccessful period with Middlesbrough.

ONE TO WATCH- Lee Chung-Wong

BEST CASE SCENARIO...

The peak of Korean expectations should be a place in the second round. Achieving that would be almost on a par with 2002's semi final appearence. Escaping the group stage away from home would be steady development for Korean football.

WORST CASE SCENARIO...

A further step backward will not be greeted well at home. Asian football surely needs any team to progress but that seems unlikely this year.

PREDICTION

Bottom of the group following their three games, but unlikely to lose all three. In their seven visits to the World Cup, that has only happened twice, in 1954 and 1990.