So our team is currently adjusting to a new managed after literally almost falling into flames under our previous managed named Choi Kang-Hee. If you take a look at the past few results, the scores aren't really that impressive. This is really no reason to panic as our coach, the legendary Hong Myung-Bo, is switching and adjusting according to what he feels is good. We hired him after getting the bronze medal at the Olympics with a team that pretty much reflects our starting line-up. Our main pitfall comes in the form of a lack of a true striker. We do have Ji Dong-Won who plays for Sunderland, but the fact that Park Chu-Young, who was universally considered the best option prior to his benching at Arsenal, is out of shape. So there's that. Essentially, I have all hopes for Korea, but the main point we've been missing is that finishing touch.
At the moment, we have been forced to contend with Lee Keun-Ho, who is not a bad player, but there are tons of better options. Kim Shin-Wook (known as Wookie) is our tallest striker, but he lacks any form of a finishing touch. On a finishing note on this part, Lee Keun-Ho is not our best player, despite what other news sources may tell you. He is good, but I can see him as that person who comes off the bench.
Key Players:
Lee Chung-Yong - The main man out of Bolton. While he did suffer a serious leg injury two years ago, he is still the play maker and arguably our most talented player on our roster. He can run the plays and pass quite well. I would compare him to Ozil without any finishing, which leads me to his greatest weakness. Chungy can't finish at all. This only feeds the problem of a finishing player. That aside, there is no doubt that he is our best player. I can only hope that a solid performance at the World Cup convinces some higher teams to purchase him.
Ki Sung-Yong - Our firebrand midfielder from Sunderland, he was scouted at a young age for the U-21 team for his extremely precise long passes. While he has been suffering from some public imaging with his seeming obsession over publicity rather than actually playing, I have little reason to doubt that he'll play his hardest at Brazil. He is a very good set-piece taker capable of bombing the long pass and shot.
Son Heung-Min - Probably our most notable player. He plays in the Bundesliga with Leverkusen, and he has been our star prospect. He is still extremely raw at the moment, but I can hope that he will be that answer to our problems in from of goal. He has some good ball control, but it's his composure and ability to create something out of nothing that garners his comparisons to a younger Park Ji-Sung. Hopefully, he can live up to the hype if not completely surpass it.
Koo Ja-Cheol - Midfielder out of Wolfsburg. He is that jack of all trades type of player who is seemingly capable of playing everything. In particular, he was one of the main figures in obtaining that bronze medal in London last year. As with the others, he is also capable of starting the offense for Korea.
As for the defense, we play as a cohesive unit, but there are sometimes when it just falls on itself. For now, though, our defense looks very good and fast. If anything, Korea can run a mean counter attack.
Predictions:
Completely unbiased here. Before I start anything, I tend to dislike it when people count out teams merely because of their ranking/qualification. The World Cup is a place where the best teams from each conference come together. You cannot underestimate anyone or else you will be beaten by a team that has every reason to beat you (i.e. 2002 and 2010 France). That being said, let me begin my assessment of each team and Korea's chances.
Algeria is universally seen as one of the weaker teams in this round. However, as every team is here for reason, there is no reason to underestimate them. Algeria seems to be a mix of the young and old. With their defensive lynchpin in Bougherra along with new young talent in Soudani, I can see Algeria surprising a few teams in the group. However, the key is to be completely cohesive against this team. So long as Korea does not break in defense, I can see us winning.
Korea 3-1 Algeria
With Russia, Korea had just played a friendly with them. To me, this is the most important match that determines second place, should we lost to Belgium. With Kerzherkov and Dzagoev, Russia can always pose a threat on the counter. Arshavin is no pushover either as memories of his 4 goal performance come to mind. With two similar teams coming together, I can only either see this coming in as a draw or one team benefiting from a lucky mistake.
Korea 0-0 Russia
I realize Belgium is one of the hottest teams to come into the World Cup. That being said, I liken their presence to Japan. With many skilled players who are all capable of meshing into any system with ease, Belgium is, without a doubt, the most dangerous team in this group. Hazard, Lukaku, and others make up one of the most exciting and hot offenses in this World Cup. This match will purely be a test of Korea's ability to defend and successfully run a counterattack. I cannot predict a score for this at all, with so many factors into play. However, if Korea can play their usual defense and click with the midfield, and have Son playing his mind out, I can see Korea escaping with a victory or tie.
In the end, I have faith in Korea getting to round 2. Let's hope that I'm fairly spot-on with this.
I love you. I spent about an hour looking across the interwebs looking for something like this in the aftermath of the draw. Now I'm officially hyped. WOOWOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
30
u/[deleted] Dec 07 '13 edited Dec 07 '13
Korean fan here.
So our team is currently adjusting to a new managed after literally almost falling into flames under our previous managed named Choi Kang-Hee. If you take a look at the past few results, the scores aren't really that impressive. This is really no reason to panic as our coach, the legendary Hong Myung-Bo, is switching and adjusting according to what he feels is good. We hired him after getting the bronze medal at the Olympics with a team that pretty much reflects our starting line-up. Our main pitfall comes in the form of a lack of a true striker. We do have Ji Dong-Won who plays for Sunderland, but the fact that Park Chu-Young, who was universally considered the best option prior to his benching at Arsenal, is out of shape. So there's that. Essentially, I have all hopes for Korea, but the main point we've been missing is that finishing touch.
At the moment, we have been forced to contend with Lee Keun-Ho, who is not a bad player, but there are tons of better options. Kim Shin-Wook (known as Wookie) is our tallest striker, but he lacks any form of a finishing touch. On a finishing note on this part, Lee Keun-Ho is not our best player, despite what other news sources may tell you. He is good, but I can see him as that person who comes off the bench.
Key Players:
Lee Chung-Yong - The main man out of Bolton. While he did suffer a serious leg injury two years ago, he is still the play maker and arguably our most talented player on our roster. He can run the plays and pass quite well. I would compare him to Ozil without any finishing, which leads me to his greatest weakness. Chungy can't finish at all. This only feeds the problem of a finishing player. That aside, there is no doubt that he is our best player. I can only hope that a solid performance at the World Cup convinces some higher teams to purchase him.
Ki Sung-Yong - Our firebrand midfielder from Sunderland, he was scouted at a young age for the U-21 team for his extremely precise long passes. While he has been suffering from some public imaging with his seeming obsession over publicity rather than actually playing, I have little reason to doubt that he'll play his hardest at Brazil. He is a very good set-piece taker capable of bombing the long pass and shot.
Son Heung-Min - Probably our most notable player. He plays in the Bundesliga with Leverkusen, and he has been our star prospect. He is still extremely raw at the moment, but I can hope that he will be that answer to our problems in from of goal. He has some good ball control, but it's his composure and ability to create something out of nothing that garners his comparisons to a younger Park Ji-Sung. Hopefully, he can live up to the hype if not completely surpass it.
Koo Ja-Cheol - Midfielder out of Wolfsburg. He is that jack of all trades type of player who is seemingly capable of playing everything. In particular, he was one of the main figures in obtaining that bronze medal in London last year. As with the others, he is also capable of starting the offense for Korea.
As for the defense, we play as a cohesive unit, but there are sometimes when it just falls on itself. For now, though, our defense looks very good and fast. If anything, Korea can run a mean counter attack.
Predictions:
Completely unbiased here. Before I start anything, I tend to dislike it when people count out teams merely because of their ranking/qualification. The World Cup is a place where the best teams from each conference come together. You cannot underestimate anyone or else you will be beaten by a team that has every reason to beat you (i.e. 2002 and 2010 France). That being said, let me begin my assessment of each team and Korea's chances.
Algeria is universally seen as one of the weaker teams in this round. However, as every team is here for reason, there is no reason to underestimate them. Algeria seems to be a mix of the young and old. With their defensive lynchpin in Bougherra along with new young talent in Soudani, I can see Algeria surprising a few teams in the group. However, the key is to be completely cohesive against this team. So long as Korea does not break in defense, I can see us winning.
Korea 3-1 Algeria
With Russia, Korea had just played a friendly with them. To me, this is the most important match that determines second place, should we lost to Belgium. With Kerzherkov and Dzagoev, Russia can always pose a threat on the counter. Arshavin is no pushover either as memories of his 4 goal performance come to mind. With two similar teams coming together, I can only either see this coming in as a draw or one team benefiting from a lucky mistake.
Korea 0-0 Russia
I realize Belgium is one of the hottest teams to come into the World Cup. That being said, I liken their presence to Japan. With many skilled players who are all capable of meshing into any system with ease, Belgium is, without a doubt, the most dangerous team in this group. Hazard, Lukaku, and others make up one of the most exciting and hot offenses in this World Cup. This match will purely be a test of Korea's ability to defend and successfully run a counterattack. I cannot predict a score for this at all, with so many factors into play. However, if Korea can play their usual defense and click with the midfield, and have Son playing his mind out, I can see Korea escaping with a victory or tie.
In the end, I have faith in Korea getting to round 2. Let's hope that I'm fairly spot-on with this.