Debutants Togo Brace for 2002's Surprise Package South Korea
June 13, 2006
South Korea aim to show that their glory run to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals was neither a fluke nor FIFA-assisted with a repeat performance in Germany. They aim to do so by starting with a win over rudderless debutants Togo.
Conspiracy theorists and skeptics had a field day four years ago as legendary Dutch coach Guus Hiddink plotted the overthrow of Europe's soccer nobility.
South Korea beat Portugal, Italy and Spain on the way to the semi-finals where they were dumped by a Michael Ballack goal for eventual runners-up Germany.
The European aristocrats were hit by sending offs and disallowed goals leading to accusations that dark forces were at work to ease the host nations passage to the latter stages.
South Korea are back for their sixth straight World Cup with another Dutch believer in the philosophy of total football at the helm -- former Holland coach Dick Advocaat. Ten Seoul survivors from four years ago, including will o the wisp attacker Park Ji-Sung, who has added a new dimension to his game since joining Manchester United.
Five of the squad -- Park, Seol Ki-Hyeon, Ahn Jung-Hwan, Song Chung-Gug and Lee Eul-Yong -- have scored in the World Cup finals, a fact that will not have gone unnoticed by group opponents Togo, 1998 winners France and Switzerland.
A 3-1 loss to Ghana in their final warm-up match last Sunday had the vultures circling overhead. But the Koreans are determined that there will be no early feast for the scavengers.
Chaotic Togo camp plays into South Korea's hands
They have been emboldened by news that everything was not well in the Togo camp, with the ongoing bonus dispute leading to a temporary walkout by respected coach Otto Pfister. They sense the Sparrowhawks are ripe for the taking in the Group G opener in Frankfurt on Tuesday.
It is a must-win fixture for South Korea. Advocaat is planning an attacking line-up, with Song and Spurs Lee Young-Pyo deployed as wing backs, Park in the center of a three man midfield and wingers Lee Chun-Soo and Seol providing the ammunition for striker Ahn, who made the whole of Italy cry with his golden goal winner in the second round four years ago.
"When you come to a World Cup you want to progress as far as possible and that is what we (South Korea) want to do," said Advocaat, who is acutely aware that Korea have never won a World Cup finals match outside of their own country. "First goal is to go to the last 16 -- after that, anything is possible."
Semi-finalists in 2002 aim to prove it was no fluke
His players share that view, with the English Premiership duo of Park and Lee in upbeat mood.
"We have to show that 2002 was no fluke," said Park with Lee adding that "in every way, we are a better team than four years ago."
Park added that his fame could act as a magnet for Togo's defense, leaving room for his team-mates to exploit.
"We expect the Togo defense to concentrate on me because they have seen me play (for Manchester United)," he said. "This will give us an opportunity."
The walkout by the 68-year-old Pfister on Friday was the latest episode in a shambolic build up for Togo's first ever finals and many of their supporters fear a World Cup of woe.
They lost all three games and failed to score a single goal in the African Nations Cup in Egypt earlier this year and the campaign was further soured by bitter squabbling between star striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who plays his club football for Arsenal, and coach Stephen Keshi.
The much-admired Keshi was fired after the tournament and German Pfister was called in to replace him.
Pfister bails leaving Togo rudderless ahead of first game
Pfister grew tired of the wrangling over players' bonuses which has disrupted training since the squad arrived in Germany and his walkout led to Kodjovi Mawuena being put in charge of preparations for the match with South Korea. But Pfister on Monday reportedly agreed to come back to the team.
Adebayor claimed that the chaos surrounding the team's preparations would not put Togo off their stride.
"It has always been like that in Togo," said Adebayor, who scored 10 goals in the Sparrowhawks qualifying campaign. "We have to be professional -- we are hungry and want to have a good tournament."