[Asian Regional Final Qualifier - Group B]
8 Matches 6 Wins 1 Loss 1 Tie (19 Points)
| 9/6/97 | Vs. Kazakhstan | Win | 3-0 |
| 9/12/97 | Vs. Uzbekistan | Win | 2-1 |
| 9/28/97 | Vs. Japan | Win | 1-2 |
| 10/4/97 | Vs. UAE | Win | 3-0 |
| 10/11/97 | Vs. Kazakhstan | Draw | 1-1 |
| 10/18/97 | Vs. Uzbekistan | Win | 1-5 |
| 11/1/97 | Vs. Japan | Lose | 0-2 |
| 11/9/97 | Vs. UAE | Win | 1-3 |
| Offense |
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Defense |
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| Organization |
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Experience |
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| Talent |
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Capacity to surprise |
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After passing through the Asian qualifiers, the formation of the South Korean team just did not proceed the way the South Koreans had hoped and at one point the continued tenure of coach Cha itself was on the line, but with the victory over Japan in April, the direction for the South Koreans is changing for the better. Moreover, in the match against the Japanese the injured combination of Hyang Sung-Hon and Kim Do-Hoon was returned, so there was a complete lineup of bright elements for the main tournament. For South Korea, in its fifth World Cup, the main target is to mark up the one win that South Korea has not been able to achieve in its past four appearances and to advance to the championship tournament. The key to this is the South Korea man-to-man defense. Coach Cha's strategy is to take the absolute maximum advantage of this South Korean characteristic.
Kim Byung-Ji is the goalkeeper and key player Hong Myung-Bo is the libero. The double stoppers, who hold the key to the man-to-man defense are Yonil Cho and Kim Tae-Young. The reserves Lee Sang-Yoon and Lee Min-Sung are just as good. The cross balls from the speedy breakthroughs of the two sides Choi Sung-Yong and Ha Seok-Ju are the largest weapons for the South Koreans. In midfield, Kim Do-Hoon mentioned earlier is in the center with Lee Sang-Yoon on the right. On the left is Seo Jung-Won, who plays in the French league, and the young Ko Jong-Soo and the defensive-minded Yoo Sang-Chul are available as reserves, so the South Koreans have a well-stocked lineup. The front line has the veteran Hyang Sung-Hon and Choi Yong-Soo, who played a leading role in the South Koreans making it through the qualifiers. Both are attackers with the speed required for counter attacks.
*KOREA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
[Address]
- 110-39, Kyeonji-Dong,
- Chongro-ku, Seoul
[Established] 1928
*Fifth World Cup
(1954, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998) |
HONG Myung-Bo
* DF
The main pillar of the South Korea is reaching complete maturity and aiming for a first World Cup victory in France.
On a South Korean national team that features power and speed, Hong Myung-Bo is quite a different type. With his precision covering, accurate judgment of conditions, accurate feeds, and overlapping from flexible dribbling, he has such a multiplicity of skills that he can even handle the role of volante. It is safe to say that Myung-Bo Hong is the presence holding up the strength of the South Korean national team. Having entered the national team when he was young, this World Cup in France will be his third World Cup, following on the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, but he is still looking for his first match victory in the World Cup. His play at the World Cup in the United States made his name better known around the world, but to really reach world class, he wants to win at least one match.
CHA Bum-Kun
During his playing career, he played in the German Bundesliga for nine years, recording 98 goals in 308 matches. He started with Darmstadt and played for Frankfurt and Leverkusen, where he experienced a UEFA Cup championship. He participated in the 1986 World Cup and is the "greatest player in the history of South Korean soccer". In his coaching career, he served as technical director for Hyundai from 1991 to 1995 and took over as the coach of the national team from January 1997. He is aggressively utilizing younger players and his coaching is characterized by careful, cautious leadership.
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