South Korea head to Russia with only one player widely known globally, Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur. Many will be familiar with Spurs’ dynamic attacker and while he will be central to Korea’s efforts in the World cup, their chances of progressing from Group F will depend on how some of his lesser-known teammates perform on the game’s biggest stage.
Korea have suffered injuries to some key players and have had difficulty settling on the best system to use in their efforts to survive group matches against Sweden, Mexico and Germany. Organisation and getting the best out of their gifted midfield players will be crucial to their chances of success.
Korea’s lack of an out-and-out goal-scorer means that the performance of their more attacking midfield players will be key, as will protecting an error-prone defence that struggles for clean sheets.
Lee Jae-sung (Midfielder, 25, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors:)
Twenty-five-year old Lee Jae-sung, an attacking midfielder for Korean champions Jeonbuk, has been linked with various English clubs in the past. Comfortable operating centrally or in wide areas, Lee has downplayed talk of a move abroad in the past, focussing on areas of his game that he feels he needs to improve.
Lee is a dynamic attacking midfielder who is of crucial importance to his club. Widely considered among the very best players in Asia, he has an eye for goal and is adept at picking out passes in tight spaces.
Lee, K-League 2017’s Most Valuable Player, has already collected three championship-winners’ medals in his homeland as well as the Asian Champions League in 2016 and a good showing in Russia may finally bring about a move abroad that many feel is over-due.
Lee Seung-woo (Midfielder, 20, Hellonas Verona:)
Now 20, Lee came to the attention of FC Barcelona as a child and went on to spend six years in the Catalan giants’ youth system. He left Barcelona in the summer of 2017 for Hellas Verona in a bid to find first-team football. However, all has not gone according to plan and Lee’s new side were relegated from Serie A after finishing the 2017-18 season in nineteenth place.
Having performed impressively for South Korea at under-17 and under-20 levels, including in last year’s under-20 World Cup on home soil, Lee has recently been given a chance in the senior team and performed well in the recent friendly victory over Honduras.
While his career is still finding its feet, Lee has undoubted promise and may well attract attention in Russia this summer.
Ki Sung-yueng (Midfielder, 29, Unattached:)
In a side low on confidence and hit by injuries the influence of the captain, Ki Sung-yueng, will be of huge importance. Ki has a wealth of experience and has won silverware in both Scottish and English football with Celtic and Swansea respectively. He is a veteran of Korea’s 2010 and 2014 World Cup appearances as well as their run to the final of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
His career has not been without controversy and he has at times attracted criticism for perceived hot-headedness in his dealings with coaches and supporters, but he is a vital component of the side with his eye for a pass and his ability to change the tempo of a game.
It is not yet clear how Ki will be used in Russia. Despite being slightly vulnerable defensively, he may be deployed in a deep role to help the side retain possession. However, coach Shin Tae-yong may choose to use Ki in a more advanced position to take advantage of his passing ability and create chances for others breaking from midfield.
South Korea
2018 World Cup
