South Korea unlikely to repeat World Cup fantasy

SEOUL, May 26: South Korea will be taking part in their sixth successive World Cup finals in June, but even their most die-hard fan would be hard pressed to expect a repeat of their fairytale foray into the semi-finals on home soil in 2002.

Automatic qualifiers as co-hosts four years ago, South Korea rode a wave of passionate home support into the last four, the best ever achievement by an Asian side.

Reality was quick to bite after the finals.

The Koreans appeared burdened by expectation in a disappointing 2006 qualifying campaign that shattered the team's confidence and led to the departure of two unconvincing managers.

Both Portuguese Humberto Coelho and Dutchman Jo Bonfrere were hounded from the job by a highly critical media and fans expecting the same brand of free-flowing football that took the perennial first-round casualties to the semi-finals under Guus Hiddink, the Dutchman now in charge of Australia.

The return of Hiddink to the Netherlands as coach of PSV Eindhoven and the retirement of inspirational captain Hong Myung-bo and talismanic striker Hwang Sun-hong did little to dampen fans' expectations for similar success in 2006.

In September, Korea entrusted their World Cup fortunes to another Dutchman, Dick Advocaat, hoping the former Netherlands manager would bring much-needed stability and discipline to a talented but inexperienced young squad.

South Korea have impressed under Advocaat's guidance, racking up wins against powerful opposition such as Serbia, Croatia, Iran and Mexico, but doing well in Germany will require finding another gear.

While Park Ji-sung of Manchester United and Lee Young-pyo of Tottenham Hotspur bring experience and a dash of world-class talent to the mix, the bulk of the squad comprises youngsters plying their trade in a comparatively dull domestic league. management at just 32 in the lower reaches of the Dutch league.

Elevated only four years later to assistant coach of the Dutch national team under Rinus Michels, the architect of Total Football, Advocaat has gone on to become one of the most respected managers in world soccer.

He is unlikely to remain as Korea coach after 2006 and could make his way to England's Premier League.

The Dutchman, who took the Netherlands to the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup and the semi-finals of Euro 2004, has also won club titles at club level with PSV Eindhoven and Glasgow Rangers.

REUTERS