South Korea banking on Swiss caution

BONN, June 20 (Reuters) South Korea are staking their World Cup survival on Switzerland's conservative nature in Friday's crunch Group G game.

The Swiss only need a point to reach the second round thanks to a better goal difference than South Korea, who must win to guarantee their progress to the knockout phase after holding France to a 1-1 draw at the weekend.

If the Koreans fail to beat Switzerland and France overcome already eliminated Togo by at least two goals, the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists would go out. They will, though, win the group if they beat the Swiss.

South Korea's players are wisely ignoring all the dizzying permutations and concentrating on taking three points against Switzerland in Hanover.

''Switzerland's win (by 2-0 over Togo) makes it a simple equation,'' striker Cho Jae-jin told reporters today. ''We know we need to beat them to go through.

''The Swiss might relax a little bit, thinking they just need a draw. It could give us a chance to put them under some pressure if they show signs of letting up.'' Tranquillo Barnetta's 88th-minute second goal for Switzerland against Togo prompted groans among South Korea's players watching the game on television.

''It would have been nice if Switzerland had only won 1-0,'' said Cho, who set up Park Ji-sung's late equaliser against France. ''But if we play to our strengths we should be able to beat them.'' Park, hugely influential in South Korea's 2-1 victory over Togo in their Group G opener, called on his team mates to summon the spirit of 2002 and their storming run to the last four.

''There's is no reason why we can't finish top of the group,'' said the Manchester United forward. ''If we play like we did in 2002 who knows what can happen?'' REUTERS AY VV1751