The first batch of players named to South Korean men's national football team reported to their training camp on Tuesday as they prepared to host five-time World Cup champion Brazil.
South Korea, ranked 58th, will host the world No. 8 Brazil at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Players from leagues in Europe, China and Japan were the first to join the camp set up at the National Football Center here in Paju, north of Seoul. They will later be joined by players based in the domestic K League Classic, after playing midweek matches.
South Korea will also face the 38th-ranked Mali next Tuesday in Cheonan, south of Seoul, though the showdown against Brazil is easily the marquee matchup of the month.
Brazil will bring most of its top guns, including FC Barcelona star Neymar and Chelsea stalwart Oscar.
At the London Olympics last year, Brazil defeated South Korea 3-0 in the semifinals and went on to capture the gold medal. The South Korean roster this week includes several members from that Olympic squad, including then captain Koo Ja-cheol.
The VfL Wolfsburg midfielder in Bundesliga said Tuesday he has already put that disappointing loss behind him.
"I've forgotten about the Olympics," he said. "I am more worried about how we should play if we meet a strong team like Brazil at the World Cup next year. We're all determined to show the strength of Korean football before home fans."
Sunderland's Ji Dong-won, the only natural striker named to the team, said he wants to play aggressive football against the favored South Americans, adding he hopes to make some big contribution on the offensive end.
Since Hong Myung-bo took over the national team bench in June, the team has scored six goals in six matches, but none by a front-line striker.
Midfielder Kim Bo-kyung of Cardiff City, who also played in the Olympics, said he expects a difficult contest, but he won't back down from the challenge.
"I try to watch and learn from Brazilian players, especially someone like Oscar," Kim said. "We had a disappointing result at the Olympics, but we will try to leave with fond memories this time."
Son Heung-min of the Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen didn't play in the Olympics, but said he was still raring to take on Brazil.
"I watched Brazil at the Olympics and the Confederations Cup (which Brazil won earlier this year), and they have really skilled players," Son noted. "We have to take care of business on both offense and defense."
South Korean defensive backs will likely have their hands full against Brazil, but veteran center back Kwak Tae-hwi said there is no guarantee Brazil will simply walk over South Korea.
"I think we can hold our ground," said Kwak, who plays for Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia. "Even when we give up a goal, we have to keep talking to each other on the field and never lose our concentration." (Yonhap News)
