Korea will play every football match like it‘s final in Rio: coach

South Korea will play every match at the 2016 Olympic men's football tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, like it is their final one, the team's head coach said Tuesday.

At a press conference in Seoul marking the 100-day countdown to their first match in Rio, Shin Tae-yong said South Korea will seek to match the country's bronze medal-winning performance at the London Olympics four years ago. It was the country's first-ever medal in Olympic football.

"I will not say at this moment that we can collect a better result than what South Korea achieved at the London Olympics," Shin said. "But if we prepare thoroughly during the next 100 days, I think our team can get a result like what the country did in London."

In the men's Olympic football tournament, the 16 qualified nations have been divided into four groups of four and the top two nations from each group will qualify for the knockout stage. South Korea, which will make their eighth consecutive Olympic appearance, are paired with Mexico, Fiji and Germany in Group C. 

In Brazil, South Korea will first face Fiji at Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador on Aug. 4 before taking on Germany three days later at the same venue. South Korea will then travel to Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia for the final group match against Mexico on Aug. 10.

"From the first match against Fiji, we will go in with a mindset that every match is the tournament final," he said. "In football, if one thing goes wrong, elimination is just around the corner. We will not put our guard down until the end."

The Olympic tournament is open to players under 23, though countries are each allowed to select up to three older players as "wild cards" on their 18-man roster. Coach Shin has said one of the wild cards will be Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min, and will select the other two after having discussions with the senior national football team coach Uli Stilike and the Korea Football Association technical committee chief Lee Yong-soo.

However, Shin said he has yet to meet the two since arriving from Rio last Wednesday after attending the group draw ceremony and inspecting football stadiums.

"I will probably meet Stielike on May 5," he said. "We will come up with the best solution for each of us."

Shin, who is also assistant to Stielike on the senior football team, hinted that the two remaining wild card spots will be used to beef up defense. The 45-year-old coach said he has five candidates in mind, though he didn't reveal the names.

"Since our defenders are not playing competitive matches these days with their clubs, I'm thinking about reinforcing our defense line (with wild cards)," he said. "In major tournaments, you can't get a good result without having solid defense."

Shin added that he hopes wild card selections will be completed before the players are assembled on May 30 for friendly matches.

For South Korean male athletes, winning an Olympic medal not only brings honor but also an exemption from the mandatory military service. Footballers who haven't completed their military service have been considered top wild-card candidates because they will likely have extra motivation at the tournament.

Shin said he'd be lying if he said he hadn't thought about players' military status, but insisted that he will persuade even those who have completed their service to play hard for the team, if they're selected.

"Honestly, a handful of good players already got their military exemptions by winning the Asian Games gold or the bronze at the London Olympics," he said. "But it's the coach's job to bring in players who are willing to sacrifice themselves for this team."

Shin added that he's not concerned about the Zika virus in Brazil, which the World Health Organization has declared a "public health emergency." His team will depart for the South American nation on July 16.

Shin, former club coach who won the Asian Football Confederation Champions League with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunam, said he hopes professional teams will release their players early for the Olympic squad.

"I hope the K League office and the KFA will discuss this matter," he said. "I will be thankful if I can call up my players early, but I also understand the situation of each club." (Yonhap)