Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Costa do Sauipe: Korea Republic head coach Hong Myong-bo has refuted suggestions that draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup has been relatively kind to this side after the Taeguek Warriors were pooled in Group H alongside Belgium, Russia and Algeria.
“People may think that it’s an easy group, but that’s not true,” said Hong, who was part of the Korea Republic side that reached the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
“We shouldn’t underestimate any of our opponents because they’re all strong teams that are capable of going through.”
The Koreans embark on their eighth consecutive World Cup campaign on June 17 when they face Russia having recently taken on the Europeans in a friendly last month.
Hong, however, feels that meeting in Dubai will not have a bearing on next year’s clash in Cuiaba saying:
“We played a friendly against Russia in November but we will have to study them again, as things have changed.”
Five days after facing Fabio Capello’s side at the Arena Pantanal Korea Republic travel to Porto Alegre to take on Algeria before renewing World Cup acquaintances with Belgium.
Korea’s June 26 match in Sao Paulo marks the third time they have faced Belgium in the finals, with the Europeans winning 2-0 in the group stage of Italia 90 courtesy of second-half goals from Marc de Grijse and Michel de Wolf before Yoo Sang-chul struck in the 71st minute to cancel out Luc Nillis’ seventh-minute opener as the two sides shared the spoils in the East Asians’ final fixture at the 1998 World Cup in France.
“Only good sides make it to the World Cup so we’ll not only have to keep an eye on Russia, but on Belgium and Algeria too,” stated Hong, who played the full 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes.
Photo: AFP