Son Heung-min is part of a new wave of players aiming to enhance South Korea’s status at the World Cup, no longer content with merely being Asia’s most successful performer on football’s biggest stage.
The South Koreans have progressed past the group stage in two of the last three World Cups, reaching the semi-finals as co-host in 2002 and the last 16 in 2010.
Approaching their eighth consecutive appearance at the World Cup, South Korea boast a young squad full of players with European experience and led by a young and popular coach in Hong Myong-bo.
Hong has good credentials. He was captain of the 2002 team that reached the semi-finals, prompting millions of chanting fans to flood into downtown streets to watch the team’s progress on giant screens. As a coach, Hong took his country to the quarter-finals of the Under-20 World Cup in 2009 and to a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics.
The World Cup presents the biggest test yet for 45-year-old former defender. In Group H, South Korea will face Russia, Algeria and Belgium.
“Every game at the World Cup is difficult, every team is a strong team, but we believe in ourselves and our ability,” Hong said. “This is a young team but we also have lots of experience in competitions around the world and who play in the best leagues of Europe and Asia. We believe in ourselves and each other.”
Hong took over as head coach last July after South Korea struggled through qualification under Choi Kang-hee. Criticiaed for unimaginative and predictable football, the team qualified for Brazil by the narrowest of margins amid claims of disunity among the players.
Choi had always planned to step down after qualification and, as expected, Hong was appointed on a two-year contract. While Choi seemed to struggle to deal with the team’s Europe-based stars and preferred K-League players, Hong’s squad in a friendly against Greece in March was stacked with foreign-based players.
The result was an impressive 2-0 win over the Greeks in Athens, with Son Heung-min and Park Chu-young scoring spectacular goals.
Much depends on such stars. Son is one of the brightest young talents in Germany and moved to Bayer Leverkusen in the off-season after three promising seasons with Hamburg. Koo Ja-cheol, Hong Jeong-ho, Park Joo-ho and Ji Dong-won are also active in the Bundesliga.
Ki Sung-yueng and Kim Bo-kyung play in the Premier League while Park Chu-young is on loan from Arsenal.
Under Hong, South Korea have tried to play a fast, counter-attacking style. And while the team have options going forward, even though former Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung recently declined the opportunity to return from international retirement, there are issues at the back.
The South Koreans are vulnerable from set pieces and still uncertain over the top goalkeeper with Jung Sung-Ryong struggling for form. If the defence can stay solid, South Korea has the attacking talent to trouble Group H opponents and perhaps others in the knockout stage.
“The first game is so important,” Hong said. “If we win that, we have a high chance of getting to the next round. But in tournaments, you never know what is going to happen and you always need a little luck.”
With plenty of European-based talent, South Korea hasve players with top-level experience and the quality to makes things happen on the field.
Chief among them may be Son Heung-min, the Bayer Leverkusen forward who can change games with his pace and shooting.
Other standouts include Sunderland playmaker Ki Sung-Yeung and Kim Young-gwon, a 24-year-old defender who is likely to be South Korea’s next big export to Europe.
Here are five players to watch:
Son Heung-min – Potentially South Korea's game-changer, forward Son Heung-min is ready to prove himself at the World Cup after making his name in the Bundesliga.
Transferred to Bayer Leverkusen last July after three seasons at Hamburg, the 21-year-old Son has not been consistently excellent for his new team but when he has played well, he’s played very well.
Son is a striker who likes to use his pace to sprint past defenders from deep and then shoot from distance. He tends to score in streaks. And if he can get into groove in Brazil, South Korea will possess a powerful weapon.
Not always used well in the past for the national team, Son has started to find his form under coach Hong Myong-bo.
Ki Sung-yueng – Sunderland playmaker Ki Sung-yueng controls the tempo of the South Korean team, and after an impressive season for his club he is now regarded as one of the best passers in the Premier League.
Still only 25 but with 56 international appearances, Ki is approaching his peak and rarely gives the ball away.
The issue for South Korea coach Hong Myong-bo is whether to keep Ki deep, where he is a valuable outlet for defenders, or push him up the field where his passing can unlock backlines.
Kim Young-gwon – Marcello Lippi declared in 2013 that central defender Kim Young-gwon was good enough to play for Manchester United, one of the highest compliments that could be paid to a young Asian prospect.
Kim has been a star since joining Chinese team Guangzhou Evergrande in 2012, helping them to the 2013 Asian Champions League title.
Physically strong, good in the air and on the ground, the 24-year-old Kim occasionally is caught napping but is improving all the time and expected to be playing in Europe very soon.
Jung Sung-Ryong – The goalkeeping position is a worry for South Korea coach Hong Myong-bo, but 2010 custodian Jung Sung-ryung is likely to start ahead of Kim Seung-gyu.
Much depends on how Jung turns up.
The keeper during Seongnam’s run to the 2010 Asian Champions League title seemed unbeatable, but any repeat of the clumsy performances of the second half of the 2013 K-League season could result in South Korea heading home early.
Park Chu-young – Arsenal striker Park Chu-young has only played seven minutes in the Premier League since joining the English club in August 2011 and is now on loan to second-division club Watford as he bids to stay in shape.
Inactivity at Arsenal cost Park his international place, but before the move to London he was one of Asia’s top strikers.
Now back in the team, Park scored from a fierce half-volley against Greece in March.
Clever and technically excellent, Park leads the line well and links up with the team’s talented attackers.
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