SOUTH KOREA

Appearances: 10 Best finish:

Fourth place: 2002

Manager: Shin Tae-yong Star player: Son Heung-min

South Korea were slated back home after a poor 2014 campaign saw them return with a solitary point from three matches against Russia, Algeria and Belgium. Their presence at a ninth straight World Cup was in doubt during qualifying as a series of poor results saw manager Uli Stielike replaced by Shin Tae-yong. There were not many signs of progress and they only qualified thanks to two goalless draws against Iran and Uzbekistan.

As if they were not under enough pressure, South Korea have only twice advanced from their group at a World Cup, something the fans back home do not consider good enough. When they cohosted the event with Japan in 2002, they reached the semi-finals and, in 2010, in South Africa they went out in the round of 16. The recent warm-up games have seen a change in focus, with Shin looking to build his team around Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min. Son is by far the team’s biggest name and midfielders Kwon Chang-hoon and Lee Jae-sung will be the men tasked with providing him with the chances to score. Kim Seung-gyu is the No. 1 in goal but some impressive showings by Cho Hyun-woo have thrust him into contention. The regular cast of Lee Yongk, Kim Min-woo and Kim Jin-su and Jang Hyun-soo don’t have much competition for spots. Captain Ki Sung-yeung, who plays for Swansea, will be overseeing matters from central midfield.

The 25-year old Son has 20 goals in 63 games for South Korea. The problem is where and how to play him. He has been deployed on the left, as part of a pairing and as a lone striker. If, as expected, he plays alongside another frontman, one of Lee Keun-ho, Kim Shin-wook and Hwang Hee-chan should be his strike partner.

The recent warm-up games have seen a change in focus, with Shin looking to build his team around Spurs striker Son Heung-min. Midfielders Kwon Chang-hoon and Lee Jae-sung will be the men tasked with providing him with the chances to score.