A MUST-WIN MATCH FOR KOREA, GHANA
South Korea coach Bento feels no pressure ahead of Ghana match
THIS appears to be a must-win game for South Korea and Ghana if they are to have any realistic hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the competition, but that may only add to the pressure. Ghana was defeated by Portugal in a five-goal thriller in their Group H opener, while South Korea’s first game was a goalless draw with
Uruguay.
But this showdown looks more likely to be a tense affair like South Korea’s curtain-raiser than littered with entertainment reminiscent of Ghana’s gung-ho game with the Portuguese. Head coach Paulo Bento will be hoping that Napoli defender Min-Jae Kim will be fit in time for the game, but 12 clean sheets in their last 19 international matches demonstrates their dominance.
Stopping a Uruguayan attack led by Luis Suarez, Darwin Nunez, and Edinson Cavani is no easy task, and Ghana lacks the same quality, relying primarily on Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams, who has yet to score for his country, and promising Ajax youngster Mohammed Kudus. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the Portuguese Bento said: “I said earlier I do not feel any pressure, I never did and never will.” “During the first game, we had a chance of at least ensuring a third-place finish. In the second game, we will keep this opportunity... we will enter the field with a focus on a win. “I don’t feel any pressure whatsoever. I would love the players to feel the way I do, but I know they come from a different culture... We will have a difficult game but we are able to do well.” After a miserable showing at the Cup of Nations this year, when they were dumped out in the group stage with only one point, Ghana are hoping for a better performance in Qatar. “We have great and utmost respect for a great team in Ghana and the players
I don’t feel any pressure whatsoever. I would love the players to feel the way I do, but I know they come from a different culture... We will have a difficult game but we are able to do well. We have great and utmost respect for a great team in Ghana and the players who compete at a very high level
who compete at a very high level,” Bento said of Otto Addo’s side.
“For our strategy, we have to try to be ourselves. We are very well aware of the skills and how good Ghana are, this will be a match where in some moments we will have the capacity to control the game.
“They have skilled players from a technical standpoint and they are also very quick in attack. We want to control the game, and also the moments when they are in attack.”
Despite their defensive tenacity, the Taegeuk Warriors were unable to maximise their attacking talents and failed to force a single save from Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
Heung Min-Son is South Korea’s chief creator, but he was frequently isolated on the wing against the Uruguayans, and you get the sense that if they are to succeed, it is on him to deliver.