Olympic Team Reloads for Syria
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
South Korea's under-23 football coach Park Sung-hwa has to feel fortunate about his team's bright start in the final rounds of Olympic qualifiers despite an ongoing injury crisis. After squeezing out tough victories against Uzbekistan and Bahrain, Park looks to rip off a streak and build a sizeable lead in Group B to increase his team's chances for a berth in Beijing.
Sunday's win against Bahrain _ which kept alive Korea's 15-year unbeaten streak in the final stage of Olympic qualification rounds _ was certainly a confidence booster as the team managed to escape with three points with a lineup severely compromised by injuries and suspensions.
Now with some of the star players returning from the sidelines, Park is circling Wednesday's match as a statement game, believing that Korea could finally flex their muscles and overwhelm underdogs Syria in front of the massive crimson tide at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Park announced his roster for the Syria match Monday and most notable in the return of Daegu FC midfielder Lee Keun-ho, who missed the Bahrain game serving a one-game suspension.
Lee, considered by some football pundits as the number one young player in Korea, built on his growing legend status with a spectacular second-half strike against Uzbekistan, would certainly provide plenty of width to the attack.
The 22-year-old attacker's return means that Kim Seung-yong would be allowed to move back to his natural position on the right flank. Despite playing out of his position, Kim, who assisted the winner against Bahrain, was clearly the team's best player Sunday as he tormented his opponents with his pace and distribution throughout the game.
And with starting left-back Choi Chul-soon also set to return from a suspension, Park suddenly has loads of ammunition on the flanks.
With so much strength on the wings _ as well as its lack of creativity in the central midfield positions _ Park is expected to draw his lineup under a 4-4-2 formation, especially with his confidence toward the central defensive duo of Kang Min-soo an Kim Jin-kyu who have provided a solid base in the past two games.
Facing a tough away fixture against Bahrain, Park ditched his usual 4-4-2 and packed the midfield with five players to strengthen defensive coverage and gain advantage in keeping possession. Against Syria, however, Park would be more focused on scoring goals.
Under a 4-4-2 formation, Lee and Seung-yong will be counted on to orchestrate the attack, with full-backs Choi and Kim Chang-soo allowed extensive freedom to assert themselves in the attack. Central midfielders Baek Ji-hoon and Ki Sung-yueng on the other hand would have heavy defensive assignments.
However, the striker positions remain the team's glaring weakness, which forces Park to improvise on a game-to-game basis. The absence of FC Seoul striker Park Chu-young, who is still limping with a mysterious foot injury he sustained in February, certainly hurts.
The lanky Shin Young-rok proved in the Bahrain match that his skills and physical abilities aren't suited in the role for lone striker. Coach Park would likely pair him with Han Dong-won, an undersized striker who provides speed and touch, and hope his frontline duo convert on their opportunities created from the flanks.