Korea convinced of victory against Laos in qualifier
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By John Duerden
There are not many easy games in football anymore but to put it bluntly, South Korea is going to defeat Laos on Thursday. The question is how many goals the Taegeuk Warriors will score in their second 2018 World Cup qualifier in the second round of 2018 World Cup qualification.
The host is ranked 56 in the world by FIFA, the visitor at 177 but the gap is even greater than this suggests. The Lao league is basically amateur, there are only a handful of stadiums in the country and facilities are lacking.
Steve Darby is the technical director of the Laos FA but such is the lack of funds at the federation, he is doubling up as head coach. The Englishman has years of experience in Asia but knows that this is going to be one of his biggest tests of his career.
“All you can do for such a game is to prepare as best you can and do everything within your power and budget,” Darby told The Korea Times. “You have to keep all the negative aspects quiet and talk only positives to staff and players.”
Nobody wants to scare the players. They are going to be facing English Premier League stars such as Ki Sung-yueng, Lee Chung-yong, new Tottenham Hotspur signing Son Heung-min and Park Joo-ho who has just moved to German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund.
Laos is not going to come out all guns blazing. The visitor will be looking to keep the defense packed and the score line down according to Darby. “It would be naive to go out attacking as although it may get you a goal you will be hammered if you give the Koreans time and space. You have to avoid as much as possible all one on one situations and get two against one in your favor when you can and you have to squeeze their space.”
“We hope one that one of our players gets an offer from a K-League club, it would mean so much to the game here in Laos. We also hope we don't lose by a big score as it sets the whole football system back. We have to get a respectable score.”
For South Korea coach Uli Stielike, it is not just about Thursday at Hwaseong, not far from Suwon, but also the much tougher trip to Lebanon five days later. All that matters about Laos is the three points. After winning 2-0 against Myanmar in June, playing Laos should be an easy way to chalk up another victory.
There were few surprises in the roster named by Stielike. Suk Hyun-jun has been recalled for the first time since 2014. The 24 year-old striker has been in fine form in Portugal. If he can start against Laos, he is sure to get the chance to score a goal or two and this could be a great chance for him to stake his claim for a regular spot. Sometimes it is all about timing.
For Korea, it is all about getting three points against Laos and against Lebanon to ensure it is on nine points from the first three games. Then comes the toughest test in October against Kuwait. Only the top team is certain of a place in the final round of qualification. That is where Korea wants to be. No slip-ups against Laos.