S. Korean football should not underestimate Fiji in Rio
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South Korean Olympic football team’s head coach Shin Tae-yong, left, arrives at Salvador-Deputado Luis Eduardo Magalhaes International Airport in Brazil, Sunday. The Korean Under-23 team led by Shin will have group matches against Fiji and Germany at Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador on Aug. 4 and 7, respectively. / Yonhap
By John Duerden
The next few days marks one of the most important periods in the South Korean football calendar with the Under-23 team about to start its quest for a medal at the upcoming Rio Olympics.
In 2012, the young Taegeuk Warriors took bronze at the London games to return home as heroes. This time the target is the same ― to get on that podium.
Coach Shin Tae-yong has to negotiate a group containing Germany, Mexico and opening game opponents Fiji on Aug. 4 (in the morning of Aug. 5, KST) to get into the last eight and then strike out for the semifinals.
Shin knows that his team needs to take all three points against the South Pacific islanders or getting out of the group is going to be very tough indeed.
Fiji should not be underestimated as this is the same group of players that went, as did Korea, to the 2015 Under-20 World Cup. There was a chastening opening game 8-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany and ended with a 3-0 loss to Uzbekistan but in between was a highly creditable victory over Honduras.
The team is coached by the former Australia boss Frank Farnia. The experienced tactician has also been in charge of Australian league team Brisbane Roar. Shin also had a short spell at the same Queensland club as both player and assistant coach after he eventually left Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma after 12 years with the team. Shin returned to Seongnam to lead the club to the 2010 Asian Champions League title.
Fiji’s star man in attack is Josefa Verevou. The 2015 Fiji Sportsman of the Year is big, strong and a real handful for any defender. The young Koreans will need to be alert. Whatever happens, it is all about getting the win and then preparing for the game against Germany three days later in the same Brazilian city of Salvador.
Germany, world champion, always presents a tough test even if there are opportunities for Korea. The Olympics are not an official FIFA-recognized tournament so European clubs are not obliged to release their players. The German team will not be full of stars as the European season is about to start and is actually appearing at the tournament for the first time since Seoul in 1988.
Then there is Mexico, the gold medal winners from 2012. They will be tough but even four years ago, the two teams met in the group stage. It ended goalless but it was a game that the Korean team could easily have ended up winning.
So there is no reason for the team to fear anyone. And there is no question of K-League Classic clubs not allowing their best young talent to go to Brazil. Fortunately for coach Shin, Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League have agreed to let Son Heung-min join the national team and there will be plenty of pressure on the attacker’s shoulders. FC Porto striker Suk Hyun-jun will lead the line (assuming he recovers from a recent injury) and captain Jang Hyun-soo will anchor midfield.
With young stars such as Kwon Chang-hoon and Moon Chang-jin there is enough talent to do well. With a little luck, the 2016 version could follow in the footsteps of the 2012 team. It would be another fine moment in Korea’s long football history.