Korea prepares for Portugal at U-20 World Cup

By John Duerden

If Korea loses to Portugal in the second-round match of the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Cheonan, Tuesday, there will be much debate about the game with England last Friday.

Going into that clash, Korea was top of Group A and already sure of progressing to the second stage. Coach Shin Tae-yong started with his two star players Lee Seung-woo and Paik Seung-ho, both of Barcelona, on the bench. He also used an experimental 3-5-2 formation.

England won 1-0 to leapfrog the host nation to first place.

“Our players did their best,” Shin said. “It’s a pity we couldn’t finish first in the group.”

The defeat came after impressive wins against Guinea and Argentina.

“Our players may look too excited, but on the field they are really serious,” he said. “Now I’m worried that they might feel discouraged from this defeat. I should tell my players that we are fine and we now just have to prepare for the next match.”

That is against Portugal. Had the young Taeguk Warriors avoided defeat on Friday, it would have been Costa Rica, but the Central Americans provide England’s opposition instead.

While it is always tough to say for sure, England will be happier. Both Costa Rica and Portugal finished on four points in Group C but Portugal is rated the tougher team. Costa Rica squeezed through by defeating Zambia 1-0 in the final game, helped by the fact the Africans were already through to the knockout stage.

Korea’s defenders will have to watch Benfica forward Diogo Goncalves, who has already scored twice in this competition, including a beautiful goal in the 2-1 win against Iran on Saturday that took the team to the second round.

The two teams know each other a little. Korea faced Portugal in a warm-up game in January. It ended 1-1 in Lisbon, with Cho Young-wook getting the goal.

If coach Shin overcomes the temptation to experiment again, and he will, then Korea has what it takes to win and progress to the last eight.

That would likely mean a meeting with South American champion Uruguay, one of the favorites for the title and which has yet to concede a goal in the tournament.

Korea won 2-0 when the teams met earlier this month in a warm-up, but this next more-serious encounter would be very different.

Again, it will not have escaped notice that England’s potential quarterfinal looks, on paper at least, to be easier.

But now is not the time to consider such things. Now is the time to forget the loss to England and focus on Portugal.

This is the knockout stage, with no second chances. Lose and you are out. One mistake -- a red card, a missed opportunity -- and it can be all over.

It is time for the likes of Lee Seung-woo and Paik Seung-ho to show they can shine on the big stage when the pressure is on.