By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
South Korea's U-20 football team is seeking to repeat its predecessor's success by taking a semifinal berth at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Twenty four countries from six continents will dive into the global football event _ which has produced many big name players such as Luis Figo, Thiery Henry and Lionel Messi _ from June 30 to July 22 in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Victoria, Edmonton and Burnaby.
The South Korean squad has been drawn into the ``Group of Death'' Group D with defending champion Brazil, Eastern European power Poland and the 11-time World Cup qualifier United States.
It will take on the United States on the opening day, Brazil on July 4 and Poland on July 7. All games will be played in the Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
Four teams are divided into six groups and each pool's top two teams and four wild cards among third placers will advance to the 16-team second round.
South Korea has qualified for the 30-year-old competition, also known as the ``Mini World Cup,'' for the 10th time and has participated for the third straight time since 2003.
They have already set their goal on reaching the semifinals again.
In 1983 in Mexico, South Korean team, led by manager Park Jong-hwan, created a sensation in the world football stage by beating Mexico, Australia and Uruguay to advance into the semifinals.
They finished fourth after losing 1-2 to Poland in the third place match.
The Korean team does not have star players compared to former teams _ Middlesbrough forward Lee Dong-gook in 1999, Choi Sung-kuk of the Ulsan Tigers and Jung Jo-gook of FC Seoul in 2003 and FC Seoul midfielder Park Chu-young in 2005.
At the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Youth Championship in India last November, which decided qualifiers for the World Cup, it failed to win the championship for the third time in a row, finishing third.
However, the advantage of the young squad, led by manager Cho Dong-hyun, is that all members have talent enough to make the starting roster.
In the 21-player entry submitted to the FIFA, 15 play in the K-League, the same as the number of professional players in the 2003's team.
Most of them play key roles in their teams and other than leadership and international experience do not fall short of former teams.
Forward Shim Young-sung of Jeju United, introduced as Korea's star player in the World Cup official Web site, played 16 games in the K-League this season and has recorded three goals and one assist.
The 20-year old scored in a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic in Sunday's friendly match.
Another striker Ha Tae-goon took his spot in the star-studded Suwon BlueWings and has three goals and one assist in 12 matches.
Four FC Seoul midfielders Song Jin-hyung, Ki Sung-yueng, Kim Dong-suk and Lee Chung-yong have shown solid performances in the domestic league.
Midfielder Lee Sang-ho of the Ulsan Tigers and Chonbuk Motors' Choi Chul-soon, Lee Hyun-seung and Shin Young-rok, who has played in the World Cup for the second straight time are expected to help the Korean team to achieve its goal.
The young South Koreans defeated host Canada 2-0 Monday following a 1-0 over the Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, North Korea has also qualified for the youth World Cup for the first time.
The South and North fielded a united team in 1991 in Portugal and reached the quarterfinals but the North has no experience in the World Cup as a team in itself.
The North has a rough road in Group E with Panama, the Czech Republic and Argentina.
The North Korean team topped the AFC Youth Championship last year after 30 years.
Eighteen players from last year's winning team including the most valuable player forward Kim Kum-il, a candidate for the AFC rookie of the year last year, still remain in the team.