S. Korea's Olympic berth looking bright

Moon Chang-jin celebrates after scoring Korea’s third goal in a friendly against Algeria in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The national team won 3-0. / Yonhap

Olympic team

defeats Algeria 3-0,

following 2-0 win

By John Duerden

Anything the senior national team of South Korea can do, the Olympic 11 can do too. With Uli Stielike’s men progressing smoothly to the final round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup, Shin Tae-yong and his preparations for the U-23 tournament are also going quite nicely.

On Monday, in the northern city of Goyang, South Korea defeated Algeria 3-0, following a 2-0 win over the same team three days earlier.

It was a comfortable victory against decent opposition but everyone knows the hard work comes in August when the Rio tournament kicks off. Talking of Rio, coach Shin, who is also an assistant to Stielike with the national team, will be heading to Brazil in mid-April. A draw will be made for the tournament and it could be very interesting indeed.

The format is as clear as the skies above Copacabana Beach. The 16 teams will start the tournament, divided into four groups of four. The top two will progress to the knockout stage and then it’s anyone’s guess.

Korea will be hoping to avoid hosts Brazil as well as Argentina and Uruguay who will be tougher than usual on their home continent. Overall though, there is no reason to fear anyone. The Reds finished third at the 2012 games, taking bronze in an epic match against Japan and earning military exemptions for a new generation of players.

That is the target this time too and it is no surprise then that Korea takes the tournament more seriously than many nations, especially in Europe. Clubs are not required to release their best players for the Olympics but Korean teams certainly will and it is to be hoped that those based overseas will also be able to make it.

Much attention will be on Son Heung-min. Each coach is allowed to take three “wild cards,” players who are over 23. Son was not summoned for the recent senior games in the hope that Tottenham Hotspur will be happy to let the attacker go to Brazil in August. It remains to be seen if the English club plays ball.

There are other options however as Korea has just shown against Algeria. Moon Chang-jin, who has impressed for the team in the past and was a standout in January’s Asian U-23 championships when the team finished as runner-up, scored twice in the latest 3-0 win against Algeria.

“There is nothing more to say about Moon Chang-jin,” Shin said after the game. “If he performs like this after he returns to his club, I think he will make a big impact at the Olympics.”

The player himself, who also received praise from the Algerian coach, was keeping his feet on the ground though admitted that he enjoyed himself under Shin, who started with three men in defense, Monday, a change from four, Friday.

There were a few individual mistakes and it will be useful for the team to go on the road to face some tougher opposition but for the moment, South Korea’s U-23 players look to be moving in the right direction under Shin. There is offensive talent, a variety of styles available and a coach with plenty of experience who knows his players well.

Much will depend on the draw. All eyes will be turned to Brazil on April 14.