Points, performance needed in match against Syria

By John Duerden

Here we go again. Qualification for the 2022 World Cup continues on Thursday as Syria comes to Ansan. This match will be game three of the 10 in the final round, with the top two from the six-team group booking a place in Qatar in November next year. To put it simply, anything less than a win for South Korea will be an issue, because five days later, the team goes to Tehran to take on Iran, officially Asia's best team at the moment, ranked 22 in the world.

This round started in September with a 0-0 draw against Iraq and a 1-0 win over Lebanon. Neither performance was impressive, and there was frustration that the maximum of six points was not collected, especially because both games were at home. Had the Taeguk Warriors reached that bar, then defeating Syria would have put the team at nine points and looking very good indeed.

That is in the past, and the game against Iran ― a team that Korea hasn't defeated in seven meetings ― is in the future. This week, it is all about Syria, a team that has coped with plenty of adversity over the years and is an opponent that should not be underestimated. After all, Syria finished top of its group easily in the second round, above China.

In qualification for the 2018 World Cup, Syria and Korea met twice. The first game ended 0-0 in their meeting in Malaysia (due to security reasons, Syria can't play games at home). In Seoul, Korea struggled to a 1-0 win. It is likely to be a tough meeting again.

So far, Syria has one point. Its opening game ended in a 1-0 defeat in Iran. Despite missing a number of players through injury, Syria did enough to earn a draw. Five days later, the team tied 1-1 against the United Arab Emirates.

There is no doubt that Syria will, like Iraq and Lebanon, come to Korea with a plan to defend deep and in numbers. It could be another frustrating evening, but there is danger too. Star striker Omar Al Somah has returned to the team, and he has the potential to cause problems if he is fit enough.

Korea, of course, has stars of its own, but the team has yet to click. Son Heung-min looked frustrated against Iraq and then missed the Lebanon game due to injury. Against Syria, fans will want to see signs of improvement, as well as three points. Hwang Hee-chan will arrive back home full of confidence after scoring two goals in the English Premier League the previous weekend.

Coach Paulo Bento wants the three points first and foremost, otherwise the growing criticism will get louder. "What we should do is focus on our way of playing and respect the opponents, and try to improve certain aspects that we didn't do so well in some moments of earlier games," Bento said last week when naming the roster. "We'll try to improve our way of attacking the opponents, create more chances to score than in the first two games, and keep within the same behavior in the defensive process."

It sounds simple, but anything less than three points against Syria and the pressure really will be on.