S. Korea Footballers Face Make-or-Break Match with Nigeria

South Korea's World Cup squad is set for a final group-stage match with Nigeria, which will determine whether the Asians achieve their long-sought goal of advancing to the top 16-round for the first time in overseas tournaments.

The team led by Huh Jung-moo is set to square off against the Nigerian "Super Eagles" at the Durban Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday in the South African port city of Durban in their third and final Group B match.

The team started its World Cup campaign with a clean 2-0 victory over Greece on June 12, but crashed 4-1 to Argentina in their second match in Johannesburg on Thursday. The hope to advance to the next stage remains alive.

Placing second in the Group B standing over Greece on goal difference, South Korea must beat Nigeria in its final match to clinch a ticket to the second round. Greece will take on Argentina at the same time.

"Our players have prepared two and a half years for the goal of reaching the top 16," Huh said at a press conference on the eve of the match. "The final match awaits us as a last destination. I believe in my players and we will do our best to achieve good results."

Since their first trip to the World Cup in 1954 in Switzerland, South Korea has made it to the second round only once, in 2002, when they played at home.

The team has never made it to the second round of the World Cup finals in away games, although they have played in six consecutive World Cup tournaments, from 1986 in Mexico to 2006 in Germany.

South Korea is ranked 47th among FIFA members, lower than Nigeria at 21st, but it has so far a two-win, one-draw history with the African nation.

On Tuesday's match, Huh is expected to employ a 4-4-2 formation, with Park Chu-young and Yeom Ki-hun as starting frontline attackers.

Captain and Premiere Leaguer Park Ji-sung and Lee Chung-yong will serve as left and right wingers, respectively, with Kim Jung-woo and Ki Sung-yueng filling in the midfield.

Veteran defenders Lee Young-pyo and Cha Du-ri are expected to hold the left and right defense posts, respectively, and Lee Jung-soo and Cho Yong-hyung will be placed as center fullbacks. Jung Sung-ryong will make his third return as starting goalie.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni will likely lead the Nigerian offense and Peter Odemwingie is expected to place as right winger, taking the place of Sani Kaita, who was given a red card in the Nigeria-Greece match.

Kalu Uche will most likely maintain his position as left winger, while the midfield zone is predicted to be controlled by Lukman Haruna and Dickson Etuhu.

Danny Shittu, Joseph Yobo and Chidi Odiah looks certain to hold the Nigerian defense line. Whether Taye Taiwo, who was nursing a thigh injury, will appear was unclear, and Rabiu Afolabi could begin as starting defender in his position. Vincent Enyeama is expected to return as starting goal keeper.

[e-mail]
[아주경제 ajnews.co.kr] 무단전재 배포금지