SOUTH KOREA: It's my party and I'll play if I want to... badly it would seem. After the first round the host nation will be merely an onlooker at it's own event, writes Paul Doyle

A South Korean would have to be an outrageously-optimistic old soul to believe his country has any chance of winning a match at the World Cup. For so long the best side in Asia, indeed it was primarily on that basis they were chosen as co-hosts, South Korea have gone into decline just at the wrong time.

Though they’ve never won a match in any of their five appearances in the finals, they have turned in some commendable displays, such as when they drew 2-2 with Spain in ’94 and Belgium in ’98. This year has seen them chalk up a couple of friendly wins which would be very impressive if they didn’t come against the two nations most notorious for not even trying in such matches (Croatia and Nigeria). When they came up against sides who actually cared, such as the Czech Republic and Senegal, they were walloped.

The country’s most touted talent is Jung Hwan Ahn (right), who two seasons ago seemed on the verge of soaring past Hidetoshi Nakata and Ali Daei as Asia’s most prestigious footballers. He followed in Nakata’s footsteps to Perugia, but that was where their careers diverged, Nakata continuing to gain plaudits, while Ahn slipped into redundancy. He still gets an occasional game for his club, but manager Gus Hiddink has stripped him of his starting place in the national team, something which was unthinkable 18 months ago.

A player who has not, however, faded from the limelight is Hong Myung-Bo, the veteran central defender who has accumulated over 120 caps. Once of the Pohang Steelers, Myung-Bo bravely became the first prominent Korean to join Japan’s J-league (others such as midfielder Park Ji-sung and Yoo Sang-Chul have followed). That transfer, and his subsequent speeches on the need for unity and co-operation between the frequently-feuding neighbours of Japan and Korea, provide proof of the bravery and poise which also characterises his play.

He will need all of those qualities to help his team-mates bear the pressure of being hosts. But he will probably know that surmounting nerves will be a whole lot easier than overcoming Portugal, Poland and the United States.

Squad:

Goalkeepers
1-Lee Woon-jae (Suwon Blue Wings), 12-Kim Byung-ji (Pohang Steelers), 22-Choi Eun-song (Taejon Citizen)

Defenders
2-Hyun Young-min (Ulsan Hyundai), 7-Kim Tae-young (Chunnam Dragons), 15-Lee Min-sung (Pusan I.cons), 4-Choi Jin-cheul (Chonbuk Hyundai), 20-Hong Myung-bo (Pohang Steelers)

Midfielders
22-Song Chong-gug (Pusan I.cons), 6-Yoo Sang-chul (Kashiwa Reysol/Jpn), 3-Choi Sung-yong (Suwon Blue Wings), 13-Lee Eul-yong (Bucheon SK), 21-Park Ji-sung (Kyoto Purple Sanga/Jpn), 5-Kim Nam-il (Chunnam Dragons), 10-Lee Young-pyo (Anyang LG), 17-Yoon Jong-hwan (Cerezo Osaka/Jpn)

Forwards
8-Choi Tai-uk (Anyang LG), 14-Lee Chun-soo (Ulsan Hyundai), 19-Ahn Jung-hwan (AC Perugia/Ita), 18-Hwang Sun-hong (Kashiwa Reysol/Jpn), 11-Choi Yong-soo (JEF United Ichihara/Jpn), 16-Cha Doo-ri (Korea University), 9-Seol Ki-hyeon (RSC Anderlecht/Bel)