Team: South Korea

Advocaat keeps spirits high

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Coach: Dick Advocaat
Captain: Choi Jin-Cheul
Winners: Never - finished fourth in 2002
Pitted against: France, Togo and Switzerland
Prospects: Have little chance of emulating their success on home soil but could sneak into the last 16 at the expense of Switzerland.
Odds: 200-1

Had someone asked you four years ago, "Which team will eliminate Portugal, Italy and Spain from the World Cup?" you would, of course, be racking your brain for a superpower of similar stature. For sure, you would not have considered South Korea. But, as co-hosts, that's exactly what they did, shocking the world in the process, as they waltzed to a remarkable fourth-placed finish, writes Paul O'Hehir

Nevertheless, that sparkling run drew curious glances from many an angle. Then manager Guus Hiddink was forced to deny widespread allegations of bribery and corruption which beset his team's march. Fifa president Sepp Blatter even dismissed talk of a "conspiracy" to keep the co-hosts in the tournament.

This time around, though, Korean objectives are more simplistic. No longer a surprise package, they will, of course, strive to emulate that run but of more immediate concern to players and supporters alike will be securing a first World Cup win on foreign soil in what will be their seventh tournament.

South Korea are Asia's most frequent visitors to the World Cup but in 14 matches prior to 2002 they had not won a single match. With Togo their first opponents in Germany, new boss Dick Advocaat and his players will more than fancy their chances of putting right that wrong.

That said, the team's preparations can only be described as patchy at best. Qualifying was an arduous process which cost two managers, Humberto Coelho and Jo Bonfrere their jobs, although the latter did, admittedly, offer his resignation amid criticism of the team's lacklustre performances.

Football chiefs quickly turned their attention to Advocaat, installing the former Rangers and Holland boss amid a wave of euphoria. "We said we would try to do the same as Mr Hiddink did, and of course everybody liked that. Also to the team and to the fans and to the press we have tried to bring a positive story. That’s the reason that they like us," said Advocaat.

An even bigger reason, though, and one heralded in Korean football circles, was Advocaat's decision to appoint Hong Myung-bo - captain of the 2002 team - to his backroom staff.

The manager has an abundance of talent at his disposal with Park Ji-Sung still the nation's favourite son. He realised all his ambitions at once when securing a move to Manchester United on the back of his World Cup 2002 and Champions League performances which also, incidentally, led to a road being named after him in his home town of Suwan.

Tottenham full-back Lee Young-Pyo is another to emerge with credit while up front, Lee Dong-Gook and Ahn Jung-Hwan get the goals in a team that will play offensively when afforded time and space.

"I think there’s not much difference in the quality of the team," says Advocaat. "The difference is that we don’t play at home. That is the main key. At home a little bit of luck can bring you a lot but now we play away and I think the team is not weaker than 2002."

World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Lee Woon-jae (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Yong-dae (Seongnam Ilwha) Kim Young-kwang (Chunnam Dragons)
Defenders: Lee Young-pyo (Tottenham Hotspur), Kim Dong-jin (FC Seoul), Cho Won-hee (Suwon Bluewings), Song Chong-gug (Suwon Bluewings), Choi Jin-cheul (Chonbuk Motors), Kim Jin-kyu (Jubilo Iwata), Kim Young-chul (Seongnam Ilwha) Midfielders Park Ji-sung (Manchester United), Kim Do-heon (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Sang-shik (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Nam-il (Suwon Bluewings), Lee Eul-yong (Trabzonspor), Lee Ho (Ulsan Tigers), Baek Ji-hoon (FC Seoul)
Strikers: Ahn Jung-hwan (MSV Duisburg), Cho Jae-jin (Shimizu S-Pulse), Park Chu-young (FC Seoul), Seol Ki-hyeon (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Lee Chun-soo (Ulsan Tigers), Chung Kyung-ho (Gwangju Sangmu)