World Cup Soccer Team: Physically Fit, But Spiritually Unprepared?

Their physical conditioning is the world’s best. What is at issue is their spiritual readiness.

A physical test was conducted on all members of the country’s World Cup soccer team on March 11 in a gymnasium at Olympics Parks. The test was aimed at collecting data for finalizing the roster for the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany.

The physical analysis conducted by head coach Humberto Coelho and his staff has some unexpected findings. It has to date been a widespread belief that Korean players compensate for their weak physical fitness with their strong resolution. However, the Korean World Cup players’ physical strength turned out to be on par with English and Spanish Players, the world’s best.

The maximum oxygen consumption stands at 65 to 70 milliliters per minute and kilometer. Even compared with the highest level of 83 reached by Hwang Young-jo, the marathoner who won the gold medal in Barcelona Olympics, posted at the height of his career, it is impressive. Midfielders posted 70 and above. Strikers and defenders registered 60 to 65. It proved that it is midfielders who run most.

The average Wingate test result was 16 to 17 per watt/kg. It is higher than the average basketball team’s or handball team’s, both famous for their intensive physical activity.

“The test indicates that the national team is physically stronger than the English or Spanish team,” Dr. Kim Yong-kwon, the physiologist who is authoring a research paper, “Physical Characteristics of Pro-Soccer Players,” said. “I have never seen a player with 13 watt/kg. The 16 watt/kg average is marvelous.”

Cho Byung-kuk of Samsung Suwon posted the team best sergeant jump score—a measurement of gasping power—with 50 centimeters. The test results explain why Cho, a defender, often make scores with header shots.

What’s at issue is their spiritual readiness. Newcomers lacked a fighting spirit compared with old players who played in World Cup 2002 or who are now playing in Europe, the coaching staff concluded. “The team’s loss to Oman last year exemplifies this,” said Jose Augosto, the team’s 56-year-old physical trainer. “Ahead of the final pre-tournament of World Cup 2006, strengthening their spiritual readiness should be the top priority.”

Based on the test results, Coelho has selected Yu Sang-chul, 33 years old, of the Yokohama Marinos, as the most physically fit. Yu is an all-round player with untiring physical strength who switches back and forth between the roles of striker, midfielder, and defender. He posted a 44 in upper body strength, far surpassing the team’s average of 30. Coelho cited the absence in the game against Oman of Yu, who is seen as the “spiritual leader” of the team, as the reason for the team’s defeat.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com