Who Will Score Team Korea’s 1st Goal?

For Team Korea to have any chance at making the final 16, it must win against the “easiest” opponent, Togo, in its first Group G match. A draw or a loss will place the team right at the edge of a cliff.

The key to winning against Togo is making goals. The importance of the first goal in the first game can not be stressed enough. At the 2002 World Cup match against Poland, Hwang Sun-hong scored the first goal that won Korea its first World Cup match, creating momentum that eventually led the team to the semifinals.

Dick Advocaat understands the importance of the first goal. After the evaluations matches against Norway (0-0 draw) and Ghana (1-3 loss), Advocaat’s main concern was to sharpen the team’s offensive edge; the training program that involves frequent six-on-six mini games focuses on enhancing the team’s goal-making ability.

Striker Ahn Jung-hwan is at the forefront of the scheme. Ahn’s shooting technique and goal-making instinct has been enhanced through his experience in Italy (Perugia), France (FC Metz), and Germany (Duisburg). Advocaat has enough confidence to play Ahn as the team’s central attacker in all four of the recent warm-up matches.

Another possibility for the first goal lies with Seol Ki-hyun. The left attacker stands 184cm tall and has good speed. Seol was the one to score the tying goal against Italy at the 2002 World Cup.

Right winger Lee Chun-su will also be aiming for the first goal. Although not a striker by profession, he is daring, confident, and often found ceaselessly penetrating the opposing side. He is also good at making goals out of the free-kick chances he gets near the penalty area.

Park Ji-sung, the first Premier leaguer ever to come out of Korea, will be supporting these attackers from the midfield. However, he is also capable of scoring goals whenever he is in the mix.

Jo Jae-jin and Park Ju-young will play jokers’ roles whenever the team’s offense is lagging. Jo Jae-jin is talented in aerial play and jostling. Park has a keen sense of shooting.

FIFA World Cup Germany’s official website (kr.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com) reports that the expectations are high for the Korean team because it has the most players who scored goals in past World Cup games. Seven Korean players scored goals in the 2002 World Cup; five of them—Ahn Jung-hwan, Seol Ki-hyun, Lee Eul-yong, Song Jong-kuk, and Park Ji-sung—are on the active roster of the Korean team this year.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com