Korea to face Brazil on Wednesday; must block Marta to win

The Korean female soccer team led by Coach Yoon Deok-yeo will have its first group E match against Brazil at the 2015 World Cup finals in Canada at the Montreal Olympic Stadium in Canada at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

Brazil, which ranks seventh in the FIFA rankings, is a leading candidate for the winner of this year’s event. Brazil advanced to the semifinal in 1999, and ranked No. 2 after Germany in 2007.

Team Korea, which seeks to advance to the round of 16 teams for the first time, should be weary of more than anyone Marta Vieira da Silva (FC Rosengard), who is dubbed "Female Pele." Marta, who won the female player of the year award for five consecutive years from 2006 to 2010, had 91 goals in 92 A matches. She scored a total of 14 goals at World Cup events, tying for the top scorer with Birgit Prinz who retired as a player from the German team. Christian (Centro Olympico), who scored 75 goals in 106 A matches, and Rosana (Houston), who scored 21 goals in 111 A matches, are also players Korea should keep a watchful eye.

Korea, ranking 18th in the FIFA rankings, has been trailing Brazil by garnering 1 win and two loses over the past years. Korean players’ injuries are also negative factors. Shin Dam-young (Suwon FMC) suffered injury in right ankle ligament, and was exited from the Korean roster on Monday. Shin, who was versatile as central fullback or defensive midfielder, will be substituted by Kim Hye-young (Icheon Daekyo). Another variable is injury suffered by Park Eun-sun (Rosiyanka), who will lead Korea’s offense together with Ji So-yeon (Chelsea Ladies). Coach Yoon said, “Park Eun-sun is gradually recovering, but I will deploy her when she fully recovers). Coach Sohn Jong-seok at Daejeon Sports Toto in the Women’s K League also said, “Brazil has many players with strong individual sills but lags behind in teamwork than Korea.”

creating@donga.com