Match Previews

Looked flat in the opening game and already seem destined to fail to reach the knockouts. Suffering through seven-game winless run at World Cups. Six players missing the tournament through injuries. Further problems at left-back with J.-h. Park sidelined after last game.

South Korea lost 0:1 the crucial clash vs. Sweden in their opener, with the Koreans showing some attacking threat only in the final five minutes of the match. The only goal of the game came from a second-half penalty awarded by the VAR, but in general Korea struggled to move the ball out of their box properly and with Ki playing very deep the better team deservedly won.

The Asian Tigers seem to lack tools in the final third with which to cause serious problems and also their small size makes them vulnerable from set pieces.

The gaffer used 4-2-3-1 in the opening game and considering that Mexico are using similar system he is likely to stick to it.

Changes are expected though, with a forced one needed at left-back. The main player in the role Jin-su Kim is one of the six injured squad members that are missing the tournament, while Joo-ho Park, who was chosen to fill in sustained a tournament-ending hamstring injury in the opener. Min-woo Kim came off the bench as a third option at left-back, but he was shaky and gave away the penalty against Sweden, making him uncertain of starting now.

The other full-back Yong Lee is also playing through pain, he nurses a head injury, but he is not in danger of missing the match according to his gaffer.

Youngster Seung-woo Lee provided positive boost off the bench vs. Sweden, he is aggressive attacking midfielder, and now he could be trusted from the off.

South Korea earned only two points from their last seven World Cup matches and also they failed to keep a clean sheet in any of these games.