South Korea (fighting!)
Belgium the stand-out team in Korea's group but amongst the rest - Korea, Algeria and Russia - it should be quite even.
Strong looking final squad named - six play in the Bundesliga, a few in England, rest in the J-League or Chinese league (handful from the K-League). Shame Park Ji-Sung has retired on the eve of the Finals though (must be Korea's best-ever player?).
Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-Ryeong (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-Gyu (Ulsan Horang-I), Lee Bom-Young (Busan I'Park)
Defenders: Park Joo-Ho (Mainz), Yun Suk-Young (QPR), Kim Young-Kwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Hwang Seok-Ho (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hong Jeong-Ho (Augsburg), Kwak Tae-Hwi (Al Hilal), Lee Yong (Ulsan Horang-I), Kim Chang-Soo (Kashiwa Reysol).
Midfielders: Ki Seung-Yueng (Sunderland, on loan from Swansea), Ha Dae-Sung (Beijing Guoan), Han Kook-Young (Kashiwa Reysol), Park Jung-Woo (Guangzhou R&F), Son Heung-Min (Bayer Leverkusen), Kim Bo-Kyung (Cardiff City), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton Wanderers), Ji Dong-Won (Augsburg).
Forwards: Koo Ja-Cheol (Mainz), Lee Keun-Ho (Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-Young (Arsenal), Kim Shin-Wook (Ulsan Horang-I).
Here is the Mirror's view of the team (with a natural bias towards the UK/Europe based players).
Kim Young-Gwon has been with Guangzhou Hengda for two years now and must be rated as key player for Korea.
Here is WildeastFootball's take on the CSL-based players:
Ha Dae-Sung (Beijing Guoan, South Korea)
Background: 29 years old, Midfielder, 12 caps since 2008, last cap v Greece March 2014
Season so far: Arriving as part of the South Korean influx in Winter 2014, Ha replaced Egor Krimets as Guoan’s Asian player. With Guoan 2nd in the CSL table, Ha has played only a few full 90 minutes but his contributions have been impressive to Guoan’s 9 CSL victories.
Expert opinion, Kim Dae-Ryung (Twitter @KORFootballNews): Moving to China seems not to have been a good choice for Ha’s World Cup dream. He doesn’t have a lot of experience in the national team and his competitor is Ki Sung-Yueng who has played in England. I don’t expect he will have many chances in the WC but he is useful substitute for Ki.
Park Jongwoo (Guangzhou R&F, South Korea)
Background: 25 years old, Midfielder, 10 caps since 2012, last cap v Greece March 2014
Season so far: Much like his South Korean team mate, Jongwoo has been impressive only featuring in one defeat to date for Fuli and has turned out in four victories in his eight games at the club.
Expert opinion, Kim Dae-Ryung (Twitter @KORFootballNews): Probably two of three players Park, Han Kook-Young (Kashiwa) and Lee Myung-Joo (Pohang) will go to Brazil. Park Jong-Woo’s situation is better than Ha. Ki Sung-Yueng and Koo Ja-Cheol are creative midfielders but have weakness in their defense ability, so Park Jong-Woo or Han Kook-Young will not have many opportunities in Brazil, Park’s direct competitor is Han Kook-Young.
Kim Young-Gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande, South Korea)
Background: 24 years old, Defender, 19 caps 1 goal since 2010, last cap v Greece March 2014
Season so far: Highly rated by Lippi himself, Kim has missed only one game in 2014. He has even scored for Evergrande who sit top of the CSL and easily dismissed Cerezo Osaka to progress in the ACL.
Expert opinion, Kim Dae-Ryung (Twitter @KORFootballNews): Kim Young-Gwon must be included in the squad for the World Cup, he is 100% going to Brazil. I’m sure Kim will be a regular starting centre back with Hong Jeong-Ho. Hwang Seok-Ho and Kwak Tae-Hwi are also good players but Kim has always been a first choice of Hong. Many Korean fans just expect to him to show a good performance in Brazil and move to Europe after the competition.
Enjoyed watching Heung-Min Son in the Bundesliga this season, expect him to be key for them
Disappointing.
The best appearance was by Jang Ye-Won.
I though Weh Do Ping was pretty good too.
Japan and South Korea both showed an inability to play against 10 men.
Piss poor.
Shim Mina (2002)
Han Jang-Hee (2006)
Jang Ye-Won (2014)
Be the Reds!