Former head coaches of the South Korean national team on Tuesday offered words of encouragement to this year’s World Cup squad, saying they should take on the upcoming challenge with confidence.

Six of the past bench bosses joined the current head coach, Hong Myung-bo, for a luncheon at the National Football Center, the team’s practice ground in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

At a press conference ahead of their meeting, the former coaches said the 23 players on this year’s World Cup team have a wealth of experience despite their young age, and that Hong should instill confidence in his charge.

Players under Hong are on average 25.9 years old, almost two years younger than those on the previous World Cup team. Defender Kwak Tae-hwi, 32, is the only member over 30 years old.

Kim Jung-nam, who coached South Korea at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, said this year’s team should go deep into the tournament, where it will face Russia, Algeria and Belgium in Group H.

“I think the current team has enough talent to go up against football powers,” Kim said. “I think we can reach the round of 16 and beyond.”

Lee Hoe-taik, coach of the 1990 World Cup team in Italy, noted that Hong has always had luck on his side. Hong coached South Korea to the quarterfinals at the 2009 FIFA U20 World Cup, the country’s best performance there in 18 years, and led his team to the bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics, for South Korea’s first Olympic medal in football. “The most important thing is to avoid injuries before the tournament,” Lee said. “I don’t think there is a weaker squad than ours (in the group), and our players have to be in top form.”

Kim Ho, head coach at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, addressed some strategic needs for Hong’s team. “The weakest part of our game is the slow transition from offense to defense,” Kim said. “When you watch clubs such as Atletico Madrid or FC Barcelona, you will see that they apply pressure very quickly. If you’re slow on transition, you will give up a lot of goals.”

Cho Kwang-rae didn’t get to coach South Korea at a World Cup but guided the country through the early rounds of the Asian qualification for this year’s tournament.

“The team that dominates the ball in midfield will have a chance to win,” Cho said. “If we hold on to the ball, the opponents will be pressing to win back possession, and it may open up opportunities.” 


QPR unlikely to release Yun soon

An English club is unlikely to release its South Korean player in time for the country’s pre-World Cup practice this week, with FIFA remaining noncommittal about whether the club will face penalties for violating international regulations.

The Korea Football Association has been asking QPR to release its South Korean player, Yun Suk-young, who was named to the country’s 23-man World Cup squad earlier this month. South Korean head coach Hong Myung-bo had planned to begin full-fledged practice with every player on board on Wednesday.

The second-division English club, however, has yet to release Yun, even though he had initially been scheduled to report to Korea’s camp last Wednesday. (Yonhap)