South Korea, also known as the “Taeguk Warriors”, is facing tough competition at their 10th consecutive world cup. The Koreans were placed into group G of the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022, alongside Portugal, Uruguay, and Ghana. Led by Portuguese manager Paulo Bento, the Asian Tigers sit 3rd in their group after a draw against Uruguay and a loss against Ghana.

Shaky Start

The Taeguk Warriors played their first group-stage game against Uruguay.
Standing 14th in FIFA rankings, the South American giants were a competitive opponent with a strong squad, including world-class players like Federico Valverde and Luis Suárez. The Koreans demonstrated good performance, maintaining good possession of the ball and having offensive chances. However, their side failed to score, ending the game with a goalless draw.

The Koreans attempted to redeem themselves against Ghana, making a few changes to their starting line-up. The Asian Tigers showed perseverance, scoring two goals to equalize a 2 goal deficit, but ultimately fell short of Mohammed Kudus’ winner in the 68th minute.

New Star

Subbing on in the 74th minute against Uruguay, the South Korean striker Cho Gue Sung caught the attention of many fans with his eye-catching physical appearance. His social media followers reflected his popularity, as he gained over a million followers after the first game. Not to forget his abilities on the field, The superstar put a smile on the fans’ faces, leading Korea’s attack and scoring two goals against Ghana.

Challenges Ahead

With the final game of the group stage coming ahead, the Korean squad is held back by injured players. Nicknamed the “Defensive Monster”, South Korean center-back Kim Min Jae is showing pain signals in his right calf after slipping in their game against Uruguay. Fans are worried both for the player’s condition and for the team’s performance, as the player, is not participating in training with the team. Rubbing salt into the wound, manager Paulo Bento cannot coach his players on the sideline for the match against Portugal, after receiving a red card for arguing with the referee during the game against Ghana.

Trust from the Fans

Although the Taeguk Warriors’ chances of progressing to the next round are shallow, the team still has faith. With a win against footballing icon Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, the Koreans can earn themselves a spot in the round of 16. The Koreans demonstrated their determination through their focus and hard work in training ahead of the match. The Korean fans, also known as the “Red Devils”, are showing their support through messages of encouragement on social media platforms. All eyes turn to their final match against Portugal, as the South Koreans look to book their spot in the round of 16.