GROUP D / SOUTH KOREA

*--* World Cup record: Played 14 (0-10-4); goals for: 11; goals against: 43 Best finish: Never beyond the first round 1998 showing: Eliminated in the first round Coach: Guus Hiddink. Coached the Netherlands to the semifinal round in 1998, routing South Korea, 5-0, along the way, before taking on this much-different and far more demanding challenge Players to watch: Hong Myung-Byo, Yoo Sang-Chul, Seol Ki-Hyeon In brief: No host nation has failed to advance to the second round. A recent run of six games without a loss, including a 4-1 victory over Scotland and a tie against England, has encouraged the Koreans to believe that their team might not be the first to fail Quick quote: “When the roots of the tree are different, it is no use just changing the leaves.”--Lee Young-Pyo Forecast: Who knows what midfielder Lee is talking about, but Korean fans should realize that their team has as good a chance as the Americans or Poles of reaching the final 16

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