WORLD CUP 2018 NATION PRESENTATION: SOUTH KOREA

NICKNAME: Taegeuk Warriors

MANAGER: Shin Tae-yong

MOST CAPS/TOP SCORER: Cha Bum-kun- 59 goals in 138 matches from 1972 to 1986

HOST NATION: Yes, in 2002 with Japan.

WORLD CUP RECORD: Their first World Cup was in 1954. Since 1986 they played on every WC final tournament. This will be 10th.

BEST RESULT: Best result for South Korea is 4th place on their home soil. But we have to say that Korea had a big help from referees. In a group stage with Poland, Portugal and United States Korea took first place with 7 points. In first match they made win against Poland. This was first ever win for S. Korea at World Cup. In second match they faced USA and played 1-1. They were losing till 78' min when Ahn Jung-hwan scored an equalizer. In last match vs Portugal Park Ji-sung was Korean hero who scored only goal of the match. But Portugal received two red cards. In round of 16 they were drawn with former champion Italy. Seol Ki-hyeon scored late goal for extra time (1-1). In 117 min of extra time Ahn Jung-hwan scored golden goal. In next round Korea faced Spain. Spain managed to score twice but both goal were cancelled. Match finished 0-0. In Semi-final Ballack scored only goal in a match against Korea. It meant that Korea had to play a match for 3rd place. Turkey was loser of second semi-final match. In that match we could see fastest goal in the history of World Cup. Hakan Sukur scored after only 10.8 sec. Korea came back very soon as they scored an equalizer in 9 min. But it didn't lasted long as Turkey took the lead again in 13th min. Ilhan Mansiz scored that goal and he added another one 32th min. At the end of the match Korea scored second goal but it wasn't enough.