International Friendly Preview: Turkey versus South Korea
Turkey
Turkey is all set to take on the Asian pacific giants, South Korea, in what is anticipated to be a thrilling encounter in Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadyumu in Turkey. It seems that the Turkish national team has never really recovered from losing in the semi-finals
of European Championships of 2008.
The country which is seen as a knee joint between the continents of Asia and Europe didn’t qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, the Turks have a good history of producing technically sound footballers. As they prepare to take on South Korea, Guus
Hiddink’s men are in a woeful run of form.
Out of their past five matches in the international arena, Turkey has only won two. In their last international friendly encounter, Turkey lost by a goal to nil against Netherlands. Before that, the Turks failed to gain a crucial result against Azerbaijan
in the EURO 2012 qualification process.
Hiddink will be well aware of South Korea’s capabilities to surprise since the ex-Chelsea manager was in charge of the South Korean national team during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Nonetheless, a lot of time has passed since then. In all honesty, Hiddink will be using his team’s match against South Korea as a dress rehearsal for Turkey’s upcoming EURO 2012 qualification campaign in March of 2011. Regardless, one can expect Turkey to
come out in their usual brawling fashion with attacking football as their philosophy and hard work as their ethic.
South Korea
Disappointment in the Asian Cup means that South Korea is a team on the decline at the moment. They were knocked out of the FIFA 2010 World Cup at the round of sixteen stage, thanks to a fine goal from Luis Suarez but the Koreans have a long way to go till
the next World Cup. As a result, their manager Cho Kwang-Rae will be using the friendly tie against Turkey to test out some of the young South Korean talent at his disposal.
Korea’s form is a bit indifferent as out of their last five encounters, the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists have only won three. Kwang-Rae’s men won their last competitive international fixture against Uzbekistan but before that they also drew with the likes
of Australia and Japan. South Korea will come to the tie against Turkey without their star player Park Ji-Sung, the Manchester United winger decided to retire from international football altogether at the end of the Asian Cup campaign for the Taegeuk Warriors.
Team News
Turkey have called up a fairly domestic league based squad for their match against South Korea. Guus Hiddink has indeed called upon Hamit Altıntop for international duty and the Bayern Munich midfielder has duly obliged. Moreover, Turkey have also given
call ups to Mehmet Ekici and Tuncay Torun.
Expected Line up: Volkan Demirel, Gökhan Gönül, İbrahim Öztürk, İsmail Köybaşı, Hamit Altıntop, Nuri Şahin, Mehmet Ekici, Kazım Kazım, Burak Yılmaz, Umut Bulut
On the other hand, South Korea are expected to play a 3-5-2 formation with three center backs. The Asian giants will be without their ex-national team captain, Park Ji Sung thus new debuts are expected to younger players in the squad. Koo Ja-Cheol is a favorite
to start in Park’s place on the left hand side of the South Korean attack.
Expected Line up: Ji Dong-Won, Park Chu-Young, Koo Ja-Cheol, Lee Chung-Yong, Ki Sung-Yueng, Lee Yong-Rae, Yoon Suk-Young, Yoon Bit-Garam, Choi Sung-k*k, Cha Du-Ri, Jung Sung-Ryong
Key Players
Hamit Altıntop, the Bayern Munich winger is the key man for Turkey if they are to unlock a three center back defence at the heart of the South Korean team. Recently, Hamit received the 2010 FIFA Puskas Award as well for his outstanding goal against Kazakhstan
in September of 2010 during the EURO 2012 qualifiers. If Turkey are to turn up as a better side on the night, the veteran winger must play up to his abilities.
Alternatively for South Korea, in the absence of their leader Park Ji Sung, it has to be Park Chu-Young. Chu-Young who plays his football for Monaco in France will lead the South Korean attack. Not only that, the striker is also likely to take up the arm-band
for this friendly encounter as well. Chu-Young’s clinical finishing on the night will be the x-factor for the Koreans.
Prediction
Both the teams are blessed with sufficient attacking talent but lack in crucial defensive areas. Thus a draw is the most rational result. Prediction: 1-1.
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