{{nat fs g player|pos=MF|no=17|name=[[Lee Chung-Yong]]|age={{birth date and age|1988|7|2|df=y}}|caps=47|goals=5|clubnat=ENG|club=[[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]}}
{{nat fs g player|pos=MF|no=17|name=[[Lee Chung-Yong]]|age={{birth date and age|1988|7|2|df=y}}|caps=47|goals=5|clubnat=ENG|club=[[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]}}
{{nat fs break}}
{{nat fs break}}
{{nat fs g player|pos=FW|no=9|name=[[Son Heung-Min]]|age={{birth date and age|1992|7|8|df=y}}|caps=15|goals=2|clubnat=GER|club=[[HamburgerSV]]}}
{{nat fs g player|pos=FW|no=9|name=[[Son Heung-Min]]|age={{birth date and age|1992|7|8|df=y}}|caps=15|goals=2|clubnat=GER|club=[[Bayer Leverkusen]]}}
{{nat fs g player|pos=FW|no=10|name=[[Ji Dong-Won]]|age={{birth date and age|1991|5|28|df=y}}|caps=23|goals=8|clubnat=ENG|club=[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]}}
{{nat fs g player|pos=FW|no=10|name=[[Ji Dong-Won]]|age={{birth date and age|1991|5|28|df=y}}|caps=23|goals=8|clubnat=ENG|club=[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]}}
{{nat fs g player|pos=FW|no=11|name=[[Lee Keun-Ho]]|age={{birth date and age|1985|4|11|df=y}}|caps=50|goals=16|clubnat=KOR|club=[[Sangju Sangmu FC|Sangju Sangmu]]}}
{{nat fs g player|pos=FW|no=11|name=[[Lee Keun-Ho]]|age={{birth date and age|1985|4|11|df=y}}|caps=50|goals=16|clubnat=KOR|club=[[Sangju Sangmu FC|Sangju Sangmu]]}}
South Korea is the most successful Asian football team in the history of the FIFA World Cup having participated in nine World Cup tournaments, which is the most appearances for an Asian country. South Korea became the first and only Asian team to reach the semi-final stages, at the 2002 tournament, and also won the first two editions of the AFC Asian Cup.
History
Korea, in ancient times, had a ball game called chuk-guk, which was very similar in form to contemporary football. However, Koreans were not introduced to the present version of the game until 1882, when British crew members played a game while their vessel was visiting the Inchon Port.[1] In 1921, the first All Korea Football Tournament was held, and then in 1928, The Korea Football Association was organized, which created a foundation to disseminate and develop football in Korea.[2]
During the colonial period, football helped to alleviate the frustrations of the oppressed Koreans and to foster the hope of liberation. However, in 1940, the Governor-General of Korea forced the The Korea Football Association to dissolve.[3] Following World War II and the establishment of the Republic of Korea,
the Korea Football Association (KFA) was reinstated in 1948. The KFA became a member of FIFA, the international football governing body, in 1948. The same year, the Korean national team made its international debut at the Olympic Games in London. The KFA joined the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) in 1954. Since the 1960s, South Korea has emerged as a major football power in Asia, winning several prestigious Asian football championships. The Korean national team played in the World Cup finals for 5 consecutive years from 1986. The Korean professional football league was launched in 1983 as the first of its kind in Asia. This not only pleased domestic fans, but it has also upgraded the level of the Korean football.[2]
South Korea has historically been a major football power in Asia, winning several prestigious Asian football championships, including the first two Asian Cup tournaments, but have failed to win the title since their last triumph in 1960. The South Korean national team has also played in seven consecutive World Cup finals (from 1986), and a total of eight World Cup finals in all.
The traditional rival of the South Korea national football team is Japan. The South Korea football team had 75 matches with the Japanese football team and won 40, drew 22, lost 13 matches. However, in the last 12 games both teams have 3 wins each with 6 draws. The Korean and Japanese football rivalry began when they became opponents in the AFC World Cup qualifiers since the initial formation of the World Cup.
In their first World Cup finals tournament, the 1954 World Cup as the second Asian team to ever enter the World Cup after the Dutch East Indies, South Korea played games against Hungary and Turkey, losing 9–0 and 7–0 respectively. It took 32 years before South Korea was able to participate in the World Cup finals again, when the team qualified for the 1986 World Cup held in Mexico City.
In 1990 World Cup, they lost 3 times against Spain, Uruguay, and Begium.
In 1994 World Cup, they drew with Spain 2-2 and with Bolivia 0-0, and lost to Germany 2-3 to fail to advance the second stage.
In 1998 World Cup, they drew with Belgium 1-1, but lost to Mexico and the Netherlands to fail to advance.
2002 World Cup
South Korea co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup tournament with Japan. Led by Dutch coach Guus Hiddink from Netherlands, and assistant coach Pim Verbeek, South Korean team achieved their first ever victory in the first stage 2–0, against Poland, and after a 1–1 draw with the USA, and a further 1–0 victory against Portugal, the South Korean team qualified for the second round.
South Korea's second round opponents were Italy, who were defeated 2–1 after extra time, through a headed golden goal from Ahn Jung Hwan. South Korea then earned a semi-final berth by defeating Spain on penalties.
The South Korean team's run was halted by a 1–0 loss to Germany in the semi-finals, and a 3–2 defeat to Turkey in the third-place match.
2006 World Cup
During the 2006 World Cup, South Korea achieved their first World Cup victory outside Asia by beating Togo 2–1. They then drew 1–1 against eventual finalists France, but lost 2–0 to Switzerland, which eliminated them from the tournament. Korea qualified for the 2006 World Cup only after defeating Kuwait in the qualifiers, finishing second in group B after Saudi Arabia, which also included Uzbekistan trying to claim a spot in the 2006 World Cup. In Group H of the German hosted finals, Korea fought fiercely in all their matches.
South Korea won the 2010 World Cup AFC qualification with 16 points – 7 wins and 7 draws in total – making them the only AFC team unbeaten throughout the whole campaign. They then qualified for the knockout stages of the 2010 World CupGroup B with 4 points, winning 2–0 against Greece, losing 4–1 to Argentina and drawing 2–2 with Nigeria. In the knockout stage they met Uruguay, which defeated South Korea by a score of 2-1 and eliminated them from the tournament. Luis Suarez, who scored both goals, later remarked South Korea was the hardest opponent he has ever faced in a talk show in Uruguay. Lee Dong Gook received criticism for missing a golden opportunity via Park Ji Sung's through-pass in the dying minutes of the game. However it was still a historical feat for South Korea as it was their first time ever to make it to the Round of 16 on foreign soil.
South Korea 5–3 Mexico 
Croatia 
Craven Cottage, London
32'
Peru 
Iran 
Australia 
China 
Japan 
Qatar, 26 March 2013
Uzbekistan, 11 September 2012
Zambia, 15 August 2012
Spain, 30 May 2012
Swansea City
Wolfsburg
Al-Jazira
Lebanon, 12 June 2012
Nike[8]
