{"id":2841,"date":"2022-09-16T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T03:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=2841"},"modified":"2026-09-24T21:54:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T12:24:47","slug":"road-to-qatar-2022-true-test-still-to-come-for-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/road-to-qatar-2022-true-test-still-to-come-for-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"Road to Qatar 2022: True test still to come for Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Asian Game’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is proudly sponsored by SMC.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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South Korea head to Qatar for a tenth successive World Cup following an almost blight-free qualification campaign.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Already a proven heavyweight in Asia, with a growing wealth of players now plying their trade at the very highest levels of European football, it\u2019s hoped their Road to Qatar has prepared them to take on the very best in global football, as they once again set sights on making the knockout stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a qualification campaign which saw them drop points in only five matches, including one solitary defeat (a final day dead rubber), their results underline their dominance in Asia over the last three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The presence of Portuguese coach Paulo Bento, sworn in following their group stage elimination in Russia four years ago, has brought with it stability and consistency at such levels we haven\u2019t seen for some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as we approach the 2022 edition, opinions are split over whether such a rigid and predictable formula in which Korea set up, despite having proven to be so successful in Asia, can have the same impact when it needs to move up a gear on the global stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bento leads a near faultless qualification campaign<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Paulo Bento\u2019s reign as South Korea coach came off the back of an all-too-predictable tale of frustration at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expectations were high heading into the tournament, only for the Taegeuk Warriors<\/em> to come out lacking bite. While there was a famous victory over Germany in their final match, Korea were by that stage already eliminated following a broadly negative and nervy campaign overseen by the outgoing Shin Tae-yong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bento\u2019s arrival promised a return to playing a modern brand of football; with an attack focus not seen over the previous few World Cup cycles. While the last four years have been successful in terms of qualifying for yet another World Cup, only glimmers of that desired attacking style of football have been demonstrated with any sort of regularity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, Korea have harnessed a firmer, more consistent identity, reminiscent of the way domestic K League football has grown in continental prominence over the last two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paulo Bento has been effective but has plenty of doubters heading into the FIFA World Cup (PHOTO: Instagram\/thekfa)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The stability of an experienced and all-round keeper in the form of Kim Seung-gyu, behind a reliable partnership of Kim Young-gwon and the blossoming talents of Kim Min-jae, kept 13 clean sheets from 17 games across qualification illustrating the type of foundations upon which this this team can now rely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The positives aren\u2019t entirely based in defence either. In each and every match during qualification, Korea were undoubtedly the side in the ascendency. Years of trying to shoehorn Son Heung-min into a system that gets the very best out of their global star either seems to have finally found a solution, or more likely has been put to bed by their talisman\u2019s growingly flexibility as he heads into his prime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The link up and creativity between the likes of Lee Jae-sung, Hwang In-beom and Paik Seung-ho is representative of the way Bento wants the team to play. Quick and incisive in their build-up, in control of possession, unflustered and attractive on the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team as a whole feels more fluid in possession than it did in previous campaigns, an acceptance on an individual level, and as a unit, of a defined way of playing required to be successful when competing on the world stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But while this play has seen Korea grow from strength to strength continentally, off the back of what can be considered the most comfortable of qualification campaigns, doubts remain as to how this will materialise when they face up to the very best globally. Has Bento got the tactical flexibility to adapt accordingly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consistent but lacking a spark<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Those doubts reared their head early on in the cycle, as far back as the 2019 Asian Cup, where many tipped South Korea to, if not to win the title, at least make it to the latter stages. Their group stage was reminiscent of the qualification campaign to come; unbeaten (three wins from three), having not conceded a goal, but crucially not storming past teams on the scoresheet, the way their dominant football promised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tough win, despite again commanding play against Bahrain in the Round of 16, in the end led to an early exit to Qatar, the eventual champions, in the quarter finals. For all the promise of a new playing style, Bento undoubtedly failed in delivering Korea to the latter stages of the Asian Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>