June 8, 2010 11:51 AM 
Breaking down the Asian qualifiers
- Posted by Michael Church
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Since losing to Belarus in what amounted to their last warmup game ahead of the World Cup, there has been much hand-wringing in South Korea.
The loss, in what was little more than a training exercise, was poured over by the South Korean press despite coach Huh Jung-moo and the Korea Football Association placing little importance on the game.
Indeed, so insignificant was the match, the KFA declined to register it as an 'A' international with FIFA.
No matter the result, the form of the South Korean side in the run-up to the finals has been such that there is no need for pessimism -- the Koreans have proven themselves well equipped for this year's World Cup.
If there is one Asian team likely to make it through to the second round in South Africa, it is the South Koreans. With a mixture of dynamism and quality as well as youth and experience, Huh's side stands head and shoulders above the rest of the region.
The goal is to make it through to the last 16 for the first time on foreign soil and in a group featuring Argentina, Nigeria and Greece, there is plenty of cause for optimism.
Tough sledding for North Korea
The same can't be said for their northern Korean neighbours, who face the grimmest of tasks in South Africa.
While their preparations have seen an improvement in the team -- including an encouraging 2-2 draw with Greece in which Jong tae-se scored two fine goals -- their naiveté was exposed when they farcically attempted to include an extra striker in their 23-man squad.
Attempting to capitalize on the general lack of knowledge of their squad and of North Korean football in general, the secretive state listed Kim Myong-won as a goalkeeper, despite playing as a striker during the qualifiers.
The ruse was exposed and, should Kim take to the field, FIFA has legislated that he do so only between the posts.
Impossible goal set by Japan
Fortunately, there have been few such embarrassing moments for Japan, but their humiliation may be to come.
With a team lacking spirit and direction, Japan go into this World Cup with delusional coach Takeshi Okada setting his sights on a place in the semifinals. Never mind that Japan's best performance previously was on home soil in 2002, when they reached the second round.
And forget, too, that Japan's current crop of footballers falls far short of the nation's heyday at the start of the millennium, when they dominated Asian football at just about every level.
While the Japanese have improved during their two-week training stint in Austria, the chances of securing anything tangible from their South African sojourn are slim at best.
Cracks showing in Australian roster
Australia, meanwhile, arrive at their first World Cup after qualifying as a member of the Asian Football Confederation hoping to emulate their performances in 2006.
Under Guus Hiddink, the Socceroos made it to the second round. Now, with Pim Verbeek at the helm and with many of the same players likely to start their opening game against Germany, the goal is for more of the same.
Older they are and wiser they may be, but the creaks are starting to show for some within the squad and the defence, in particular, is starting to look its age.
For the Australians it really could go either way; one last heroic hurrah for the country's golden generation or a humiliating exit proving too many tried to hang on for too long.
The loss, in what was little more than a training exercise, was poured over by the South Korean press despite coach Huh Jung-moo and the Korea Football Association placing little importance on the game.
Indeed, so insignificant was the match, the KFA declined to register it as an 'A' international with FIFA.
No matter the result, the form of the South Korean side in the run-up to the finals has been such that there is no need for pessimism -- the Koreans have proven themselves well equipped for this year's World Cup.
If there is one Asian team likely to make it through to the second round in South Africa, it is the South Koreans. With a mixture of dynamism and quality as well as youth and experience, Huh's side stands head and shoulders above the rest of the region.
The goal is to make it through to the last 16 for the first time on foreign soil and in a group featuring Argentina, Nigeria and Greece, there is plenty of cause for optimism.
Tough sledding for North Korea
The same can't be said for their northern Korean neighbours, who face the grimmest of tasks in South Africa.
While their preparations have seen an improvement in the team -- including an encouraging 2-2 draw with Greece in which Jong tae-se scored two fine goals -- their naiveté was exposed when they farcically attempted to include an extra striker in their 23-man squad.
Attempting to capitalize on the general lack of knowledge of their squad and of North Korean football in general, the secretive state listed Kim Myong-won as a goalkeeper, despite playing as a striker during the qualifiers.
The ruse was exposed and, should Kim take to the field, FIFA has legislated that he do so only between the posts.
Impossible goal set by Japan
Fortunately, there have been few such embarrassing moments for Japan, but their humiliation may be to come.
With a team lacking spirit and direction, Japan go into this World Cup with delusional coach Takeshi Okada setting his sights on a place in the semifinals. Never mind that Japan's best performance previously was on home soil in 2002, when they reached the second round.
And forget, too, that Japan's current crop of footballers falls far short of the nation's heyday at the start of the millennium, when they dominated Asian football at just about every level.
While the Japanese have improved during their two-week training stint in Austria, the chances of securing anything tangible from their South African sojourn are slim at best.
Cracks showing in Australian roster
Australia, meanwhile, arrive at their first World Cup after qualifying as a member of the Asian Football Confederation hoping to emulate their performances in 2006.
Under Guus Hiddink, the Socceroos made it to the second round. Now, with Pim Verbeek at the helm and with many of the same players likely to start their opening game against Germany, the goal is for more of the same.
Older they are and wiser they may be, but the creaks are starting to show for some within the squad and the defence, in particular, is starting to look its age.
For the Australians it really could go either way; one last heroic hurrah for the country's golden generation or a humiliating exit proving too many tried to hang on for too long.
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About the Author
Michael Church
Michael Church lives in Hong Kong and has spent the last decade-and-a-half covering soccer throughout Asia and, as a result, is one of the leading authorities on the game across the continent. He is World Soccer's correspondent for the region and during his time in Asia he has covered the performances of the region's teams at the last three World Cups.
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