Steve Foster
Well-known member
The final two countries start their world cup campaign:
RUSSIA
Prospects
Fabio Capello and Russia work to each other's strengths: they are desperate to be a presence on the global and European stage; he is eager to show the footballing world he is more than just a club boss.
Their miserly back-line predominantly come from CSKA Moscow, while perennial Champions League dark horses Zenit St. Petersburg provide the rest of the spine.
For the most part, Capello only calls up Russian-based players so he has got to know his squad and their strengths quickly. The midfield is key of them, playing high-tempo, pressing football. Yet their Achilles heel can be when they are subjected to it themselves.
Key player
Exciting attacking prospect Alexander Kokorin is the torch-bearer of youth in Capello's ageing side. The Italian will make room for the 23-year-old, be it on the left, behind a striker, or even as the main front man. A growing influence, Kokorin scored four goals in eight starts during qualifying and hit double figures for the second successive season in the Russian top-flight.
Fabio Capello will face Algeria for a second World Cup in a row, after steering England through a dire 0-0 draw in 2010.
One to watch
Russia's ageing back-line is headed by Sergei Ignashevich, one of four CSKA Moscow team-mates that could feasibly start either in goal or defence as they try to take their miserly defensive record to the world stage. The 34-year-old stalwart needs protecting from pace these days and could wilt in the Brazilian sun. He will certainly be in the party mood however if he manages to win his 100th cap at a World Cup.
The boss
Former England boss Fabio Capello inherited a side that had been meekly eliminated from Euro 2012. He quickly instilled a greater mental fortitude into the team and dropped fading force Andrey Arshavin. The Italian's authoritarian style divided opinion in England, but has earned approval in Russia - he has been given an extended contract until 2018.
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World Cup team profile: Russia
How they qualified
Despite back-to-back defeats by Portugal and Northern Ireland, they edged the former to win Group F by a point. They conceded just five times in 10 games.
World Cup record
Russia has competed at two World Cups since it became independent from the USSR in 1991, failing to progress beyond the group stage in either tournament.
Despite a perceived fearsome reputation the USSR flattered to deceive on the world stage and, akin to England, enjoyed their best tournament in 1966 when they finished fourth.
Fifa ranking: 19
Squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Yury Lodygin (Zenit St Petersburg), Sergey Ryzhikov (Rubin Kazan).
Defenders: Vasili Berezutskiy (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Granat (Dynamo Moscow), Andrey Eshchenko (Anzhi Makhachkala), Sergey Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Alexey Kozlov (Dynamo Moscow), Dmitry Kombarov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semenov (Terek Grozny), Georgi Schennikov (CSKA Moscow).
Midfielders: Denis Glushakov (Spartak Moscow), Igor Denisov (Dynamo Moscow), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Yury Zhirkov (Dynamo Moscow), Alexey Ionov (Dynamo Moscow), Pavel Mogilevets (Rubin Kazan), Alexander Samedov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Victor Faizulin (Zenit St Petersburg), Oleg Shatov (Zenit St Petersburg).
Forwards: Maxim Kanunnikov (Amkar Perm), Alexander Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexander Kokorin (Dynamo Moscow).
SOUTH KOREA
Prospects
When South Korea and Japan were awarded the 2002 World Cup as co-hosts it was with a view to spreading the football gospel. To provide better coaching, facilities and infrastructure not only for both countries but for Asian football as a whole.
South Korea certainly embraced the gift given to them by Fifa. Their coach Hong Myung-Bo was part of Dutchman Guus Hiddink's fourth-placed finishers at that tournament. Two further Dutch coaches followed, as did several South Korean playing exports to western European club sides.
Once seen as whipping boys, the Taeguk Warriors are anything but these days and are seen as genuine challengers to qualify. This is their eighth consecutive World Cup finals appearance and they have progressed past the group stage in two of the last three editions.
World Cup 2014 team profile: South Korea
Key player
Twenty-one-year-old Son Heung Min is turning into the main creative force under Hong. Bayer Leverkusen's club record signing at £8.5m, he already has four years' worth of Bundesliga experience under his belt. Created 126 chances at Leverkusen this season, including four assists. For a youthful South Korea to be successful in Brazil.
One to watch
Kim Young-Gwon mirrors the warrior-like centre-back role performed with distinction by current head coach Hong Myung-Bo during his playing days. Aged just 24, Kim has been tipped for a bright future by club manager Marcello Lippi, Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning coach.
The boss
Hong Myung-Bo is a South Korea hero; captain of their 2002 World Cup squad that finished fourth, he was named by Pele in 2003 as one of the greatest 125 living footballers. He led South Korea to a bronze medal at the London Olympics and was the natural choice to take over a country looking for leadership last summer.
He has done so confidently, with a new direction and without fanfare.
How they qualified
They edged Uzbekistan out on goal difference to claim the second qualification spot in Asian Group A, ending two points behind Iran. However, laboured performances, including home and away defeats to Iran and away to Lebanon, prompted coach Choi Kang-hee to quit at the end of the campaign.
World Cup record
They have made group stage exits in six of eight tournaments. The Koreans rode their luck to reach the semi-finals on home soil in 2002, and lost to Uruguay in the last 16 in 2010.
Fifa ranking: 57
Squad
Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-ryeong (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-gyu (Ulsan Horang-i), Lee Bum-young (Busan I'Park)
Defenders: Yun Suk-young (QPR), Kim Young-kwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Hwang Seok-ho (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hong Jeong-ho (Augsburg), Kwak Tae-hwi (Al Hilal), Lee Yong (Ulsan Horang-i), Kim Chang-soo (Kashiwa Reysol), Park Joo-ho (Mainz)
Midfielders: Ki Seung-yueng (Sunderland, on loan from Swansea), Ha Dae-sung (Beijing Guoan), Han Kook-young (Kashiwa Reysol), Park Jung-woo (Guangzhou R&F), Son Heung-min (Bayer Leverkusen), Kim Bo-kyung (Cardiff City), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanderers), Ji Dong-won (Augsburg).
Forwards: Koo Ja-cheol (Mainz), Lee Keun-ho (Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-young (Arsenal), Kim Shin-wook (Ulsan Horang-i).
RUSSIA
Prospects
Fabio Capello and Russia work to each other's strengths: they are desperate to be a presence on the global and European stage; he is eager to show the footballing world he is more than just a club boss.
Their miserly back-line predominantly come from CSKA Moscow, while perennial Champions League dark horses Zenit St. Petersburg provide the rest of the spine.
For the most part, Capello only calls up Russian-based players so he has got to know his squad and their strengths quickly. The midfield is key of them, playing high-tempo, pressing football. Yet their Achilles heel can be when they are subjected to it themselves.
Key player
Exciting attacking prospect Alexander Kokorin is the torch-bearer of youth in Capello's ageing side. The Italian will make room for the 23-year-old, be it on the left, behind a striker, or even as the main front man. A growing influence, Kokorin scored four goals in eight starts during qualifying and hit double figures for the second successive season in the Russian top-flight.
Fabio Capello will face Algeria for a second World Cup in a row, after steering England through a dire 0-0 draw in 2010.
One to watch
Russia's ageing back-line is headed by Sergei Ignashevich, one of four CSKA Moscow team-mates that could feasibly start either in goal or defence as they try to take their miserly defensive record to the world stage. The 34-year-old stalwart needs protecting from pace these days and could wilt in the Brazilian sun. He will certainly be in the party mood however if he manages to win his 100th cap at a World Cup.
The boss
Former England boss Fabio Capello inherited a side that had been meekly eliminated from Euro 2012. He quickly instilled a greater mental fortitude into the team and dropped fading force Andrey Arshavin. The Italian's authoritarian style divided opinion in England, but has earned approval in Russia - he has been given an extended contract until 2018.
Play media
Jump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.
World Cup team profile: Russia
How they qualified
Despite back-to-back defeats by Portugal and Northern Ireland, they edged the former to win Group F by a point. They conceded just five times in 10 games.
World Cup record
Russia has competed at two World Cups since it became independent from the USSR in 1991, failing to progress beyond the group stage in either tournament.
Despite a perceived fearsome reputation the USSR flattered to deceive on the world stage and, akin to England, enjoyed their best tournament in 1966 when they finished fourth.
Fifa ranking: 19
Squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Yury Lodygin (Zenit St Petersburg), Sergey Ryzhikov (Rubin Kazan).
Defenders: Vasili Berezutskiy (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Granat (Dynamo Moscow), Andrey Eshchenko (Anzhi Makhachkala), Sergey Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Alexey Kozlov (Dynamo Moscow), Dmitry Kombarov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semenov (Terek Grozny), Georgi Schennikov (CSKA Moscow).
Midfielders: Denis Glushakov (Spartak Moscow), Igor Denisov (Dynamo Moscow), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Yury Zhirkov (Dynamo Moscow), Alexey Ionov (Dynamo Moscow), Pavel Mogilevets (Rubin Kazan), Alexander Samedov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Victor Faizulin (Zenit St Petersburg), Oleg Shatov (Zenit St Petersburg).
Forwards: Maxim Kanunnikov (Amkar Perm), Alexander Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexander Kokorin (Dynamo Moscow).
SOUTH KOREA
Prospects
When South Korea and Japan were awarded the 2002 World Cup as co-hosts it was with a view to spreading the football gospel. To provide better coaching, facilities and infrastructure not only for both countries but for Asian football as a whole.
South Korea certainly embraced the gift given to them by Fifa. Their coach Hong Myung-Bo was part of Dutchman Guus Hiddink's fourth-placed finishers at that tournament. Two further Dutch coaches followed, as did several South Korean playing exports to western European club sides.
Once seen as whipping boys, the Taeguk Warriors are anything but these days and are seen as genuine challengers to qualify. This is their eighth consecutive World Cup finals appearance and they have progressed past the group stage in two of the last three editions.
World Cup 2014 team profile: South Korea
Key player
Twenty-one-year-old Son Heung Min is turning into the main creative force under Hong. Bayer Leverkusen's club record signing at £8.5m, he already has four years' worth of Bundesliga experience under his belt. Created 126 chances at Leverkusen this season, including four assists. For a youthful South Korea to be successful in Brazil.
One to watch
Kim Young-Gwon mirrors the warrior-like centre-back role performed with distinction by current head coach Hong Myung-Bo during his playing days. Aged just 24, Kim has been tipped for a bright future by club manager Marcello Lippi, Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning coach.
The boss
Hong Myung-Bo is a South Korea hero; captain of their 2002 World Cup squad that finished fourth, he was named by Pele in 2003 as one of the greatest 125 living footballers. He led South Korea to a bronze medal at the London Olympics and was the natural choice to take over a country looking for leadership last summer.
He has done so confidently, with a new direction and without fanfare.
How they qualified
They edged Uzbekistan out on goal difference to claim the second qualification spot in Asian Group A, ending two points behind Iran. However, laboured performances, including home and away defeats to Iran and away to Lebanon, prompted coach Choi Kang-hee to quit at the end of the campaign.
World Cup record
They have made group stage exits in six of eight tournaments. The Koreans rode their luck to reach the semi-finals on home soil in 2002, and lost to Uruguay in the last 16 in 2010.
Fifa ranking: 57
Squad
Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-ryeong (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-gyu (Ulsan Horang-i), Lee Bum-young (Busan I'Park)
Defenders: Yun Suk-young (QPR), Kim Young-kwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Hwang Seok-ho (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hong Jeong-ho (Augsburg), Kwak Tae-hwi (Al Hilal), Lee Yong (Ulsan Horang-i), Kim Chang-soo (Kashiwa Reysol), Park Joo-ho (Mainz)
Midfielders: Ki Seung-yueng (Sunderland, on loan from Swansea), Ha Dae-sung (Beijing Guoan), Han Kook-young (Kashiwa Reysol), Park Jung-woo (Guangzhou R&F), Son Heung-min (Bayer Leverkusen), Kim Bo-kyung (Cardiff City), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanderers), Ji Dong-won (Augsburg).
Forwards: Koo Ja-cheol (Mainz), Lee Keun-ho (Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-young (Arsenal), Kim Shin-wook (Ulsan Horang-i).
