Maradona takes on old foe Huh
Source: Agencies |
June 17, 2010, Thursday
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ARGENTINA coach Diego Maradona will see a familiar foe in the opposing dugout when his side faces South Korea in their second Group B match at Soccer City in Johannesburg today.
South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo was the man assigned to stop Maradona when the countries met in their opening match of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a game long-remembered in Buenos Aires for the Koreans' strong-arm tactics against their skipper.
"I remember Huh very well," Maradona said after the draw pairing the sides together was made in December. "In 1986 the Koreans played taekwondo, not football, against us."
Maradona went into that game in Mexico City nursing a long-standing injury, and the Koreans' tactics were to do anything they could to stop him.
Ultimately they failed as Maradona had a brilliant game leading his side to a 3-1 victory, setting off on the path that led to victory in the World Cup final against West Germany.
Argentina and South Korea, who have only played each other once since then, go into today's match buoyed by victory in their opening games last Saturday with the Argentines beating Nigeria 1-0 and the Koreans overcoming Greece 2-0.
Maradona will be without midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who is injured and will be replaced by Maxi Rodriguez.
Veron has an injury to his right calf and Maradona doesn't want to risk aggravating the injury. Maradona said yesterday that "it was a difficult decision" to leave him out because Veron wanted to play.
Maradona says the veteran midfielder could return for the team's next final group match against Greece on June 22.
South Korea, which needs to raise its game another notch to compete with Argentina, has no fresh injury worries.
Huh could also welcome striker Lee Dong-guk back into the lineup following his recovery from a thigh injury.
Huh has previously hinted he could employ a more conservative 4-5-1 formation against Argentina, which could see Lee at its apex with forward Park Chu-young pushed out wide.
Jung Song-ryong is likely to remain in goal after Huh's startling decision to ax Lee Woon-jae against Greece.
Jung had a solid start but was rarely tested and will undoubtedly be the busier of the two keepers today.
South Korea will need to succeed where far more illustrious teams have failed this past year in trying to foil the at times unstoppable Lionel Messi.
Messi, the 2009 FIFA world player of the year, made a major impact with a dazzling performance against Nigeria. He failed to score, but only because Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama made some spectacular saves.
South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo was the man assigned to stop Maradona when the countries met in their opening match of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a game long-remembered in Buenos Aires for the Koreans' strong-arm tactics against their skipper.
"I remember Huh very well," Maradona said after the draw pairing the sides together was made in December. "In 1986 the Koreans played taekwondo, not football, against us."
Maradona went into that game in Mexico City nursing a long-standing injury, and the Koreans' tactics were to do anything they could to stop him.
Ultimately they failed as Maradona had a brilliant game leading his side to a 3-1 victory, setting off on the path that led to victory in the World Cup final against West Germany.
Argentina and South Korea, who have only played each other once since then, go into today's match buoyed by victory in their opening games last Saturday with the Argentines beating Nigeria 1-0 and the Koreans overcoming Greece 2-0.
Maradona will be without midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who is injured and will be replaced by Maxi Rodriguez.
Veron has an injury to his right calf and Maradona doesn't want to risk aggravating the injury. Maradona said yesterday that "it was a difficult decision" to leave him out because Veron wanted to play.
Maradona says the veteran midfielder could return for the team's next final group match against Greece on June 22.
South Korea, which needs to raise its game another notch to compete with Argentina, has no fresh injury worries.
Huh could also welcome striker Lee Dong-guk back into the lineup following his recovery from a thigh injury.
Huh has previously hinted he could employ a more conservative 4-5-1 formation against Argentina, which could see Lee at its apex with forward Park Chu-young pushed out wide.
Jung Song-ryong is likely to remain in goal after Huh's startling decision to ax Lee Woon-jae against Greece.
Jung had a solid start but was rarely tested and will undoubtedly be the busier of the two keepers today.
South Korea will need to succeed where far more illustrious teams have failed this past year in trying to foil the at times unstoppable Lionel Messi.
Messi, the 2009 FIFA world player of the year, made a major impact with a dazzling performance against Nigeria. He failed to score, but only because Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama made some spectacular saves.
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