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Still brimming with
confidence after their impressive showing against former European
champions Greece at the weekend, Group B leaders, South Korea, are
ready to upset two time World Cup Champions Argentina when both teams
clash later today at the Ellis Park stadium, Johannesburg.

Both teams got off
to a winning start with the Koreans more convincing in their 2-0 win
over Greece, while Argentina were lucky to win against Nigeria.

The winner of this tie will be guaranteed a place in the round of 16 following last Saturday’s results.

Argentina have emerged victorious from both of their previous meetings with Korea Republic.

However, Korea
Republic will be encouraged by the solid performance of their
neighbours North Korea, who held mighty Brazil to a goalless draw in
the first half of their match on Tuesday before succumbing to a 2-1
defeat.

Old foes meet

The two coaches are
no strangers to each other having featured in their teams’ meeting at
Mexico 1986, where La Albiceleste ran out 3-1 winners. South Korean
coach Hun Jung-Moo had the unenviable job of man-marking Diego Maradona
that day – a thankless task for anybody in a tournament where today’s
Argentina coach inspired his country to their second FIFA World Cup
triumph.

Twenty-four years
on, they cross swords again with Huh hoping for a different outcome as
he bids to become the first indigenous coach to lead Korea Republic
into the last 16.

Argentina are 41
places higher in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking but Korea Republic
have proved in the past they are more than capable of springing
surprises, a fact borne out when they beat Italy and Spain to storm
into the last four on home soil at the 2002 World Cup.

Their 2-0 victory
over Greece on Saturday should ensure confidence is high in the Korea
Republic camp although they do not have the same wealth of talent in
their fold like the Argentines who have the likes of Lionel Messi,
Diego Milito, Javier Mascherano and Juan Sebastian Veron amongst many
others.