Final Test Ghana Could Be Tough -Korea

Following an unconvincing match against Norway on Thursday, the South Korean World Cup squad is now preparing for its final warm-up clash with qualifier Ghana on Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland, where Korea has its training camp.

Ghana, ranked 48th in FIFA rankings, is making its first appearance at the World Cup, but could be tough to beat.

Named one of outside threats of the competition, the African team has a difficult draw in Group E with Italy, the United States and the Czech Republic. But key player Michael Essien is regarded as a possible surprise star. The midfielder played a key role in lifting Lyon to the French league top before moving to Chelsea last year.

The Black Stars, spurred on Essien and another talented midfielder Stephan Appiah, made a dramatic come-from-behind rally in the African preliminary Group 2 by winning its final three qualifying matches to beat out South Africa and snatch the World Cup berth.

The fortunes of team improved with the coming of Serbian coach Ratomir Dujkovic in Dec. 2004. Since then, Ghana was unbeaten through 2005 in its international matches, but this year the squad has recorded two wins against five losses and one draw.

At last year?s African Nations Cup, it went 1-2-0 in the first round and failed to qualify.

It was not the best the team could display in the Norway match. With key players like Park Ji-sung, Kim Nal-il and Lee Eul-yong off the pitch, their replacements in the midfield _ Baek Ji-hoon, Kim Do-heon and Kim Sang-sik _ could not find a breakthrough over bigger and stronger Norwegian defense line all over the match.

Defenders managed to keep the opponent in check in general but also surrendered some serious chances by missing out on Norway?s simple attacking style with long passes.

?I know from my time in the Netherlands that this is a difficult place to play. I?m happy with the result,? Korean coach Dick advocaat said after the match. The Dutchman also mentioned Sunday?s match is the most important for the squad, hinting he would field all the best members on Sunday.

?They (players) were not in a good physical condition. Their movement was not as deft as before,? said Hwang Sun-hong, 2002 World Cup team member and currently a commentator for local broadcaster SBS. ?It looks like Advocaat will fine-tune the overall cycle to fit for the first World Cup match with Togo. I feel it is part of the process to escalate their condition.?