South Korea faces Mexico and South Africa in tough World Cup group
South Korea's national team suffered a heavy defeat in an international friendly against Ivory Coast.
Austria's upcoming opponents lost 0–4 to the Africans—also bound for this summer's World Cup in North America—in Milton Keynes, England. Lee Tae-seok, the Austria Wien midfielder, did not feature for the South Koreans, who played at Vienna's Happel Stadium on Tuesday.
Greatest Success in 2002
At the World Cup, South Korea will open against Mexico, followed by matches against the playoff winner of Czech Republic vs. Denmark and South Africa.
This will mark the Asians' twelfth World Cup appearance—and their eleventh in succession. By far their greatest achievement—their best finish as two-time Asian champions and the world's 22nd-ranked team (Austria is provisionally 25th)—was fourth place at the 2002 World Cup, which they co-hosted with Japan.
