N. Ireland to play S. Korea for first time in friendly

Belfast Jan 17 (IANS) Northern Ireland will lock horns with Asian football superpowers South Korea for the first time in a friendly match at Windsor Park here on March 24.

The tie will be a warm-up for the Koreans who are slated to take part in the FIFA World Cup in Russia this summer a BBC report said.

"They have a big squad so I ve no doubt their players will be out to impress their manager with the World Cup looming " said Northern Ireland chief coach Michael O Neill as quoted by BBC.

"The game provides our players with an opportunity to go up against a country we have not faced before " he added.

South Korea are currently placed 60th in the FIFA World Rankings compared to Northern Ireland who are in the 24th position. They have been drawn in Group F where they will face world champions Germany Sweden and Mexico.

--IANS
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