Need to work on defence ahead of World Cup, says South Korea coach

Seoul May 2 (IANS) South Korea s national football team coach said his team needed to work on strengthening their defence ahead of the football World Cup in Russia.

Shin Tae-yong who took charge of the side last summer was speaking at a press conference at the Korea Football Association headquarters here on Tuesday reports Efe.

"We have our first match on June 18 so we ll have at least two weeks " he said as cited by Yonhap news agency.

"If we work on to build defensive cohesion we ll be able to wash off the concerns".

In his 14 matches in charge the team have conceded almost as many goals (19) as they have scored (20).

The team slipped to disappointing defeats in the March friendlies against Northern Ireland and Poland in which they conceded five goals.

South Korea have four friendly matches scheduled against Honduras Bosnia-Herzegovina Bolivia and Senegal as they prepare for the World Cup which kicks off in June.

Their opening Group F game against Sweden takes place on June 18 before they face Mexico and world champions Germany.

--IANS
gau/bg