South Korea, Nigeria have chance to advance

     

South Korea have targeted the sometimes fragile Nigerian temperament as a route to victory when a tight World Cup Group B reaches a climax on Tuesday with all four teams still in the hunt for a second round spot.

Despite a thrashing at the hands of Argentina in their last match, victory for the South Koreans at the Moses Mabhida stadium should give them a place in the knockout stage for the first time on foreign soil.

Nigeria must consider themselves lucky to still be alive in the group after two defeats and need a first win over the South Koreans in their fourth attempt, and hope for an Argentina victory over the Greeks in Polokwane.

The Nigerians' 2-1 defeat by the Greeks came after midfielder Sani Kaita was dismissed for kicking out at Vassilis Torosidis and South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo is hoping to provoke a similar reaction from the West Africans.

Image: South Korea's Park Ji-sung (right) trains with a teammate during a practice session
Photographs: Reuters