PARK JI-SUNG LEADING BY EXAMPLE

South Korea's World Cup is up and running with gusto, and captain Park Ji-Sung is leading by example.

The Manchester United star has grown in stature over the five years he has spent in England and is fast becoming a veteran of World Cup football.

His superbly taken goal against Greece on Saturday was his third goal at World Cup Finals, and each have been scored in separate tournaments.

In 2002 Park sent the Korean nation delirious when he struck the winner against Portugal in the final group game that confirmed the then-Host nation as group winners and put them into the knock-out stages of the World Cup for the first time ever.

Four years ago in Germany Park popped up with a late equalizer in Korea's second match with France that kept alive their hopes of qualifying in that tournament, and now, following his strike against Greece in what was his 89th international appearance, Park joins a select group of players who have scored in three different tournaments.

South Korea have one foot in the second round again and are now preparing for Argentina on Thursday. The two countries met in the first group match of the 1986 World Cup when the South Americans emerged as 3-1 winners and went on the win the tournament.

On two other occasions South Korea have faced South American opposition at the World Cup. In 1990 they lost 1-0 to Uruguay in their final group match and in 1994 played out a 0-0 draw with Bolivia.

Confidence is high amongst the players following yesterday's sparkling display and they will provide a stern test for Argentina in Johannesburg on Thursday in a game which could decide who wins Group B.