Man U's Park Ji-sung compliments teammates on WCup qualifier win

INCHEON, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Park Ji-sung of Manchester United praised his national squad teammates Thursday over their 4-1 win against the United Arab Emirates a day earlier in an Asian World Cup qualifier.

"I was a little nervous before the match because (younger) players lack
experience," the 27-year-old, who skippered the team during the qualifier, told
reporters before departing for England at Incheon International Airport, west of
Seoul.
"But the match went smoothly because the juniors cooperated well with the more
experienced senior players," said Park, who himself scored a goal and an assist
at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The victory sent South Korea to the top of Asian Group B, where the team is also
competing with Saudi Arabia, Iran and North Korea in the final qualifying round
for the 2010 World Cup.
South Korea hope to amplify their momentum by winning their next regional
qualifier in Saudi Arabia next month. The team, which fought a disappointing
one-all tie against North Korea in the opener of the qualifying stage, is seeking
its seventh straight World Cup ticket.
"The players have now gained back their confidence," Park said, alluding to a
recent spate of media criticism that the team is losing its dominance as an Asian
powerhouse.
"If we can keep the atmosphere alive, we'll play a match that will be different
from previous ones," he said. The midfielder will compete in the Premier League
before he returns to the national squad ahead of the Nov. 19 qualifier.
Ten Asian teams are competing in two groups in the final qualifying round that
will end in June next year. Two from each group are given tickets to the World
Cup in South Africa, while the third-placed squads will start their own playoffs.