South Korea play Togo in the first match of Group G at the Waldstadion, Frankfurt, and the surprise 2002 semi-finalists are expected to field an attacking line-up in a game they need to win if they are to have any realistic chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages.

Despite the expected attacking approach, South Korea coach Dick Advocaat said his side would take nothing for granted against the West Africans.

"You never know if it's an advantage or not that they have problems," he said. "They could unite more than they would normally. But we have seen Togo playing several times and we know more or less the way they play."

Advocaat said a specific tactical approach had been devised for the team to counter Togo's strengths.

"The most important thing is that we can get a system that will beat Togo," added the ex-Netherlands coach.

With France and Switzerland to face in their other group games it is virtually essential that they achieve a result against Togo, and Tottenham fullback Lee Young-Pyo said the players are excited by the opportunity of emulating the team's 2002 performance.

"We have prepared so well for this World Cup we can meet all the expectations placed on us," he said. "Our first goal is to get to the second round. But the main thing is to show everyone that we have improved from 2002."

Teammate Seol Ki-Hyeon echoed that sentiment: "We are going to show that what we did four years ago was no fluke. The pressure is more than it was four years ago. We hadn't won a single game in the World Cup before 2002 but then we reached the semi-finals,” said Seol. "It won't be easy playing against Togo, Switzerland and France but we are ready to beat them. We are very confident," he added.

Song Chung-Gug and Lee Young-Pyo are expected to play as wingbacks with Ji-Sung Park in the centre of a three-man midfield.

Togo's preparations have been in disarray since their coach Otto Pfister walked out following a dispute between players and officials concerning bonus payments.

Since walking out on Friday, 68-year-old Pfister has insisted that he had received a fax offering him his job back, and that he would return for Togo's World Cup debut. However, a government official stated that Pfister would not be reappointed, and a Togolese football administrator said Pfister's assistant Kodjovi Mawuena would replace him.

It is hardly the best preparation for the country’s first World Cup appearance, but Arsenal’s Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor has insisted the unrest will not upset their World Cup.

"It has always been like that in Togo," said Adebayor. "One cannot change things from one day to the next. Tomorrow the president of the federation could be fired, or I could be sacked."

The 22-year-old, who was top scorer in the African Zone World Cup qualifying campaign, also said he was not concerned about the problems.

"I want to forget all that now. I want to give my best. Over the bonus question, I say to myself that this money, if I don't earn it today, I can earn it tomorrow.” He did however admit that the encounter with South Korea would be tough: "We know we are going to play a good team and that it will be difficult. As for our strategy, I cannot tell you, we shall see."

Fortunately for Togo, aside from the off-field difficulties, they have no injury problems in the squad.

South Korea (probable): Lee Woon-jae, Song Chong-gug, Choi jin-cheul, Kim Jin-kyu, Lee Young-pyo, Park Ji-sung, Kim Nam-il, Lee Eul-yong, Lee Chun-soo, Ahn Jung-Hwan, Seol Ki-hyeon

Togo (probable): Kossi Agassa, Dare Nibombe, Jean-Paul Abalo Dosseh, Massamasso Tchangai, Ludovic Assemoassa, Kuami Agboh, Thomas Dossevi, Cherif Toure-Maman, Alaixys Romao, Emmanuel Adebayor, Mohamed Kader Coubadja

Referee: Graham Poll (England)