South Korea’s World Cup team is aiming to tackle Uruguay’s rear flank in the upcoming battle for a World Cup quarterfinal spot, a team midfielder said Thursday.

South Korea has qualified for the Sweet 16 for the first time on foreign soil, after drawing 2-2 with Nigeria on Tuesday. Since their first trip to the World Cup in 1954 in Switzerland, South Korea has made it to the second round only once, in 2002, when they played at home.

The South Koreans are set to play Uruguay on Saturday in Port Elizabeth for a ticket to the quarterfinals.

“I found that Uruguay’s left and right fullbacks appear to have difficulty when they attempt to overlap (between defense and offense),” South Korean midfielder Lee Chung-yong told reporters after a training session in Rustenburg.

The midfielder for England’s Bolton Wanderers said a “more thorough analysis” is required and he expects his coach, Huh Jung-moo, to provide more details on tactics.

The South Americans, champions of the first-ever World Cup in 1930 and in 1950, conceded not a single goal against France, South Africa and Mexico in the group-stage matches.

South Korea in FIFA World Cup

“They haven’t conceded goals in the group stage but their flank areas seem too empty,” the Premier Leaguer said, and predicted that South Korea could attack the South Americans while leading the flow of the game.

Lee noted that his players “were a bit tired physically and mentally” from the team’s long joint training period, but forecast that his team could reach the Elite Eight if it hangs tough.

The South American team, 16th in world football rankings, holds a 4-0 edge overall against South Korea, including a 1-0 win in the 1990 World Cup first round.

“We can’t ignore previous records, but South Korea’s level of football is different from the past,” Lee said.

He urged his teammates to exercise discretion in game management, noting that a “single mistake can bring about a critical result.”

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