Arena rates the South Koreans (Allsport).
ARENA WARY OF KOREANS
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South Korea will prove formidable opponents on
home turf, according to United States coach Bruce Arena.
The Americans open up against Portugal on June 5 - a great challenge in itself
- but it is the meeting with Korea five days later which is worrying Arena.
"It is never easy playing the host country," he said.
"We are just happy we are not playing South Korea in the opening game,
because I think that will be very difficult.
"Not that it won't be in the second game, but I think in the opening game the
Korean team will have great support behind them."
Poland are the team to face Korea first, in Busan on June 4.
With 11 days until the US kick off their bid, Arena is concentrating on the
Portuguese task in training.
But he has watched the Koreans, who held England to a 1-1 draw this week, and
recognises their developing ability.
"They have great physical qualities and a great work rate," he added.
"As we have followed Korea across the last five or six months, the players
have shown a lot of versatility and have played in a number of different
positions, so it is hard to single out any one player in particular.
"Their back three are very good, their midfield is very solid and they have
improved in their goalscoring of late."
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