Fifa World Cup Qualifier Preview: Kuwait - South Korea

Kuwait's Serbian boss Goran Tufegdzic was pleased with 80 minutes of his side's display against UAE, although a sloppy final 10 minutes had him concerned, after they almost let slip a 3-0 lead.

The team's star man, Bader Al-Mutwa, scored a stunning goal against UAE and will lead the attack again alongside Yousef Nasser. Saleh Al Sheikh may come in for a start after making a short cameo against the Emirati side.

Taeguk Warriors coach Cho Kwang-Rae told reporters this week he hadn't really had enough time to prepare his side for the Kuwait clash but said their 6-0 win over Lebanon was a useful practice.

Cho has also indicated he's likely to persist with the same line-up and the same tactics against Kuwait, despite the long journey. Busan I'Park forward Han Sang-Wook could be given an opportunity off the bench, should his side need a goal, while Lee Jae-Seong may get a chance to make his second national team appearance.

• These two nations last met at this very stadium in the 2006 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, with Korea winning 4-0. The result saw the visitors clinch World Cup qualification.

• Kuwait haven't lost on home soil since September last year, when they went down 1-0 in Seoul to Iran in a friendly.

• Despite bowing out of the 2011 Asian Cup without a point, Al-Azraq are considered one of the dark horses to do well in qualification, having won the 2010 Gulf Cup of Nations.

• The west Asian side have taken on North Korea three times in the past 12 months, drawing with them twice and defeating them once.

• Kuwait have reached the World Cup finals once, way back in 1982, when they claimed one point, with a 1-1 draw against Czechoslovakia.

• South Korea, on the other hand, have qualified for the past seven World Cup finals.

• The Taeguk Warriors were heavily beaten in their last away match, 3-0 to rivals Japan in August.

• South Korea were runners-up at the 1980 Asian Cup held in Kuwait.

• Korea skipper Park Chu-Young has happy memories at Kuwait City's Peace and Friendship Stadium, having made his second international appearance there and scoring his second international goal there, in the aforementioned 4-0 victory.