The head coach of the South Korean men's national football team says the country has been placed in a very challenging group for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Coach Uli Stielike made the remark while speaking to reporters after attending an open match of an elementary school football league in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Friday.

On Thursday, South Korea was paired in Group C with Germany, Mexico and Fiji in the men's football tournament for this year's Rio Olympics in Brazil.

Stielike said that while Fiji is relatively weak, Germany and Mexico are very strong. He projected that the final game will likely determine the two winning teams that will advance to the round of eight.

He also said that head coach Shin Tae-yong of South Korea's Olympic football team is a responsible leader and will do a good job in preparing the squad for the matches ahead.

He added that as public desire is high for the Olympic team to fare well, he will cooperate on the issue of "wild cards."

The Olympic tournament is open to players under 23 but each country can select up to three older players as "wild cards."