What are Korea's Chances of Doing Well? ~ New Korean Kit ~ Club Football in Korea ~ Korea in France '98 ~ Korean Players ~ Korean Friendlies ~ Korea 2 Poland 0 On the Ground

WHAT ARE KOREA'S CHANCES OF DOING WELL?
Korea has never won a game in the World Cup finals, yet has qualified for the last five: it is the most consistent World Cup team in Asia yet struggles to break through to the next level. They have their moments in World Cups, yet then it just doesn't seem to happen for them. In France '98 they held their own against an impressive Mexico side until Ha Sok-Ju was red-carded, and then they crumbed; in USA '94 they surprised Spain by scoring two spectacular late goals to draw 2-2. They have quality no doubt, but it takes a little more than that: they need a little more of it, and then they need some nous, in order to compete against the quality from Europe & South America.

This time can be different for them though: they are managed by Gus Hiddink, a renowned world coach who has competed with the best. If Korea allows him to run the show in the way that he knows best then I am confident for them. He has elected to give Korea a "club-side" type run-up to the tournament, by arranging a tour of European friendlies. To date they have played one and won one, 2-0 away to a Finland team depleted of its best players. Nothing much can be read into that, although the way Korea dominated its weaker opponent was impressive. First impression: need more firepower up front; left-winger looked good.

Korea has a group that promises points. It is harder than Japan's group but because it was seeded it avoided the giants of the tournament such as France and Argentina. Korea plays Portugal, USA and Poland. It is hard to see any other than Portugal topping the group because their team is full of stars, goals and winners, not least Luis Figo, key player at Real Madrid and World Player of the Year. However Korea plays Portugal last, and expect an already-qualified Portugal to field their reserve team so perhaps there is still hope? Perhaps: in Euro 2000, Portugal's reserve side beat Germany 3-0.

Korean hope should spring from its games against the less scary opponents, Poland and the USA. Each of these sides are respectable and able, but neither pass the "Name one of their Players" test. Korea is at home, and will be lifted by the occasion and the crowd. The Korean crowd: a unique weapon. Six years ago I saw Korea play in Seoul against Brazil, and then AC Milan, and on both occasions the crowd was the "twelfth player". Expect no less this time.

Shall I stick my neck out and make a prediction? Korea to qualify in second place with five points, through one win and two draws. Why not!

NEW KOREAN KIT

Here it is then. Fetching isn't it. (It's the red one.)

Korea is still with Nike and has come up with quite an Asian looking kit for the finals, moving away from the European looking designs they usually go for. It can be viewed at www.nikefootball.com It is a little expensive though; the shirt costs W 95,000, although there is a cheaper version of it without the bells & whistles of the "authentic" shirt. (It looks just the same.)

CLUB FOOTBALL IN KOREA
The K-League has ten teams and the current champion is Songnam. Busan finished 4th last season. There are some foreign players but none anyone has heard of. Attendances are low, public interest is low, and this could cost Korea dear in the World Cup. While Japanese players play in the J-League to full houses and alongside better players, and while the best Japanese players play in top leagues in Europe and even command healthy transfer fees, the Korean players are stuck in this backwater. It is not unreasonable to expect the World Cup to come as a shock to the Korean players, and the gulf in class they can expect to find once the tournament starts prove too much again for them. Perhaps the World Cup will spur a football boom? Hopefully. The doctor orders either importing better foreign players, or, sending Korean players to Europe to play regularly against the best

KOREA IN FRANCE '98
Korea performed admirably in France '98, although achieved nothing and then fired their coach, Cha, Bum-Gun. This knee-jerk reaction to defeat disappointed some Korea watchers because Cha was regarded as the best coach in Asia. The qualification story towards the Finals was solid and often spectacular, as Korea hit its opponents for fours and fives, home and away. The highlight was a great 2-1 away win in Japan.

In France Korea started brightly and was looking strong against Mexico. At 1-1 however Korea lost a key midfield holding player to a red card and eventually lost 3-1. Then to great national shame they lost 5-0 against Holland. At this point they just wanted to go home, and the result was used to justify firing their coach. I will say though that this was the unluckiest 5-0 I have ever seen. Korea contained Holland admirably, and each goal was a world-class effort from a world-class player on top of his game: scorers Bergkamp, Overmars and Kluivert are three all-time greats and Holland were potential World Cup winners. They were certainly well able to beat any team and were a match for either of the finalists, France or Brazil: there is less shame in this result than Korea felt.

KOREAN PLAYERS
The best research on these is in Korean but our crack team is working on it so wait for it...

REPORTS ON KOREAN FRIENDLIES

KOREA 4 SCOTLAND 1, in BUSAN.

Towards the end of this impressive game it was apparent that Korea had routed Scotland, the crowd started singing a well-known football song in English, in the tune of "Blue Moon". "Brazil, it's just like watching Brazil, it's just like watching Brazil, it's just like watching Brazil¡¦"

Ok maybe they didn't but they should have! It was a surreal old night out watching Korea play as well as that, they were like a team of lions, roaring around the field, scoring breathtaking goals, who did they think they were? Was that really Korea out there? Couldn't have been! Have we all been underestimating them? They were sensational!

Makes you wonder. I read the foreign press and they rate Korea's chances of even getting out of the group as somewhere between slim and none. Could it be bad research, lazy journalism? That team passed it in triangles, moved well, played effective one-twos, closed their opponent down, took their chances, created chances, got to the fifty-fifty balls first, basically did everything that top sides do. They had spirit & resolve, grit & determination, I liked them. So based on this I'm betting on them to get out of the group because the odds are generous at the moment.

So jump in and do not be afraid¡¦!

KOREA 1 ENGLAND 1, in SEOGWIPO.

Are you still not convinced about Korea? Starting out against the English, Korea were respectful and cautious, allowing an out of sorts England side to create chances and take the lead. Then just before half time Hong Myong-Bo steamed forward and cracked a thrity yard screamer toward the top left corner which was well saved, and Korea rallied. For the second half Korea came out, outfought and outpressed the English and scored the equaliser they deserved. So much for the myth that Korea folds and crumbles under pressure. Maybe in 98; not now.

This side is going to win a lot of respect in June. Because their game is based on passion, running, power and desire. And they like to shoot: Ahn Jung-Hwan almost scored from his own half in the last minute. They also like chasing a lost cause and retrieving it: their left winger can trip over the ball, fall on his face, spring back up, tackle back and still whip in a cross. All the big hearted stuff. They may be a bit naive at times, a little cocky in defence, this may embarrass them, but going forward it's all quick, short passes, and retrieving the ball they put two men pressing the opponent forcing him into a mistake, nicking it off him, and back to the passy little triangles going forward again. They are playing the beautiful game I tell you and will be the fun team of the World Cup.

I wish they'd won, because for the spirit they deserved to. Oh and because I put a few quid on them to win as well. Why didn't that long shot go in?!

KOREA 2 FRANCE 3, in SEOUL.

Nice game this. It seems like the nation is starting to believe, and even dream a bit. At half time the Korean players ran in leading 2-1 and deserving it. Whatever happened after that didn't matter; what did was that these players mixed it with the World and European Champions for 45 minutes, and that's the important bit. At the end the Koreans were denied a sure penalty so there was a moral draw to be claimed somewhere but no-one was claiming it. Instead the Koreans were just so dazed that their team caused the French so much trouble with their power play. Again, hunting in packs, stealing the ball, passing and moving, creating chances, shooting, scoring. These are the days! So if they can do this to Mighty France, then Come On Poland Let's Have You!

KOREA 2 POLAND 0 EYE WITNESS: JAMES TAYLOR FROM ENGLAND BRINGS HIS TYPING FINGERS OVER TO BUSAN AND TYPES US UP A STORM, RECALLING KOREA'S OPENING GAME AND THE BUILD UP TO IT. READ ON...

JAMES WITH THE FANS.

South Korea v Poland: I was there, but very nearly wasn't... The pre-pre match was all Polish, lethargic poles with excited moustaches on the plane from London, then poles on the Busan subway crowing about their team - Legia Warsaw. One was so sunburnt pink he seemed to be sporting a total body polish top "give me two hours and its gone" he growled. We showed up for the build up more in hope than expectation. Below the stadium fans milled around between the attentions of loudspeakers and touts. McDonalds broadcast pop classics mixed with crowd noise whilst screening Japan v Belgium inside to captive audience of ice cream slurping teenagers. Ticket touts lurked under tree covered likely looking corner, where flashing baton wielding traffic cops funneled large crowds across the street every five minutes. It was early; the trainee touts were young and spotty in replica shirts and bad glasses or the real thing dressed in the latest sweat trapping Khaki or brown tops - perhaps man city's new away kit. Light entertainment came in the form of requisite national art of face painting. Every Korean flag under the sun and even written characters in fetching green and white. This was superseded by sequined dancing troupes who entertained a large crowd; the endless stream of beautiful women apparently down to the organizers intent to bus in the most beautiful women from all over the country to 'Wow' the foreigners. A manifestation of the inevitable question you are asked here 'so what do you think about Korea?' In the thong, crowds of blue and white kitted out schoolgirls mixed as easily as if they were boys asking to mind your car in England. One group offered to help us secure tickets from the touts. In a coordinated action, seemingly drawn from the netball court, they surrounded and harangued the hapless touts, however their best efforts were to no avail. Information is scarce here. One desk sends you to another, they promise big screens somewhere else, they are not switched on - in an effort to please no one will risk disappointing. Information fog was compounded by the touts, tickets promised, notes proffered, head shaking, then no tickets or a higher price. With twenty minutes to go our resolve was beaten and we decided to taxi it to a supposed screening in a nightclub. The streets were tense with last minute movement and crowds surged excitedly towards a television shop; however a taxi was not to be had and the thirsty mirage of beer and football seemed even further away. We went back in the hot hastening dusk to the shadows of tout corner. One particularly tenacious and greedy family were still hanging out for huge prices and would probably sit on their tickets all night. As the crowds thinned our saviour arrived, a neat brown suited housewife who was also looking for a ticket. Out of nowhere she found two tickets and gave them to us, the seller was a young guy in a salmon pink Korea top, he wanted 110,000. We held out for our 100 000 out of principle, got the tickets and blew kisses to our saviour. Five minutes to go and a sweaty hike up to the huge concrete tarantula like stadium commanding the entrance to the hills. Long lines of undercover police in civilian clothes were being drilled, except that all the Korean fans were decked out in a festival of red and the lines looked like conspicuous queues of Herberts. We got our seats as it kicked off, in a giant bowl this was not the place to be if red was not your favourite colour. Korea played their athletic and skillful pressing game and overwhelmed the Poles. Two boys in front stood arm in arm cheering, an older woman cried. The place was packed, three thousand fans had queued overnight for the last tickets, and they celebrated as if it were the last night of the world, or the first of a new. The Polish players walked dejectedly over to a corner to receive a rapturous reception from their pocket of 1000 fans. The players threw in all their shirts and the fans from Gdansk, Ljubin, Stary Saz and even Australian Poles beat the air with their fists. In the town that night crowds filled the streets celebrating and jumping on vehicles. Three students danced on top of a green bus full of bemused passengers, when the police finally coaxed them down the irate bus driver had to be restrained from charging into the crowd. The celebrations passed off peacefully enough and girls, for one day, smiled everywhere. Korean T.V. proudly broadcast clips of newscasts from around the world reporting the celebrations, CNN, the BBC all the big names. Perhaps it was all worthwhile, with 10 new stadiums that will hardly be used again, for this one moment in the spotlight.

This guide was created and is maintained by Johnny Hotspur.
Send info and questions to John (with WORLDCUP in the Title Bar) at [email protected]