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 EYEWITNESS: 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]