South Korea makes history in World Cup

Taeguk Warriors face Uruguay in Round of 16 at 11 pm Saturday

By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff reporter

South Korea's World Cup history traces back to 1954, when the country suffered humiliating 9-0 and 7-0 losses to Hungary and Turkey, respectively. It took nearly 50 years of waiting until the Taeguk Warriors wrote a new chapter by reaching the semifinals in the 2002 tournament at home.

Eight years later, the squad has now morphed into a new dimension. Under the leadership of Korean manager Huh Jung-moo, South Korea achieved its aim of advancing to the knockout stage for the first time on foreign soil.

It also proved that the Asians are further nearing the mainstream of the football world, and the miraculous run back in 2002 was more than just a product of home advantage, as some people appear to be still trying to make the world believe.

Lee Jung-soo scored in the first half and Park Chu-young added a goal after halftime, as the team managed a 2-2 tie with Nigeria in its third and last group stage match in Durban, Tuesday, making it the sixth country to secure a spot in the knockout stage.

The result might not have been sufficient for a seat in the top 16 after the East Asians outplayed Nigeria and Greece in the Group B competition, but as Argentina beat Greece 2-0 in Polokwane, Korea's place was assured.

With four points, South Korea was second, ahead of Greece with three points and Nigeria with one.

In a match for a quarterfinal berth, South Korea next takes on Group A winner Uruguay at 11 p.m. Saturday (KST) at Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth, where the team got off to a flying start for its World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over Greece on June 12.

Nigeria opened the scoring; in the 12th minute, Kalu Uche converted a Chidj Odiah cross from the right to a sharp drive in the center of the box that hit the back of the net to the right. Cha Du-ri was standing behind the Nigerian midfielder, but failed to mark him on time.

However, South Korea squared it up seven minutes before the break in a virtual repetition of the first goal against Greece.

Ki Sung-yeung bent a free kick to the right post, and a header off an inrushing Lee Jung-soo was deflected off his feet and rolled into the net past Rabiu Afolabi and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

The buoyant Koreans snatched the lead three minutes into the second half. Park Chu-young made up for his painful own goal in the Argentina match, by curling a beautiful free kick into the far right of the net, beating Enyeama's diving effort.

In the 68th minute, South Korea allowed a painful equalizer to Aiyegbeni Yakubu from a penalty kick as Kim Nam-il fouled Chinedu Ogbuke in the box during a poor attempt at a clearance.

The Nigerians then flooded the Korean half with desperate attacks, but South Korea managed to keep them off the board for the remaining minutes, as their supporters in the stadium and at home went euphoric.

Coach Huh said after the game that he was proud of all of his squad members.

"We made small mistakes against Nigeria. That's what we need to improve on in the matches to come," Huh said.

"One loss means it's over in a knockout bracket. Nobody knows what will happen and anything can happen. I am sure my boys will do their best, aiming higher than expected."

For the match against Uruguay, he said further preparation was necessary.

"Uruguay puts lots of defenders in the back, and is characterized by sharp counterattacks," Huh said. "But we can score against any team; we were the only one to score against Argentina in the group."

Captain Park Ji-sung said now the players can truly enjoy the game in the tournament.

"I was so thrilled and excited at the final whistle. I realize again how hard it is to get into the round of 16," the Manchester United star, who enjoyed a sweet trip to the semifinals in his first World Cup appearance in 2002, said of the Nigeria game.

"Sometimes we were distracted on the pitch, but it's something we have to keep in mind in the matches we will have here. Now that we achieved our initial goal, we will be able to enjoy our matches better."

At the final whistle, the whole country erupted with joy and celebration in the early Wednesday hours here.

Over 500,000 fans gathered outside, in front of giant outdoor screens in various places nationwide, to watch the game together and cheer for the national team.

한국 축구 새로운 역사를 쓰다

한국의 월드컵 출전 역사는 1954년으로 거슬러 올라간다. 처녀출전한 이 대회에서 한국은 헝가리에 9-0, 터키에 7-0이라는 참담한 패배를 겪어야 했다. 거의 50년이 지나고 나서야 태극 전사들은 홈에서 열린 2002년 월드컵에서 4강 진출의 신화를 이루며 새로운 역사를 쓰게 되었다.

그로부터 8년이 지난 후, 축구 대표팀은 또다른 역사를 이루어내었다. 허정무 감독의 지휘 하에, 한국은 원정 16강 진출이라는 목표를 달성해냈다.

이 결과는 또한, 한국이 세계 축구에서 점점 주류에 다가가고 있으며, 일부에서 지금까지 계속 주장하던 것처럼 2002년의 기적 같은 성과가 단순한 홈 어드밴티지의 결과물이 아님을 보여주었다.

이정수와 박주영이 전후반 각각 한 골 씩을 득점한 한국은, 현지시각 화요일에 더번에서 열린 예선 마지막 3차전을 2-2 무승부로 마치며 참가국 중 6번째로 16강 진출을 확정지었다.

8강 진출권을 놓고 한국은 A조 1위 우루과이와 포트 엘리자베스에 있는 넬슨 만델라 베이 스타이움에서 토요일에 16강전을 치른다. 이곳은 대표팀이 6월 12일 예선 첫 경기에서 그리스를 2-0으로 물리치며 기분좋은 출발을 한 곳이기도 하다.