Korea exits World Cup gracefully

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Sports

Hangzhou Asian Games

Mon, December 4, 2023 | 15:06

Korea exits World Cup gracefully

Posted : 2010-06-27 17:23

Updated : 2010-06-27 17:23

By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff reporter

The 2002 spell-binding rally didn't repeat itself for South Korea who saw its World Cup campaign come to an end Saturday with a 2-1 loss to Uruguay, putting it out of the quarterfinals.

However, the Asian team showed that it has made enough progress to stand shoulder to shoulder with the top teams in the world.

At Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Lee Chung-yong scored in the second half but South Korea couldn't overcome the two goals it gave up to Luis Suarez ― one in each half.

Following an easy tap-in that gave his team an early lead just eight minutes into the match, the Ajax Amsterdam forward curled the ball into the net with ten minutes to go to secure a Uruguayan victory.

Lee headed home a 67th minute equalizer from a rebounding free kick by Ki Sung-yueng from the left side of the penalty area.

For South Korean coach Huh Jung-moo's squad, it was still a successful run against the odds. Despite a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Argentina, the team finished above Greece and Nigeria in Group B to secure a berth in the last 16 for the first time on foreign soil.

This was the second time that South Korea qualified from the group stage in its eight World Cup appearances, after it advanced to the semifinals at the 2002 tournament held on home turf.

The Taeguk Warriors impressed the winner Uruguay. "Korea surprised us with their approach and different style of football - a very direct style of play," Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said after the match, praising the performance of his Asian opponents he beat for the second time in the World Cup following a win in 1990.

"We can see how Korea has grown, and it is perhaps the strongest national squad in Asia," Tabarez said. "Korea had to lose the game, but they are leaving the World Cup with their heads held high."

Huh said the team had progressed well, and would get better with more players advancing to overseas leagues.

"We are growing but we do have areas we need to improve in," Huh said after the round of 16 match. "It's very important for our players to learn more from international teams by playing in foreign leagues and also to learn by playing against foreign opponents."

Team captain Park Ji-sung reiterated that, saying the national team has to "have more players come over from Asia to play in Europe," because it "makes the Asian teams stronger."

Coach Huh and the South Korean players ― will return home with the exception of Kim Nam-il, who will join his club, Russia's Tom Tomsk directly ― Tuesday, after a 37-day journey that started on May 22.

Other overseas-based players, including Park Ji-sung and Park Chu-young, will take a break in Korea before leaving for Europe for the new season.

The national team will also be set for an overhaul as some older players in the squad are expected to retire from the game. Huh's contract will also expire with the end of the World Cup, and the Korea Football Association will reshuffle the coaching staff.

Several international matches are scheduled before the AFC Asian Cup in January next year. After a couple of friendlies in August and September, South Korea will host Japan on Oct. 12.

The opponents for the August match haven't been confirmed yet, but Saudi Arabia is a likely candidate prior to a match with Iran the following month.

The revamped Taeguk Warriors will be called on in late December or early January, to prepare for the Asian Cup.

한국 우아하게 월드컵 퇴장

토요일 2-1로 우루과이에 지면서 8강 진출에 실패한 한국으로서는 월드컵 응원전도 끝나 2002년 주문에 홀린 듯한 열광적인 응원이 반복되지 않았다.

그러나 이 아시아의 한국은 세계 정상급 팀들과 어깨를 나란히 했을 만큼 진전을 보였다.

포트 엘리자베쓰의 만델라 경기장에서 가졌던 16강 전에서 이청용은 후반전에서 득점을 했으나 전 후반에서 각각 한 골씩 루이스 수아레스에 허용, 만회하는데 실패했다.

hckim@koreatimes.co.kr