South Korea: The 2002 co-hosts plan new miracles

Hardly anyone reckoned South Korea when the 2002 FIFA World Cup kicked off. The Asians were considered polite hosts of the World Cup finals, but their sporting prowess was deemed to be limited. Though South Korea had previously qualified five times for a World Cup, they were defeated in all their nine matches in 1954, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998. But the 2002 World Cup proved totally different for the East Asians.

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Red became the colour of that World Cup as the “Taeguk Warriors”, as the players were dubbed, upset the established European top teams. Carried by the enthusiasm of hundreds of thousands of fans South Korea made it into the semi-finals, and ultimately finished fourth for the greatest ever success in Asian football. Coach Guus Hiddink became an instant hero, and during the post match celebrations millions of Koreans in a sea of red shirts created an unbelievable party atmosphere.

Since then, nobody has underestimated the South Koreans. They qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany without any major problems. In the first group stages they defeated Lebanon (2-0, 1-1), Vietnam (2-0, 2-1) and the Maldives (2-0, 0-0). In the second stage, South Korea started with a win over Kuwait, but then suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat in Saudi Arabia. They got back on course with a 2-1 victory against Uzbekistan, but managed only a 1-1 draw after a last minute goal in the second match. The team of new Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere proved their capabilities in their penultimate group match away to Kuwait, with a 4-0 victory. Thus, on June 8, 2005, South Korea confirmed their participation in Germany, together with Saudi Arabia against whom they lost their final qualifier 1-0. It is the sixth successive World Cup participation for South Korea, the most successful team of the aspiring Asian Continent.

Their fans most remember the World Cup at home. South Korea started as an outsider, but on June 4, 2002, upset Poland 2-0 to celebrate their first ever World Cup victory. Then followed a 1-1 draw with the USA and a 1-0 win over favourites Portugal. Park Ji Sung scored the goal and was later contracted by Hiddink for PSV Eindhoven, before moving to Manchester United in the summer of 2005. When they finished top of their group, it was clear that Hiddink’s tactics had helped develop team work orientated by good running.

After their success against Portugal, the Koreans followed up with a further upset in the second round, defeating Italy by a golden goal in extra time. This was earned after a dramatic 88th minute equalizer for 1-1, two minutes from full time. The header by Ahn Jung Hwan, the long-haired fighter who became a superstar during the World Cup, ascertained the victory over the three-time World Cup champions. The 2-1 win was disputed, but that did not dampen the enthusiasm in the country. It was Spain’s turn in the quarter-finals to get to know the new power in world football. Though the Southern Europeans were the dominating force, they failed to score goals. After a goalless draw at the end of 120 minutes the Koreans won the penalty shoot-out 5-3. Hong Myung Bo, the veteran of the team who had already played in the 1990 World Cup, scored the decisive penalty.

Hiddink’s team were the favourites in the semi-finals, because Germany had failed to show convincing form in their two 1-0 victories over Paraguay and the USA in the second round and quarter-finals. But the South Koreans did not play with the same high pace and indomitable fighting spirit against them. Michael Ballack scored the 1-0 winner in the powder keg of Seoul. But despite the defeat by the three-time World Cup champions there were great celebrations in all cities throughout South Korea. Though Hiddink’s team lost their final match for third place 3-2 to Turkey, the nation was proud of Hiddink and his heroes.

The national team did not remain free of problems later, however. Hiddink returned to PSV Eindhoven in his native Netherlands, to be replaced by Portugal’s Humberto Coelho. When South Korea was defeated by Oman and Vietnam in the qualifiers for the 2004 Asian Cup, and drew with Lebanon in the World Cup qualification, Coelho was replaced by Bonfrere. The Dutchman resigned because of severe criticism after the 1-0 defeat by Saudi Arabia in the last qualifier, despite World Cup participation being certain. His successor is once again a Dutchman: Dick Advocaat, who coached the Dutch national team on two separate occasions, is now responsible for the South Koreans. It has been clear since that the Koreans would like to repeat in Germany their success of the 2002 World Cup, with top star Ahn commenting then: “With our performance here and the experience we gained, we can become World Cup champions. We shall try to make the final in four years’ time”.