Korean Football
Ironically, with the World Cup just around the corner, and Korean football about to attract more international attention than ever before, the country's football fans are less confident about the status of their national team. Mention the World Cup appearances, and Koreans themselves are liable to remind you that, in five outings at the Finals, Korea have yet to win a game.
This
is not to say Korea have disgrace themselves. In France, they managed
a creditable draw against Belgium, who needed to win to stay in
the competition.
By far Korea's best return was in 1994 in the U.S. Managed by Kim
Ho, currently at the helm of Asian Club Champions the Suwon Blue Wings,
the Koreans stunned highly-fancied Spain, coming from two goals
down to grab a last-gasp draw.
A 0-0 draw with Bolivia left Korea up against it in their final
group game against Germany. Three goals down at half-time, Korea
almost got out of jail again, pulling back two in a storming second half,
but ultimately coming up short.
In the mid-to-late 90s, Korean football was looking very healthy indeed. The strong showing by the national team in the States was followed by a period of unparalleled dominance at club level. In 1996, the Chunma took the Asian Club Championship. This was followed by back-to-back wins for the Pohang Steelers. The 1997 Asian Club Championship (ACC) final was in fact between the Chunma and the Steelers, the only time in the competition's history that any country has provided both of the finalists.
Shortly afterwards, however, there were signs that not all was well.
The national side suffered an embarrassing 5-0 thrashing at the hands
of Holland at the France World Cup. Manager Cha Bum-keun, without
doubt the best player the country has ever produced, was ignominiously
axed even before the final group game. Insult followed injury, with Cha
later making accusations of corruption and match-fixing in the domestic
game, and promptly being banned from any involvement in Korean football
for five years.
Things looked no better at club level. Both the Pohang Steelers and the
Pusan Royals were dumped out of the ACC at the semifinal stage.
To add to the Koreans' frustration, archrivals Japan, having launched a Meiji-style development drive, were coming on in leaps and bounds. Korean football fans looked on with thinly-disguised dismay as Jubilo Iwata took the ACC title and Japan's young guns reached the final of the World Youth Championship. Just as the eyes of the world were turning toward Asia, Korea's crown looked ready to topple.
All is not gloom and doom, however. The sure knowledge that comparisons
with World Cup co-hosts Japan during the World Cup will be unavoidable
has done much to sweep away the cobwebs of complacency that had smothered
Korean football for so long.
The stubborn refusal to ask for outside expertise was compromised with
the appointment of Dutchman Guus Hiddink as national team head
coach. Since his arrival, the players have been unremittingly enthusiastic,
talking of a new, more professional approach, and sounding increasingly
confident. At club level, things are also looking up. The Suwon Blue Wings
have brought the ACC title back to Korea, and there is talk of the formation
of two new teams to join the 10-team K-League. More attention is also
being paid to youth development; K-League title-holders the Anyang Cheetahs
this season have at times fielded sides with four or five teenagers.
Having had their lack of experience at the top level glaringly exposed
by European sides, Korea are also anxious to get more players based overseas.
Following several false starts, there are now a number of players in Europe,
most notably 22-year-old national team striker Seo Ki-hyeon, for whom
an impressive season on loan at Royal Antwerp led to a dream move
to Belgian champions Anderlecht. Choi Sung-yong has earned the
plaudits of the Austrian media, despite his side, LASK Linz, being
relegated last season. Midfielder Ahn Jung -hwan has had mixed reviews
in Serie A with Perugia.
On purely demographic evidence, it could also be claimed that football
is on the way to outstripping baseball as Korea's number one spectator
sport. A visit to the stadiums gives the impression that the average K-League
fan is half the age of his or her baseball-following counterpart.
As the World Cup approaches, football can only gain in popularity, and
the tournament will leave a legacy in the magnificent facilities that
have been put in place.
To maintain interest, however, a respectable performance in 2002 is essential.
If Guus Hiddink manages that much, he will have left his mark on Korean
football long after he has left the Land of the Morning Calm.
John Duerden takes a looks at Korea's World Cup preparations
|
The balloons go up in Seoul |
Two New Years and One World Cup
As South Korea entered the Solar New Year on January 1st 2002, their football fans could be forgiven for being optimistic. Wins against Croatia and their future World Cup foe, the USA, led many to believe that 2002 could finally be the year when Korea reached the second round. However, as 'The Land of the Morning Calm' entered the Lunar New Year in mid-February, the outlook was not quite so rosy. As the Red Devils left North-East Asia to compete in the Concacaf Gold Cup in the United States, hopes were high that the trophy would be in residence in Seoul by the time of the World Cup Opening Ceremony on May 31st. Those hopes were soon dashed.
Guus Hiddink, Korea's coach saw the Gold Cup as valuable competitive football after months of friendlies. The opening game was against the USA. The former coach of Holland wanted to 'do the double' over America. He saw the chance to gain the upper hand on the Americans before the World Cup by beating them in America to compliment Korea's earlier victory in Seogwipo, off the South Coast of Korea. Hiddink chose a strong, experienced team to play the internationally inexperienced American line-up. Unfortunately, his plan back-fired as Korea couldn't convert their territorial domination into goals. Yoo Sang-Chu missed a penalty that later cost Korea dear as Damarcus Beasley scored an injury-time winner for the US, who ran out 2-1 winners.
Results barely improved for the World Cup host nation. A tepid 0-0 draw against Cuba was followed by a more impressive goalless draw against Mexico, always strong in the Americas. The Koreans squeezed past the Mexicans on penalties to face Costa Rica in the semi-finals. Although an injury-hit Korean team had twenty shots on goal, they crashed to a 3-1 defeat with Paolo Wanchope scoring two for the World Cup qualifiers. More disappointing was a 2-1 defeat against Canada in the third place play-offs. It's no surprise that Hiddink later admitted, " The lesson we have learned in this tournament is that we need to find the killer instinct." His strikers certainly can't find the goal as they have scored only nine goals between them in Hiddink's 22- match reign.
Where now for Korea? Hiddink has a difficult job to prepare his team for the World Cup and to win over a skeptical public and a critical media. He has been accused by some sections of the Press of not knowing his best team at a stage when only fine-tuning should be necessary. The people of Korea feel that this World Cup, with the advantages of home grounds and top-seeding, is by far the best chance they have had yet to reach the second round.
Even with top seeding, Korea's group is not an easy one. It will be a surprise if Portugal don't win the group, leaving Poland, the USA and Korea to fight it out for second place. The defeat against the Americans in Pasadena will at least force the Koreans not to take them lightly as some were doing. The opening game against Poland on June 4th in Busan is a crucial one. Korea do not have a good record against European teams. In fact, they do not have a good World Cup record period, having never won a game in their five attempts. This has to change and not only for Guus Hiddink's sake.
Monsoons and a Bush Fire Cloud World Cup Preparations.
George W. Bush and the 2002 World Cup may not be natural bedfellows but the American President has managed to put a dampener on Korea's preparation for the World Cup. His recent remarks naming North Korea as part of 'an axis of evil' in the world, has heightened tensions on both sides of the 38th Parallel. Together with a series of high-level corruption scandals and the national team's recent poor performances, it is not surprising that many Koreans have become distracted from the forthcoming tournament.
However, the Southern half of the divided Korean peninsula is slowly starting to get excited. Sales of the new Korean kit are going well and Adidas cannot keep up with the demand for the official tournament ball, 'The Fevernova.' Numerous festivals are planned for both before and during the tournament as Korea seeks to impress the world. Even the volatile Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has promised that they will not demonstrate or strike in June.
Another strike Korea is hoping to avoid is a terrorist one. With the World Cup being the biggest global event since September 11th, security issues are understandably uppermost in minds of the organisers. To the dismay of security chiefs, the USA was drawn to play in Korea, thus heightening the risk of attack. The US team will be guarded by armour-plated vehicles and their plates of food will be rigorously checked. This may be a good idea anyway…many visitors to Korea are shocked at the spiciness of the food.
A different kind of security is another thorny issue. In early February, there was a mock football riot organised to provide the police with some practice at dealing with unruly fans. Unlike a similar trial run in Tokyo, the 'fans' were not waving Union Jacks and wearing red and white face paint. The official supporter's clubs of the national team 'the Red Devils' will form an anti-hooligan squad with Japan's 'Ultras Nippon'. These civic-minded fans will quell any disturbances in and around the stadia.
Any frustrated hooligans can seek solace in the Church. Recently, a number of Buddhist temples announced that they would help relieve Korea's shortage of accommodation by opening their doors to foreign visitors and providing Buddhist workshops. Not to be outdone the Korean Protestant Church will also provide beds. They will also organise 'missionary' cheering squads that will attach themselves to each team playing in Korea and will dress in the traditional costume of each country as well as providing vocal support in their own language.
It may be a good idea for those of all religions to pray for a dry World Cup. June in Korea can be wet, very wet. The organisers are hoping that this year's rainy season will start after the competition but there is no guarantee of this. Pre-tournament activities start on May 30th with the Opening Ceremony the day after. Past records show that there is a 75.4% chance of rain on one of those days. With this in mind, the authorities are considering weather-manipulating techniques to ensure that the parades aren't rained on.
It's a funny old game. Fighting ideological battles with Stalinist neighbours or playing God by controlling the weather may seem to have nothing to do with football. But then Korea's a funny old country and one which, if they get their way, you will be hearing a lot more of: both on and off the pitch.
D-50
has FIFA confident of a 'beautiful' World Cup
Bruce Dawson talks to Balz Schiffer FIFA liaison officer for the 2002 World Cup Korea/Japan.
This article was originally published in The Korea Herald
With the soccer finals just 50 days from today, Balz Schiffer, FIFA liaison officer for the 2002 World Cup Korea/Japan, is proud to bring the world's most popular sporting event to Asia.
"The most exciting thing is that people will realize this is the best, most beautiful football in the world, and to see it live is an amazing opportunity. To feel the atmosphere at the stadium, the electricity in the air, is like nothing else; we are very much looking forward to an exciting tournament," Schiffer said in a recent interview with The Korea Herald.
Just don't ask him to make a prediction.
"I hope that both countries make it to the second round. Korea and Japan have played well in recent tournaments. But some teams do better during a tournament, some not, so I cannot say anything about their chances but I hope they make it," he said.
Schiffer coordinates between worldwide soccer body FIFA, FIFA Marketing, and the two host countries' local organizing committees. For example, the FIFA World Cup trophy will go on tour to the ten host cities in Korea starting today, with the former German captain Juergen Klinsmann to represent FIFA and South Korea represented by coach Guus Hiddink, among other local and international figures.
The opportunity for Korea to showcase itself to the world is a fact not lost on the FIFA official.
"The problem we face is that Korea is not well known by the outside world enough. People don't know about Korea. This is a nice country with friendly people, enthusiastic, but we must realize this is a baseball country, not a soccer country, so this is a totally different approach," Schiffer says.
FIFA has noted that President Kim has twice called on his cabinet and the World Cup organizers to increase the excitement level for the event.
"For this we have an acceptable level of enthusiasm but we need more. People must be aware of the entertainment of the sport, the fun, the excitement. They must see more coverage, more pictures, more TV. If it starts with the kids that would be great, but the people have to go to the stadiums. They have to go and see the matches and feel it," he added.
Schiffer says this is a unique opportunity for the country to expose itself, and image is very important.
"For example, Seogwipo [stadium] has already been used for other football tournaments which brings an extremely good image to that city. It shows that people can go there, there are facilities, there is infrastructure, there are accommodations. One must make one's country as attractive as possible given such an opportunity," he said.
Schiffer stressed the importance of making traveling both to and in the country easy.
"It takes work, however, from the taxi driver to the travel organizer to the hotel staff; it takes solidarity from everyone. People must be aware of the importance of that potential. Every person can make a good impression... even the smallest thing can be significant," he noted.
Although the task is great, Schiffer pointed out that everyone in Korea who speaks English is in a way a volunteer, and greatly appreciated.
Despite efforts to ease the language barrier, however, it may still be a factor.
"Teams and fans are bringing their people with language skills. FIFA has four official languages and most of the officials speak at least one of them so things are working OK. But it is now apparent that it is much more difficult to get around on a daily level for the teams -- that's not going to be easy," Schiffer said.
The FIFA official recalled his experience while in France for the 1998 World Cup.
"I could see it in the French people. The whole city of Paris had World Cup fever. You had that feeling that even the waiter was somehow committed, either by his World Cup badge on his apron, the TV showing game highlights ... everyone seemed to believe they should be going out of their way to make the guests feel at home," Schiffer said.
Raising the status of football in Asia is important to the FIFA official.
"Neither Korea or Japan are poor football countries. They have good leagues with high potential. The national teams have performed well in the preparation matches. I'm confident that if the people see this, the status of football will be raised. Maybe they should create more awareness, not just of World Cup but football in Asia itself," he said.
"When I see the Red Devils, I'm confident the fan support is there. If people could see more football, in addition to K-League and J-League, then, together with the World Cup we could raise support but it has to start now," Schiffer added.
Security and hooligan control are areas the official feels confident about.
"There is a very sophisticated security plan which has to cover many aspects, starting with the spectator. Then you have political dignitaries and FIFA people. It is a huge task but I feel the governments are prepared. I trust them," he said.
"I have big confidence in the police of both countries that they are well prepared and know what to do to handle hooliganism. Both countries have strong, experienced police forces," he said.