French Daily: Korea 6-Japan 0
1 July 2002
R. Sanborn Brown

The French daily La Liberation reported in its June 28th edition that in terms of 'fan temperament', 'reception,' and 'overall satisfaction while in the country,' Korea thumped Japan in the recently ended World Cup. Six-nil: 'a crushing victory for South Korea.'

In terms of fan enthusiasm, from young to old, Red Devil T-shirts transformed the length and breadth of Korea into a sea of red. In contrast, a short trip from the urban centers of Japan to the suburbs and countryside revealed that support for the national team was nearly non-existent: nary a banner was to be found anywhere.

The co-hosts both hired European coaches, Guus Hiddink for Korea, Philippe Troussier for Japan, and both teams fared well in the tournament. However, while Troussier failed to achieve any particular honor in Japan, Hiddink has become a national hero in Korea. The Dutchman has been offered honorary citizenship (politely declined), a luxury sedan (a Hyundai, of course), a year's worth of First Class round-trip flights on Air Korea, and there are plans afoot to erect a statue of him, facing in the direction of Japan, on the coast in the honeymooners paradise of Cheju. Troussier has left Japan and is now reported to be seeking coaching jobs with club teams in England and his native France, though he has half an eye on the vacant French national team coaching job.

The thrashing continues. Comparing the respective stadiums for the semi-final matches, Seoul's Sangam Mapo-ku Stadium was the hands-down winner over Saitama Stadium. The Seoul venue is a mere thirty minutes by subway from downtown. In contrast, Saitama lies ninety 'rattling' minutes to the north of Tokyo in the middle of nowhere. It is clear, the paper argued, which facility will enjoy an afterlife following the end of the World Cup.

There's more. According to Richard Werly, Tokyo correspondent for Liberation, hotels and meals in Tokyo were some three times as expensive as in Seoul. And the service in Japan was 'dismal.' Because of the prices and above service, 'many of the English and Irish supporters were driven to seek lodgings in the Tokyo slum area of Sanya.'
Werly writes that Korea, which placed a premium on fan support and interest, came away with a month of 'incredible excitement.' In contrast, he concludes, 'what did Japan gain' from co-hosting the World Cup?

World Cup Soccer Books & DVD Shop - Click Here To Visit Our Complete Collection