1. Why don't you bring the hottest and latest news around the world to broaden our knowledge?
Main Questions
Some of you may have already been sick and tired of the news about the world cup. Isn't it nice that we hop on the 'red wave'bandwagon, though? Now let's join the party with the behind stories about the game 'Korea vs. Togo' and upcoming games.
1. To grease on your tongue, I'll give you quizzes about the world cup. I hope that you are ready for my pop quizzes.
2. Did you watch the game? If so, where and with whom?
Tell anything related to the game.
3. What was your bet on the game?
In your family or workplace, you may have made a bet on the game. What was the prize or penalty on the bet?
4. Why don't we wager a bet on the next game, 'Korea vs. France' or Switzerland?
And then let's set up some penalty or prize for losers and winners.
5. In 2002, all of us Koreans were happy for a month. Why don't we go back to those happy days and share some exciting memories about the world cup in 2002?
South Korea snuff out Togo's dream
FRANKFURT, Germany -- Ten-man Togo saw their hopes of a fairytale victory on their World Cup debut extinguished by 2002 semifinalists South Korea who grabbed a 2-1 win in their Group G opener in Frankfurt 2-1 on Tuesday.
Mohammed Kader had put the African minnows ahead with a superb 31st minute strike, but Jean-Paul Abalo was sent off and from the resulting free kick Lee Chung-soo equalized.
Substitute Ahn Jung-hwan struck South Korea's 72nd minute winner.
Ahn, a hero of his side's surprise run to the last four on home soil, struck an unstoppable right foot shot to claim three points for his side.
"I am very happy for the first win," said Ahn, who was named man-of-the-match.
"In the first half we were a little bit shaky but in the second half we got things together much better."
Ahn paid tribute to Dutch coach Dick Advocaat's decision to bring him on. "Mr Advocaat's tactics were good," he said.
Soap opera
By contrast, Togo's preparations for their first World Cup had bordered on a soap opera, with globetrotting coach Otto Pfister quitting on Friday over a squad pay row before making a U-turn on Monday.
Confusion still reigned about who was coaching the African side until Pfister was confirmed to be in charge moments before kick off.
The sense of farce continued inside the stadium when the Korean anthem was played twice before Togo's was finally played.
The Togo contingent must have feared the worst, but their team made an inspired start.
Mohamed Kader Coubadja shot over from a narrow angle after 11 minutes and the French-based forward caused panic in the Korean defense every time he got the ball.
It was no surprise when he broke the deadlock with 14 minutes left in the half.
Taking a pass neatly on his thigh, he sped into the right side of the penalty area, steadied himself, then fired a low shot into the corner of the net.
Togo almost went further in front four minutes before halftime when Yao Senaya's curling free kick was tipped over the bar by Lee Woon-jae.
Inspired substitution
Korea coach Dick Advocaat sent on forward Ahn at the start of the second half, although it was Togo who continued to impress as Kader forced another fine save from Lee.
The match swung in South Korea's favor within the space of two minutes, though.
In the 53rd minute Togo skipper Abalo was dismissed for a second yellow card for pulling down Manchester United's Park Ji-sung on the edge of the area.
From the resulting free kick Chung-soo curled a delightful free kick past Kossi Agassa.
The goal sparked a wave of Korean pressure, with Park at last displaying the dazzling runs that made him so popular at Old Trafford last season.
Togo gallantly went for the win despite being a man down, but they were sunk when Ahn picked up a loose ball and advanced to fire an unstoppable shot past Agassa which took a slight deflection.
Togo's defeat means all four African debutantes at the World Cup have lost their opening matches.
Seoul braces for 'red wave'
World Cup fever reaches high as S. Korea cheers its team
By Shirley Han Ying
For CNN
SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- A huge "red wave" is expected to engulf downtown South Korea's capital Tuesday as the nation kicks off its participation in World Cup 2006.
Hundreds of thousands of soccer fans are expected to converge on the Seoul City Hall Plaza and nearby streets, as well as jam public bars and restaurants to watch the nation's first match against Togo. Many will be wearing red "Again 2002" T-shirts and singing "Dae han min kuk" (Great Republic of Korea) as they cheer on their national soccer team.
"We are expecting at least 200,000 and as many as 1 million people to come to Gwanghwamun and the City Hall Plaza to cheer for the Korean-Togo game," said Shin Ji-Hyun, a promoter for the events. "The nearby streets will be closed."
City organizers plan to set off fireworks to light up at the Seoul City Hall Plaza and at the World Cup stadiums in Seoul and Daejeon before the game begins and when the Korean team scores a goal.
Just a couple of days before the big game, Seoul was being soaked in torrential rain, but Shin was unconcerned about the weather.
"If it rains, people will come with their rain jackets. Koreans have been waiting for this for four years. We Red Devils are not afraid of rain!"
Since the beginning of May, several of Seoul's landmark office buildings, department stores and shop windows have been decorated with huge banners featuring Korean players or cheering slogans. National flags, soccer balls, head bands and other cheering accessories are to be found everywhere in the city.
Pubs, bars, night clubs and other entertainment places are banking on the World Cup fever as an opportunity to boost sales. Many of them have installed large-screen plasma Television screens and plan to remain open all night for diehard soccer fans. Some of them have started promoting various events and special offers to attract customers.
"We will offer everyone a free drink when the Korean team scores its first goal, and one hour of free drinks if Korea wins," said 45-year old Kang Shin-woo, the owner of the Orange Bar in Seoul's Haebangchon district. "We have installed a 100-inch screen to play every game," he said, adding that with people from at least 27 countries living within walking distance of the pub, he expects a lot of business.
Kang said during World Cup 2002 that was held in both South Korea and Japan he was in the United States and really missed the atmosphere that is now gripping Seoul.
"When I was in Chicago I had to go to a Mexican bar to watch the games."
A recent online survey by a leading local portal site Daum showed around 16.7 percent, or one in six South Koreans, plans to support the national team in public venues such as soccer stadiums, city plazas and bars.
Since South Korea's games are scheduled for either late night or early mornings, South Korean soccer fans will be suffering from the time difference between Germany and South Korea.
South Korea's first game with Togo will kickoff at 10 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT). The following two games with France and Switzerland will begin at 4 a.m., Seoul time. Many Koreans will stay up after midnight to watch the matches broadcast live from Germany.
"I will come to Gwanghwamun to support our team on Tuesday. The second game with France is at 4 a.m. but I [will] definitely be here," said 20-year old student Jeung Son-min.
'Red Devils' gears up for the World Cup
The "Red Devils," ("Bulgeun Angma" in Korean) the official organization of hardcore supporters for the Korean national soccer team, has appointed about 400 members to lead the cheers at the games in Frankfurt, Hanover and Leipzig. They will fly to Germany in four separate contingents with the last group arriving by June 17th.
The Red Devils are highly organized and use the Internet and Korea's advanced phone technology to ensure a massive turnout at game-day events. With their unique cheering and unparalleled level of commitment to their team, the Red Devils are often described as the squad's 12th man.
Hope mixed with concern
Koreans would love to see a repeat of 2002, when the World Cup hosts made it to the semifinals. The Red Devils at least are on track for a repeat of the images that thrilled global TV viewers, when about 2 million red-clad fans crammed the Seoul City Hall Plaza to watch their team's semifinal clash with Germany.
In a survey by the 21st Century Sports Forum, 88.3 percent of 1,094 Koreans polled believed that the national team will at least advance to the round of 16.
Among them about 25 percent said the team will reach the quarterfinals, while only 95 out of the total respondents thought the Korean team had any chance to bring the World Cup home.
Shin from the promotion agency said,
"In 2002 confidence was very high, but this time maybe not so much," said promoter Shin. But then Shin added that the early morning streets of downtown Seoul will echo with enthusiastic chants of "Be the Reds," whatever the matches in Germany or the weather in South Korea brings in the coming days.
Hiddink works 'magic' for Koreans
Koreans rooted for Guus Hiddink's Australian soccer team for the sake of the former Korean national team coach during its match against Japan Monday night in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Hiddink, a Dutch coach who led Korea to the semifinals in the 2002 World Cup, has been a big hero among Korean soccer fans.
"Coach Hiddink, please beat the Japanese team for us," Korean fans shouted while watching the game on TV.
The match attracted particular attention here after Hiddink had vowed to beat the Japanese team for Koreans ahead of the match. The Dutchman's remark turned the match into a proxy showdown for Koreans against the former colonialist country.
"Magic of Hiddink," said many Korean netizens about the dramatic Australian victory over Japan Monday. Australia thrilled Korean fans with three goals in the final eight minutes for an amazing 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Japan in their Group F World Cup match.
"It's really awesome. We're proud of you," one netizen wrote on Web portal site Naver after the game.
After the match Hiddink reportedly told Korean correspondents he was very proud of being an honorary Korean citizen when his team defeated the Japan team.
"You're the best. I knew you would keep the promise, Hiddink," read another posting on the website.
There has recently been mounting tension between Korea and Japan due to Japan's provocative claim over the Dokdo islets and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's persistent visits to the Yasukuni Shrine despite harsh Korean protest.
Accumulated TV ratings from three local broadcasters for the match topped 50 percent, according to a local ratings company.
According to AGB Nelson Media Research, the match recorded the highest TV rating since the World Cup opened last week.
MBC recorded a 24.6 percent viewer rating, with SBS following with 13.3 percent. The nation's largest broadcaster KBS recorded 12.4 percent.
According to another media company, TNS Media Korea, the average rating accumulated by the three broadcasters was 52.9 percent.
The figure is 17.3 percentage points higher than normal viewer rating for the broadcasters at 35.6 percent.
(davidpooh@heraldm.com)
By Jin Dae-woong
독일 프랑크푸르트] 13일 프랑크푸르트에서 열린 독일월드컵 본선 토고와의 G조 첫 경기에서 한국 축구대표팀은 2-1의 짜릿한 역전승을 일구어냈다.
그러나 경기 결과와 관계없이 축구팬에게는 아쉬움을 남긴 순간이 있었다. 바로 경기 종료 직전 상대 골문 앞에서 얻은 황금 같은 프리킥 기회를 스스로 포기한 장면이었다.
'굳히기' 경기 운영에 토고 쪽에서는 야유가
이날 경기 후반 이천수와 안정환의 연속골이 터지며 극적인 리드를 잡자 한국대표팀은 경기 템포를 조절하며 이른바 '굳히기'에 들어갔다.
이에 프랑크푸르트에 모인 토고팬은 야유를 보냈고, 적지 않은 다른 나라 축구팬들도 웅성거리기 시작했다.
후반 35분 이후부터는 이전까지 들리지 않던 야유가 들려왔다. 진원지는 붉은악마 응원단 맞은편에 앉은 토고 응원단과 옆쪽에 모여 있던 많은 다른 나라 축구팬들의 관중석.
사실 이 야유는 대표팀 경기운영에 대한 불만 표출이라기보다는 상대적으로 약소국이자 한 명이 퇴장당해 불리한 경기를 펼치고 있던 토고에 대한 응원이었을 것이다. 매우 조직적이고 다수의 응원단이 경기장을 찾은 한국에 비해 작고 초라한 토고 선수들과 축구팬을 위한 일종의 배려였을 것이다.
마지막 프리킥 기회, 이천수는 왜 그랬을까
그러나 이같은 그들의 배려는 한 순간에 정말 강력한 비난으로 바뀌었다.
경기 종료 직전 박지성은 상대 선수에게 또다시 파울을 얻어냈다. 마침 후반 9분 이천수가 그림같은 프리킥으로 동점골을 성공시킨 곳과 거의 비슷한 위치였다.
당연히 경기장에 있던 거의 모든 팬들은 자리에서 일어나 다시 한 번 이천수의 발 끝이 토고의 골망을 가르길 기원했다.
하지만 그런 기대도 잠시, 공을 향해 달려들던 이천수는 감각적인 프리킥으로 상대 문전을 공략하지 않고 뒤에 있던 우리 선수에게 공을 돌렸다. 무리한 프리킥 시도로 공의 소유권을 넘겨주기보다 안전하게 소유권을 지켜 동점을 허용하지 않겠다는 것이었다.
이천수가 그렇게 기회를 날려버리는 순간, 야유는 토고와 다른 나라 축구팬은 물론이고 붉은악마 쪽에서도 터져나왔다. 추가골을 바랐던 팬들의 기대를 저버렸다는 이유도 있겠지만 정정당당하지 않았다는 생각이 순간적인 비난을 불러온 것 같다.
차라리 관중석으로 공을 날릴 것이지
물론 대표팀의 플레이가 비난의 대상이 되어야 하는 것은 아니다. 토고와의 경기에서 승리가 최대의 목표인 점을 고려하면, 또 리그를 치러 순위를 결정하는 경기 일정을 생각하면 승점 3점은 꼭 필요했다.
어설픈 공격이 빌미가 되어 동점골을 허용한다면 대표팀은 더 많은 비난의 화살을 받는 것은 물론이고 훨씬 커다란 야유를 들어야 했을 것이다.
하지만 이 순간 대표팀의 모습이 안타까웠던 이유는 많은 사람의 기대를 저버렸다는 것에 있다. 정면으로 부딪치지 않고 뒤로 물러서는 대표팀의 모습에 실망을 느꼈기 때문이었다.
역습으로 인한 동점 상황이 두려웠다면 차라리 관중석으로 공을 날려버리는 것이 더 나았을지도 모른다. 동료가 그라운드에 뒹굴면서까지 얻은 기회를 그렇게 허무하게 버리는 것은 분명 실망스런 장면이었다.
이날 경기에서 대표팀이 토고에 극적인 역전승을 거둘 수 있었던 가장 큰 원동력은 이기고자 하는 마음가짐과 포기하지 않는 도전정신에 있었다. 그러나 그렇게 훌륭했던 과정에도 불구하고 마지막 순간 이천수가 보여준 그 장면은, 더 크게 기뻐해야 할 승리의 기쁨을 반감시키고 말았다.
을 반감시키고 말았다.
P.S Just in case of the broken article , I've attached a file here.