South Korea
North Korea’s one World Cup experience still memorable
A new North Korea World Cup Blog is now published, and occasionally it’ll overlap with South Korea since the two teams are closely linked. Thanks for reading!
While South Korea’s World Cup record isn’t spattered with championships or even many second-round appearances, it’s still miles ahead of its neighbor to the north in terms of time played in the World Cup.
North Korea will play in its first World Cup since 1966. It’s also only the second time it will compete in the World Cup (most of the years, the team didn’t even enter). However, the North’s 1966 appearance surprising accomplishment remains prominent in World Cup history.
Let’s put it in perspective.
The last time North Korea qualified for the World Cup, the big media news was that the games would actually be televised in color for the first time. It was just 13 years after the end of the Korean War, and North Korea were the underdog darlings in 1966. The team qualified after beating Australia in a playoff.
This time around, the North’s unexpected qualification last month after it played a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia in Ridyah, hit the Internet within seconds, with its World Cup spot surprising much of the soccer world. Still, “North Korea in the News” rightly focuses on the short-range missiles the North recently fired.
It’s easy to forget how, nearly 44 years ago, North Korea shocked powerhouse Italy 1-0 on July 19,
1966, at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough in England, ending the Azzurri chances of making the quarterfinals. North Korea made it to the quarterfinals, the furthest they’ve ever gotten in the tourney.
Pak Doo Ik made a name for himself by scoring the lone goal. According to FIFA.com, “It was no doubt the most famous goal ever scored in the history of Asian football: the goal by which North Korea dumped Italy out of the 1966 World Cup.”
The team then lost to Portugal 5-3, despite being up 3-0 at one point in the game. Despite the loss, it’s hard to not recognize its accomplishment: Being the first Asian team in the World Cup to make it to the quarterfinals.
It was Asia’s only team in the World Cup that year after several Asian and African countries — including South Korea — withdrew, angry because it was decided only one team from those two continents would be given a spot in the final.
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Stats from South Korea’s six previous World Cups
With the Republic of Korea qualifying for its seventh-straight World Cup and ready to head to South Africa in less than a year, it’s time to review the past six World Cups.
How’d the team do??
Besides Korea’s unexpected fantastic fourth-place finish in front of the home-country crowd in 2002, it’s had a string of first-round exits, starting in 1986 in ... [read]
The South dashes Iran’s cup hopes; The North qualifies for first time since 1966
South Korea ended its World Cup Qualifying matches all even, drawing 1-1 with Iran on June 17 in Seoul.
South Korea already qualified for the 2010 World Cup on June 6, but the draw dashed Iran’s hopes of making it to the tournament.
South Korea’s Ji-Sung Park, a rising star for Manchester United in ... [read]
A scoreless draw, despite close calls
The Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia fought to a scoreless draw Wednesday night at World Cup Stadium in Seoul, despite Korea’s several close-call goals in the second half.
Both at 54 minutes in and just minutes before the end of the second half, Korea nearly scored, missing the goal just inches both times. The closest chance came from Park Chu Young, ... [read]
Korea vs. Saudia Arabia: Does it really matter for Korea?
With two heavily anticipated World Cup Qualifying matches within the next week, you’d think the Korean Republic soccer team would be full of nerves.
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Now, the upcoming games can help build Korea prepare ... [read]
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On April 18, as FC Seoul fans decked in black and red prepared for their team’s afternoon match with Daegu, it was impossible to ignore the majestic stadium where their team played.
World Cup Stadium in western ... [read]
Oh, Cho. Why’d you have to go (get hurt)?
Cho Won-hee, a South Korean midfielder, is sidelined for six to eight weeks after enduring a calf injury, it was announced this past weekend.
Cho’s absence from the rest of the three crucial World Cup Qualifying matches in June deals a round of back luck for the South Korean team, which currently stands ... [read]
A poisonous affair?
Just a quick note, as there will be more from the Seoul area in the upcoming days.
For now, though, looks like the football tension between the North and South hasn’t eased since last week’s game, in which the Red Devils from the South beat their rivals 1-0 in the match’s final minutes.
North Korea’s head football coach, Kim Jong Hun, made ... [read]
South Korea: Back on top
For those football fans who were tired of watching North Korea and South Korea play to a draw, last night’s game brought back some excitement.
The Red Devils of the South beat their arch-rivals 1-0 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. With the victory, South Korea pulls ahead of the North in Asia’s Group B in World Cup qualifying.
[read]
Tensions run high leading to April 1 match
World Cup qualifying started up again March 26. However, one of the biggest matches won’t be played until Wednesday, April 1, when the Red Devils of South Korea play host to North Korea in Seoul.
The first game between these two teams was supposed to be played in Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital. However, the host country wasn’t feeling so generous and ... [read]
Latest Comments
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Good luck on the blog; as the WC approaches, be prepared for a plethora of nasty posters. I had the ...[read more] - The South dashes Iran's cup hopes; The North qualifies for first time since 1966
gonna be tough for korea to fix this world cup - The South dashes Iran's cup hopes; The North qualifies for first time since 1966
It's good to see Korea making a move this year. They haven't really made any moves to correct their ...[read more] - The South dashes Iran's cup hopes; The North qualifies for first time since 1966
Offensive? Who cares? - The South dashes Iran's cup hopes; The North qualifies for first time since 1966
I think you should make a clear distinction between the North Koreans and South Koreans... it's igno ...[read more] - Korea vs. Saudia Arabia: Does it really matter for Korea?
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