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Will the Swiss miss?

June 21st, 2006 | By: Johnny | 24 Comments »

[Incidentally, before you all work your puds into a lather, know that I'll be breaking down the upcoming game tomorrow, comparing strengths and weaknesses, disregarding past stats and strictly concentrating on tactics and probable line-ups. I won't be kvetching about nationalism, patriotism, magnetism, or any other -ism you've all got going on--unless you wanna buy me a beer and talk about it in person.]

Check this article out–the boys are full of bluster and sage advice, but will they have what it takes to make it through?

LEVERKUSEN (AFP) - South Korea, still on a high after securing a precious 1-1 draw with 1998 world champions France, have adopted a win-or-bust attitude towards their crunch match with Group G leaders Switzerland on Friday.

The Swiss put themselves in the driving seat with a hard-fought 2-0 win over troubled Togo on Monday and only require a draw against South Korea in Hanover to progress to the last 16.

South Korea, surprise semi-finalists in 2002, could still qualify in second place if they draw with Switzerland but refuse to dream that Togo can achieve a result against France on the same night.

“We are determined to defeat Switzerland and go through (to the last 16),” said striker Cho Jae-Jin, whose header across goal set up Park Ji-Sung’s dramatic 81st minute equaliser against France.

“We will not need to look at the result of the France-Togo game.”

There are several final-day scenarios in the tightest of groups with the drawing of lots to determine whether France or South Korea progress a possibility depending on the results.

The Koreans don’t want to be rushing for their calculators or to be relying on luck and are focussing on beating Switzerland.

“Switzerland could be complacent in the match because only a draw against us will be enough to ensure their qualification for the second round,” said Shimizu S-Pulse striker Cho, who has started both games ahead of goalscoring hero Ahn Jung-Hwan.

This I highly doubt; the winner of this group will play the runner-up in group H, and does anybody want to bet that it’ll be Spain? At this point, most teams will be avoiding the Spaniards like the plague.

“We can win the match if we focus on taking advantage of their easy-going state of mind.”

The Korean players watched Switzerland’s victory over Togo on Monday before taking part in a light training session.

There were groans when Tranquillo Barnetta’s 88th minute strike put Switzerland ahead of South Korea on goal difference but the positive attitude which has coursed through the squad in Germany soon returned.

“The Swiss players were as good as the French in the first match (which ended 0-0),” said striker Park Chu-young, dubbed the ‘Football Genius’ after his vital goals in World Cup qualifying.

“They have fantastic stamina, and are very well organised. We are only thinking about a win (over Switzerland) after our morale-boosting draw against France.”

“We have no choice but to win the match to progress to the second round. If we put pressure on them, we will be able to win.”

South Korea’s confidence was reflected by the decision to send spies to watch possible second round opponents Spain and Ukraine in their Group H matches on Monday.

Tags: Group G

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Comments

By SES | June 21st, 2006 at 1:21 pm

The fans are a great source of morale-boosting support so hopefully Korea can concentrate on the game throughout the entire 90 minutes. The Swiss have young players and are brilliant defensively, but Korea has the endurance.

The team is not underestimating the Swiss as they know they’re a great team. They just know they have to play with confidence and speed.

I would love to see both Korea and Switzerland advance to the knockout stages. =) It’d be interesting also if Korea did advance to the next round and played Spain. What a sense of deja vu that would be.

Posted from United States

By Team Horrangee!! | June 21st, 2006 at 8:27 pm

Indeed, the match against the Swiss will be the toughest of the 3 so far for Korea I think. The Swiss side seems to be improving with each match they play. In the end as long as the Korean team come out and give it their best effor regardless of the outcome of the match I will be proud of my team! DAE HAN MIN GOOK!!

Posted from United States

By Paul | June 22nd, 2006 at 4:41 am

“This I highly doubt; the winner of this group will play the runner-up in group H, and does anybody want to bet that it’ll be Spain? At this point, most teams will be avoiding the Spaniards like the plague.”

There’s no way Spain won’t top their group, I’m not sure what you mean by this…

Posted from Australia

By Paul | June 22nd, 2006 at 4:43 am

Duh, never mind It’s been a long day

Posted from Australia

By kim | June 22nd, 2006 at 11:58 am

well interesting south korea drew with france by 1 : 1 and france drew with swiss by 0:0..well to be honest..i think korea might win by 1:0 or maybe 2 : 1.

south korea is doing well…
and in 2002 south korea came 4th in the world cup so that means they might win

Posted from Australia

By NADER KARDAN | June 22nd, 2006 at 1:21 pm

سلام .ما همگی از بازی بسیار ضعیف تیم ملی ایران ناراحت هستیم .
ولی افسوس که ناراحتی در حال حاضر هیچ فایده ای ندارد. باید همگی دست به دست هم دهیم و به امید فردایی روشن دوباره از تیم ملی فوتبال ایران حمایت کنیم.
حمایت ما از تیم ملی کشورمان است و این حمایت به این معنی نیست که ما از اشخاص خاصی مثل مربی و بازیکنان حمایت می کنیم
حمایت ما فقط از نام تیم ملی فوتبال ایران است
به امید موفقیت ایران در آینده و سر بلندی همه ایرانیان
http://www.bachehayebad.parsiblog.com

لینک مربوط به عکس هموطنان عزیز در حمایت کشورمان
http://www.farsnews.com/pic.php?ph=Media-8503-ImageReports-8503100585-6_8503100585_L600.jpg&dsc=تماشاگران%20فوتبال%20ايران%20و%20بوسني

Posted from United Kingdom

By Sophia | June 22nd, 2006 at 1:40 pm

I am a korean fan…
They will win Swiss.
The fans and players are fantastic!!
Go Korea!!
They can do it!~
Da~han min gook
Beat the Swiss!!

Posted from Australia

By Sophia | June 22nd, 2006 at 1:45 pm

I am a korean fan…
They will win Swiss.
The fans and players are fantastic!!
Go Korea!!
They can do it!~
Dae~han min gook
Beat the Swiss!!

Posted from Australia

By R | June 22nd, 2006 at 3:34 pm

Bahahahaha US… sore losers…

Posted from New Zealand

By Blackheart | June 22nd, 2006 at 9:53 pm

The Swiss will win, the French will win and the Koreans will go home without the help of the referees like in 2002. Go home, Korea.

Posted from United States

By Sho | June 23rd, 2006 at 2:37 am

I think the Koreans have the same problem as Japan. They are just too short to play soccer. They can’t run fast enough. It’s not their fault I know, and maybe the younger players will fix this soon, but for now .. I can’t see them winning.

I’ll still watch it though. I do support them against the loathsome Swiss. And they’re certainly hungry, even aggresive. But I’m afraid they’re wasting their time trying to play football against a team a foot higher than them, losing every header, and losing every race…

Posted from Japan

By Kira | June 23rd, 2006 at 5:56 am

Size doesn’t matter in soccer… wtf, crazy Japanese… look at Park ji-sung and Roberto Carlos… they all small, and don’t even compare Korea to Japan. As what I’ve seen in this world cup, Japanese players had no heart for the game and lack of confidence.

Korea isn’t afraid to play teams that are in higher level than them, that’s what makes them great and fun to watch.

GO KOREA!!! BEAT THE WATCH MAKERS!!

Posted from United States

By Sung | June 23rd, 2006 at 1:02 pm

We are the East Asia nation.
Japan is defeated yesterday and the mind is sick

Posted from Republic Of Korea

By Team Horrangee!! | June 23rd, 2006 at 3:29 pm

we need a win today Korea!!

REP OUR GREAT NATION!!

DAE HAN MIN GOOK!!!

Posted from United States

By Robyn | June 23rd, 2006 at 11:09 pm

I’ve never felt this angry watching soccer before. It’s unbelievable how the FIFA let the game go on like that. It’s unfortunate how an unqualified referee(ELIZONDO, Horacio) was allowed to ruin our game just like that. The Swiss didn’t even need a biased referee. What was all that for???

It’s just so hard to believe what just happened now…

simply unbelievable

Posted from Republic Of Korea

By Carlos | June 24th, 2006 at 12:31 am

Please learn the rules before complaining.

1. It’s not offside if the ball comes from an opponent.
2. Linesmen are there to assist the main Ref, the game doesn’t stop until the main ref whistles, raising flags doesn’t mean stop playing.

Moreover, had this goal been wrongly canceled, Korea still couldn’t score. The game would have ended 1-0.

Posted from United States

By 18 | June 24th, 2006 at 5:23 am

first, it was offside
can u understand Carlos??!!

Does FIFA have any regulations???? really? I totally cannot believe.
It was NOT A FAIR GAME between COREA and Swiss.
I think that I cannot trust referees’ judgment. It was a hasty judgment.
It absolutely was a referee’s mistake .
Our players became demoralized because of ONE REFEREE’s nonsensical judgment.
FIFA President is a Swisser . I know. All Coreans KNOW that.
I am very very disappointed with FIFA and I do not want to watch any football games
never.. ever…because it will always be Unreliable.
I think that FIFA needs to take a hearing test, an eyesight test and a lie
Detector test when you recruit referees. I truly hope so.

Posted from Republic Of Korea

By bear | June 24th, 2006 at 5:27 am

it’s disapointing to see all Asian teams go home now. Sadi Arab, no suprising they lost. But why Japan and Korea? Japanses players are good at controling the ball, but Looks like they are nothing agreesive in the field. Plus their defense is still not strong and tall enough.(unbeleavble they let that FAT Brazilan guy score that head-goal),can’t understand why there’s no even one hard-built player in their them??? all of them looks thin..
Bad to see Korea lost too, they should advance to the second round. tooth for tooth, maybe it’s now their turn to suffer a questionable refree…

Posted from China

By Harrison | June 24th, 2006 at 3:11 pm

I don’t know wut was wrong with the Ref. I’m not sure about the last one, but there were 2 definite handballs.Did you see the way REF. blocking the ball from Korean player? fantastic! Hidden MVP of Switzerland.

Posted from China

By RAJA | June 24th, 2006 at 4:03 pm

Sepp Blatter fixed the Koreans good. Couldn’t believe the slightest touch on the swiss and damn referee gives them a free kick. Man it was plain the ref sucking up to Blatter. He will surely get the final game if Argentina not invovled. Man the third world gets shafted again. my sympathies to you the Korean fans. People are getting sent off nilly willy. Poor USA too. It was never a penalty. horrible, terrible referees.

Posted from Brunei Darussalam

By coreaAllTheWay!!! | June 26th, 2006 at 10:23 am

Carlos, juss shut up
go talk to your imaginary friends…NO1 wants to hear from you, you sad boy

KOREA WOULD HAVE SCORED
thank you very much so go talk to the wall
im sure the wall will understand all that crap that goes thrrough your mind

Posted from Australia

By Hahahha | June 30th, 2006 at 11:39 am

Korea lost. Fuck you korea. Where is my dog? oh some koreans ate my dog. dirty koreans are dog eaters.

Posted from Thailand

By beena | July 22nd, 2006 at 9:04 am

I’m a Filipino. A pure Filipino. But I have supported Korea since the start of the world cup season. After seeing the game, after seeing one player bleed, after hearing the referee’s untimely whistles, after seeing millions cry as if someone has died, after seeing them lose hope, after seeing them lose in a game, where millions rely on, with an unjust judging, I’ll have to say it’s not fair.

Plain and simple.

Maybe because the FIFA president is swiss. Maybe because the referee favors the swiss. Maybe cause they hate Korea. They hate Asia. Maybe because the referee thinks he’s right.

Yea I know this was so long ago and no amount of tears could bring it back. But I hope this won’t happen again.

As of now, I’ll have to boycott watching FIFA. I hope there would be another Football Club wherein many countries are involved. Not only a Swiss as a president. I hope the next Football Club is a parliament and not dictatorial.

I know I might be the only one to not watch FIFA. Yea millions and billions will still support it. But I just want them to know. There is WAS one FIFA fan who is one no more.

Posted from Philippines