S. Korea coach wary of Italian attack ahead of U-20 World Cup semifinals

In preparing for the semifinal showdown against Italy at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup, South Korea head coach Kim Eun-jung has been focusing on getting his team ready to handle the Europeans' offensive prowess. "Italy's attackers are so great and we've been keying in on that aspect," Kim said at the official prematch press conference Wednesday at La Plata Stadium in La Plata, eastern Argentina. The same venue will host the semifinal match between South Korea and Italy

SoccerJune 8, 2023

[Graphic News] Korea secures U-20 semifinal spot

South Korea, led by head coach Kim Eun-joong, secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup at Santiago del Estero Stadium in Argentina on Monday. The match was fiercely contested, with both teams locked in a neck-and-neck battle that eventually led to extra time. With this triumph, South Korea advances to the semifinals for the second consecutive time, building on their previous success as runners-up in the 2019 Polish Games. Looking ahea

SoccerJune 8, 2023

Football federation to organize street cheering for S. Korean match at U-20 World Cup

The national football federation announced Wednesday it will organize an outdoor cheering event in Seoul for South Korea's upcoming semifinal match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said it will work with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Red Devils, the official supporters' group for national football teams, to run an outdoor viewing party at Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, on Friday morning. South Korea's match against Italy

SoccerJune 7, 2023

Undefeated S. Korea to battle high-scoring Italy for ticket to FIFA U-20 World Cup final

Against all odds, South Korea, a team of unheralded overachievers, find themselves a win away from reaching the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. Standing between the young Taegeuk Warriors and a piece of Korean football history will be Italy. The two countries will battle in the semifinals at La Plata Stadium in La Plata, eastern Argentina, starting at 6 p.m. Thursday local time, or 6 a.m. Friday in Seoul time. Both teams also made the semifinals at the previous U-20 World Cup in 2

SoccerJune 7, 2023

Veteran closer Oh Seung-hwan notches 500th professional save

Samsung Lions closer Oh Seung-hwan picked up his 500th professional save Tuesday, the latest milestone for the greatest fireman in South Korean baseball history. Oh pitched a scoreless ninth inning to preserve a 9-6 victory over the NC Dinos in the Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, some 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. It was Oh's 500th save in a career spanning three leagues: KBO, Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, and Major League

SoccerJune 6, 2023

Napoli searching for Spalletti replacement after title; Mourinho indicates he'll stay at Roma

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis may be facing an even bigger challenge now than he did a year ago when captain Lorenzo Insigne, club record scorer Dries Mertens and defensive stalwart Kalidou Moulibaly left the club. Napoli more than exceeded expectations when new signees Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kim Min-jae helped the southern club win Serie A for the first time in more than three decades. But now Luciano Spalletti — the coach whose attacking tactics garnered plaudits from all ove

SoccerJune 5, 2023

Klinsmann trying to show support for midfielder held in China

With veteran South Korean midfielder Son Jun-ho being held in China for bribery charges, national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann wanted to show Son his support the only way he could -- by putting the 31-year-old on the 23-man squad for two friendlies this month. Klinsmann unveiled his team for matches against Peru on June 16 and El Salvador on June 20. Son was a surprise selection, as the Shandong Taishan midfielder has been in detention in Liaoning for bribery allegations. Efforts by South Ko

SoccerJune 5, 2023

Klinsmann picks 3 intl. rookies for June friendlies

Three international rookies were named to the South Korean men's national football team Monday for two upcoming friendly matches. Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann unveiled his 23-man squad for matches against Peru and El Salvador later this month on home soil. The list features three first-time callups: Jeju United defender An Hyun-beom, KAA Gent midfielder Hong Hyun-seok and Ulsan Hyundai FC defender Park Yong-woo. Hong, 23, has impressed in the top Belgian league in particular, establishing ca

SoccerJune 5, 2023

S. Korea beat Nigeria to advance to semifinals at FIFA U-20 World Cup

South Korea have advanced to the semifinals at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, moving within a win of reaching the championship match for the second consecutive tournament. Choi Seok-hyun headed in the match's only goal early in extra time, as South Korea knocked off Nigeria 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the tournament at Santiago del Estero Stadium in Santiago del Estero, northern Argentina, on Sunday. Coached by Kim Eun-jung, South Korea will take on Italy in the semifinals at La Plata Sta

SoccerJune 5, 2023

South Korea's An wins Thailand Open final

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Badminton women's singles world number two An Se-young smashed home victory at the final of the Thailand Open in Bangkok on Sunday, overcoming China's He Bingjiao. The 21-year-old South Korean came out roaring and was in knock-out form throughout the 21-10, 21-19 straight games victory in the Thai capital. World number five He fought back in the second game -- leading briefly by four points -- which featured some brilliant net play from both players. But she could not

More SportsJune 4, 2023

S. Korea's 'there's no tomorrow' mindset pays off in U-20 World Cup win: coach

When South Korea head coach Kim Eun-jung was preparing his players for the round of 16 match against Ecuador at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, he delivered a straightforward message: that this could be their last match in the tournament and there's no tomorrow. That sense of urgency paid off in South Korea's 3-2 victory in Santiago del Estero, northern Argentina, on Thursday, and South Korea will move on to take on Nigeria in the quarterfinals on Sunday, back in the same city. &

SoccerJune 2, 2023

S. Korea coach takes trip delay in stride ahead of U-20 World Cup knockouts

South Korea head coach Kim Eun-jung wants to ensure a travel delay in Argentina won't affect his team's upcoming knockout match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. South Korea qualified for the last 16 at the tournament after playing all three group matches in Mendoza, western Argentina, over the past week. Their first knockout match is against Ecuador in Santiago del Estero in the northern part of the host country at 6 p.m. Thursday, or 6 a.m. Friday in Seoul. Kim's team had been schedul

SoccerMay 31, 2023

Rookie reliever looking to thrive in any given role

Wins can be hard to come by for middle relievers, who do the grunt work, while starters and closers get more of the spotlight by picking up victories and saves. LG Twins rookie reliever You Young-chan picked up his first career win in his 24th appearance Tuesday night, after tossing 1 2/3 shutout innings against the Lotte Giants in a 3-1 victory. One may be tempted to say You is lucky to get the first win out of the way so early in his career. Dig a little deeper into his career, though, and you

BaseballMay 31, 2023

Tottenham star Son Heung-min returns home after up-and-down Premier League season

South Korean football icon Son Heung-min came home Tuesday after completing a tumultuous Premier League season with Tottenham Hotspur, a campaign that featured a serious injury, multiple coaching changes and a significant personal milestone. Son arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, to great fanfare Tuesday afternoon. Judging by the reception, it would have been difficult to guess Son had just wrapped up an unproductive season, at both individual and club levels. Son made hist

SoccerMay 30, 2023

S. Korea to face Wales in men's football friendly in Sept.

South Korea will travel to Wales for a men's friendly football match in September, for their first appearance in Europe under new coach Jurgen Klinsmann. The Korea Football Association announced Monday afternoon that South Korea and Wales will square off at Cardiff City Stadium in the Welsh capital on Sept. 7. The kickoff time will be determined later, the KFA added. The match falls during the September international match window, as set by FIFA. The KFA said it is also trying to schedule a

SoccerMay 30, 2023

S. Korea coach looks to keep the beat going in U-20 World Cup knockout stage

With his team headed to the knockout phase of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, South Korea head coach Kim Eun-jung wants to see just how far the country can go. South Korea, as runners-up of Group F, will take on Ecuador in the round of 16 in Santiago del Estero at 6 p.m. Thursday local time, or 6 a.m. Friday in Seoul time. South Korea played Gambia to a goalless draw to close out the group stage Sunday in Mendoza, and ended up with five points from a win and two draws. Gambia won the group

SoccerMay 29, 2023

Knockouts-bound S. Korea play Gambia to goalless draw at FIFA U-20 World Cup

With their knockout berth already secured, South Korea have closed out their group stage at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with a goalless draw against Gambia. South Korea finished in second place in Group F with five points, two back of Gambia, after the scoreless affair at the U-20 World Cup at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, western Argentina, on Sunday. As the Group F runners-up, South Korea will face Group B runners-up Ecuador in the round of 16. That match kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday at

SoccerMay 29, 2023

Korea clinch knockout berth at U-20 World Cup

South Korea have clinched a spot in the knockout stage at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina even before playing their final group stage match. Japan's 2-1 loss to Israel in Group C in Mendoza, western Argentina, on Saturday (local time) ensured that South Korea will grab a ticket to the round of 16 from Group F regardless of their result against Gambia on Sunday. There are six groups of four nations in this tournament. The top two teams from each group, plus four best third-place teams

SoccerMay 28, 2023

S. Korea play 10-man Honduras to draw at U-20 World Cup, knockout fate up in air

South Korea battled for a 2-2 draw against Honduras at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, as their knockout fate remains up in the air with one group match to go. South Korea netted two unanswered goals in the second half for the hard-fought draw in Group F at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, western Argentina, on Thursday. South Korea, who opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over France on Monday, sit in second place in the group with four points, two behind Gambia, who clinched a kn

SoccerMay 26, 2023

Padres' Kim Ha-seong hits 5th homer of season, scores 100th career run

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres has homered for the fifth time this season, reaching a career milestone in the process. Kim hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington on Wednesday. Kim's blast to the right-center field, off Nationals starter Trevor Williams, cut the Padres' deficit to 5-3. Kim drilled a 1-1 fastball from Williams for his first home run off a fastball this season. It was Kim's fi

BaseballMay 25, 2023