[Newsmaker] [World Cup] Strong against the strong? S. Korea’s history of upsetting contenders

The results by the South Korean national team in Group H of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 have followed a peculiar pattern: It defeated the group-winner Portugal in the finale, tied with the next highest-ranked Uruguay 0-0, and was beaten by the lowest-ranked Ghana 3-2. Would the pattern continue when the Taegeuk Warriors play against the five-time World Cup champion Brazil at 10 p.m. Monday, or 4 a.m. Tuesday in Korea? The Korean team has indeed shown in the past -- mostly during the Koreans�

SoccerDec. 4, 2022

[World Cup] Will Brazil end S. Korea's miracle run? The odds stacked against Koreans

Prior to the Group H finale between South Korea and Portugal, the odds of the Taegeuk Warriors reaching the top 16 seemed slim to a near-comical level. Now after the Koreans have done the improbable, fans are waiting to see if they can keep on their miracle run in the next match against Brazil at the round of 16. The odds are stacked against South Korea as high as ever; Brazil currently sits at the top of the FIFA ranking and has won the World Cup five times in the past -- more than any other na

SoccerDec. 4, 2022

[World Cup] S. Korea resting, Brazil training behind closed doors ahead of knockout meeting

DOHA -- South Korea and Brazil, knockout round opponents at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, are keeping a low profile on Saturday, two days before their showdown in Qatar. South Korea, moments after qualifying for the round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over Portugal Friday evening, announced they would have a rest day on Saturday. It is South Korea's second off day since their training camp opened in Doha on Nov. 14. The Taegeuk Warriors also did not train on Nov. 20, the opening day of the competi

SoccerDec. 4, 2022

[Photo News] Unforgettable World Cup moments

SoccerDec. 3, 2022

S. Korea one win away from history in Qatar

South Korea are playing in their 10th consecutive FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and it's a record streak for a country without the ultimate championship trophy in football. It will be a tough task for South Korea to lift the trophy this year, but they are now just a win away from a small piece of their national football history. If South Korea beat world No. 1 Brazil in the round of 16 on Monday, they will reach the quarterfinals for the first time at an away World Cup. This is South Korea

SoccerDec. 3, 2022

S. Korea looking to extend unexpected run vs. top-ranked Brazil

Having beaten steep odds to reach the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, South Korea will be playing with house money when they take on Brazil in the round of 16 on Monday. The win-or-go home match between 28th-ranked South Korea and world No. 1 Brazil kicks off at 10 p.m. Monday at Stadium 974 in Doha, or 4 a.m. Tuesday in South Korea. Few pundits expected South Korea to come this far, especially not after they opened the competition with a goalless draw against Uruguay and a 3-

SoccerDec. 3, 2022

South Korea beats the odds to advance to knockout stage

South Korea pulled off a 2-1 upset against powerhouse Portugal on Saturday, Korean time and, despite Uruguay’s 2-0 defeat over Ghana, achieved an improbable feat of making the knockout stage. It is the Taeguk Warriors’ first trip to the knockout stage since 2010. This marks the third time in the nation’s history that South Korea has made it to the final 16. Portugal, despite the loss to the underdog, advanced to the next round. Two other teams in the Group H, Uruguay and Ghana

SoccerDec. 3, 2022

[Graphic News] What must happen for South Korea to stay in World Cup?

South Korea will play Portugal for its final match of Group H in the World Cup on Saturday (Korean time), at the same time as Ghana and Uruguay. Here is a look at what needs to happen for South Korea to reach the next round. - If two teams have the same number of points, the top team is decided by the following criteria, in order: goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head result, and "fair play" - the teams' disciplinary records. If this does not separate them, the FIFA organizi

SoccerDec. 2, 2022

[World Cup] Defender determined to stop Portugal with collective effort

South Korean defender Kim Young-gwon said Thursday he is not daunted by the prospect of facing Cristiano Ronaldo and other highly-skilled Portuguese players at the FIFA World Cup this week, believing a collective effort should get the job done against the European powers. Kim and South Korea will face Portugal in the final Group H match Friday at Education City Stadium. It's a must-win proposition for South Korea, who also must get help from the other Group H match on the same day between U

SoccerDec. 1, 2022

[World Cup] ‘Again 2002’ is on fans' minds as South Korea faces Portugal in do-or-die match

South Korea’s heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Ghana in the Group H match of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Monday has put the team in a bit of a pickle. It now faces Portugal, the only undefeated team in the group, in a do-or-die match. South Korean fans are hoping history would repeat itself in the upcoming Group H match: In the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, South Korea defeated the heavily favored Portugal squad in the final group stage match. The situation was similar, albeit not exactly the

SoccerNov. 30, 2022

[Newsmaker] [World Cup] Will Cho Gue-sung get a big World Cup transfer?

Despite the eventual loss, Monday’s match against Ghana has produced some bright spots for struggling South Korea in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. One of them is the rediscovery of Cho Gue-sung. He scored two goals against the Black Stars during his team’s 2-3 loss, marking the first time a Korean has ever scored more than once in a single World Cup match. The 24-year-old K-League player’s stellar performance in his first World Cup start appears to be drawing the attention of te

SoccerNov. 30, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (31) South Korea's moment of glory in World Cup

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on language, culture, history or anything K-related. -- Ed. Find the answer at the bottom of the page. For many South Koreans, the 2002 World Cup was unforgettable. It was the first and only tournament Korea hosted, along with co-host Japan, and it was where the country produced many firsts in its World Cup history -- the first win, the first advance to the knockout stages, and the improbable run to the semifinals. Before 2002, although it ha

SoccerNov. 30, 2022

[World Cup]Not just a pretty face: Cho Gue-sung earns fame with heroics vs Ghana

In a painful 3-2 loss against Ghana, one bright spot for South Korea was the stellar performance of Cho Gue-sung, who scored a brace in his first World Cup. With South Korea down 2-0 heading into the second half, Cho scored at the 58-minute mark with a header from Lee Kang-in’s cross. Just three minutes later, he soared above the defense for the second goal, this time assisted by Kim Jin-soo. This is the first time a Korean has ever scored more than once in a World Cup match. Only three

SoccerNov. 29, 2022

[Newsmaker] [World Cup] Outlook bleak, but not completely dark for S. Korea after loss to Ghana

After falling to Ghana 3-2, South Korea now faces a narrow path to survive the group stage and enter the last 16 at the World Cup in Qatar. To advance, the team must defeat Portugal, the strongest team in the group, to stand any sort of chance. Even if it does, it could still lose out, depending on the results of the match between Uruguay and Ghana. With all four teams in Group H having finished their second matches, Korea has just a single point and barely leads last place Uruguay on goal diffe

SoccerNov. 29, 2022

[Graphic News] FIFA World Cup history

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar - the first time the soccer tournament has been held in the Middle East - kicked off on Sunday. The tournament is being held through Dec. 18. The first World Cup tournament was held in 1930 - 92 years ago - and entirely within the city of Uruguay's capital Montevideo, according to FIFA's website. Brazil has won the World Cup a record five times in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002, followed closely by Germany and Italy with four wins apiece. Following is a li

SoccerNov. 29, 2022

South Korea falls to Ghana 3-2, prospects for advancement dim

South Korea came short of logging its first win of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as it fell 3-2 to Ghana in its second match of Group H Monday. The Black Stars battered the tough Korean defense led by Kim Min-jae -- who played 90 minutes in regulation despite the leg injury he sustained in the match against Uruguay on Thursday -- and took a 2-0 lead in the first half, one each from Mohammed Salisu and Mohammed Kudus. Cho Gue-sung of South Korea scored two goals in the second half to tie the gam

SoccerNov. 29, 2022

[Newsmaker] [World Cup] From Crusaders to Rising Sun, politically sensitive items banned at World Cup

FIFA has been barring supporters from donning outfits or flags that could be offensive to other nations at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. It was recently reported that the international governing body of soccer has told English fans not to wear medieval Crusader costumes at the World Cup. “Crusader costumes in the Arab context can be offensive against Muslims. That is why anti-discrimination colleagues asked fans to wear things inside out or change dress,” the Times of Lon

SoccerNov. 28, 2022

[World Cup] S. Korea won’t clinch berth with match 2 results, but Portugal might

The upcoming second match for South Korea against Ghana on Monday will be a crucial one, but not quite enough to ensure its survival in Group H of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. South Korea and Uruguay are currently tied at second place with one point they earned from their scoreless draw on Thursday, while Portugal leads the pack with three points and Ghana is last with zero, as a result of Portugal’s 3-2 victory over the latter in their first match of the group stage. If South Korea wins,

SoccerNov. 28, 2022

[Newsmaker][World Cup] Kim Min-jae’s injury could spell trouble for S. Korea against Ghana

It was announced Sunday evening that Kim Min-jae, the center back for the South Korean national soccer team, is yet undecided on whether he will play in Monday’s Group H match against Ghana in the FIFA World Qatar 2022. Koreans’ manager Paulo Bento told reporters that clearing the Napoli defender for playing will be a game time decision, prior to the kick off at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, at 4 p.m. local time, 10 p.m., Korean time. “Tomorrow, in the morning, we

SoccerNov. 28, 2022

[World Cup] Thin S. Korean defense in trouble if injured Kim Min-jae can't play

DOHA -- First, it was their captain and best offensive player, Son Heung-min. Now, South Korea's best defender, Kim Min-jae, is down with an injury and is a question mark against Ghana later Monday. Just about the worst nightmare scenario is playing out for the Taegeuk Warriors at this year's FIFA World Cup in Qatar. And if Kim can't go against Ghana, South Korea, with little depth behind the Napoli defensive stalwart, will have major problems. Son Heung-min bounced back in time f

SoccerNov. 28, 2022