[World Cup] From kiss on the wrist to fake camera: special goal celebrations of Korean players

After the game-winning goal that carried South Korea to a victory over Portugal in the Group H finale of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Hwang Hee-chan laid a kiss on his left wrist before the play commenced. This was a tribute to his grandparents, who raised him as a child and whose names are tattooed on his wrist. Hwang had once said in an interview that his grandparents were “everything in his life,” that they were the first people that pop up in his mind whenever he makes a goal.

SoccerDec. 5, 2022

[World Cup] Out-of-place ‘Messi!’ chants sum up Koreans’ beef with Ronaldo

During the Group H finale of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 between South Korea and Portugal on Saturday, Korean time, Korean fans at the stadium started shouting “Messi! Messi!” when the Portuguese team’s captain Cristiano Ronaldo got the ball. The support seemed random, as the Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi was not on the field of the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar: his team was not even in the same group and had clinched its spot in the top 16 two days earlier

SoccerDec. 4, 2022

[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] Hwang Hee-chan awarded Budweiser's Player of the Match

South Korean midfielder Hwang Hee-chan was awarded Player of the Match by US beer brand and official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup Budweiser, following Korea’s Saturday match against Portugal, Korean distributor Oriental Brewery said Sunday. South Korea pulled off a dramatic 2-1 victory against powerhouse Portugal, securing its place in the knockout stage. Hwang scored the last goal of the match in the 46th minute of the second half, assisted by Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min. In rec

IndustryDec. 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

[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

[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

[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

[World Cup] PM orders safety measures over World Cup street cheering

Tens of thousands of fans are expected to hold street cheering events in central Seoul to root for South Korea's second World Cup match in Qatar, although the state weather agency has predicted a cold wave and rain later in the day. "The heads of local governments and the heads of police and fire departments should inspect crowd management measures in advance in preparation for rain," Han said, according to the Office for Government Policy Coordination. Han also ordered the interi

PoliticsNov. 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

[World Cup] S. Korea coach reflects on relationship with fans built on 'mutual respect'

AL RAYYAN -- Having been in charge for a little over four years, Paulo Bento is the longest-serving head coach of the South Korean men's national football team. The journey has not been without some rocky moments, but through thick and thin, the Portuguese tactician has led his adopted country to their 10th consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance. On Sunday, the eve of the Taegeuk Warriors' second Group H match against Ghana in Qatar, Bento took a moment to reflect on his relationship wi

SoccerNov. 28, 2022

[World Cup] Injured defender game time decision vs. Ghana; midfielder ruled out for 2nd game

AL RAYYAN, Qatar -- South Korea's injured center back Kim Min-jae will be a game time decision against Ghana when the two countries square off in Group H of the FIFA World Cup on Monday. At his prematch press conference Sunday, head coach Paulo Bento said the decision on Kim's status will be made on the day of the game at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha. Kim picked up a right calf muscle injury against Uruguay last Thursday. "Tomorrow, in the morning, we will

SoccerNov. 27, 2022

[World Cup] S. Korea looking to grab record-setting win for Asian teams

DOHA -- Well before the end of the group stage, Asian teams have already tied the record for most victories at a single FIFA World Cup. South Korea will try to pick up the record-setting win when they face Ghana in their second Group H match on Monday. There are six members of the Asian Football Confederation in action at this year's World Cup, with the host Qatar joined by qualifiers South Korea, Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Qatar have already been eliminated from knockout cont

SoccerNov. 27, 2022