[World Cup] In tears, Son Heung-min vows to regroup for team's last group match

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia -- Son Heung-min became the first South Korean goal scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Saturday with his goal, but he wasn't a happy man in the end.Son showed tears after South Korea's 2-1 loss to Mexico in their second Group F match at Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don. The Tottenham Hotspur attacker cut the deficit to one in the second-half stoppage time but couldn't save South Korea from their second straight loss in the tournament."Our players really did well, but it's sa

SoccerJune 24, 2018

[World Cup] S. Korean defender becoming fans' scapegoat for losses

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia -- With one mistake after another, South Korean defender Jang Hyun-soo has become a scapegoat for the team's woes at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.Jang, a center back who plays with FC Tokyo, gave up a penalty kick in South Korea's 2-1 loss to Mexico on Saturday in their second Group F match at Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, after committing a handball foul in the box. The 26-year-old tried to stop Andres Guardado's cross, but unfortunately the ball hit his righ

SoccerJune 24, 2018

[World Cup] With Germany's win over Sweden, S. Korean knockout stage hopes still alive

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia -- Despite two losses, South Korea still have hopes of reaching the knockout stage at the 2018 FIFA World Cup after Germany beat Sweden in their Group F match on Saturday.South Korea lost 2-1 to Mexico in their second match in Group F at Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don earlier in the day. The latest result gave South Korea their second loss in the tournament following their 1-0 defeat to Sweden in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday.Even with two straight defeats, South Korea are not m

SoccerJune 24, 2018

[World Cup] S. Korea fall to Mexico 2-1 for 2nd straight loss

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia -- South Korea fell to Mexico 2-1 for their second straight loss at the FIFA World Cup in Russia on Saturday, though their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage are still alive thanks to Germany.Son Heung-min's stunner in second-half stoppage time wasn't nearly enough for South Korea at Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don, about 1,000 kilometers south of Moscow. Carlos Vela scored on a 26th-minute penalty, and Javier Hernandez doubled Mexico's advantage in the 66th, with South

SoccerJune 24, 2018

[World Cup] Nat'l football team arrives in Rostov-on-Don for match vs. Mexico

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia -- South Korea on Thursday arrived in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, where they will play their second match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.South Korea's 23-man squad will take on Mexico for their second match in Group F at Rostov Arena at 6 p.m. on Saturday (Russian time). They arrived in the city after a two-hour flight from Saint Petersburg.South Korea suffered a 1-0 loss to Sweden in their Group F opener at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday, while Mex

SoccerJune 22, 2018

[World Cup] Despite crushing defeat to Sweden, midfielder says S. Korea not giving up

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia -- South Korean midfielder Koo Ja-cheol said Tuesday the players have yet to give up their hopes for reaching the knockout stage at the 2018 FIFA World Cup despite their painful defeat to Sweden.Koo was a starting midfielder in South Korea's 1-0 loss to Sweden in their Group F opener at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on Monday. The FC Augsburg man played 73 minutes and was replaced by Hellas Verona attacker Lee Seung-woo. With defending champions Ger

SoccerJune 20, 2018

[World Cup] Korean left back to miss rest of tournament with hamstring injury

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia -- South Korea on Tuesday confirmed that their left back Park Joo-ho will not be able to play the rest of the team's 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign due to hamstring injury.A national team official said Park went to a hospital in Saint Petersburg and his medical checkup result showed that the 31-year-old will not be available to compete for South Korea's two remaining matches in Group F. "Park's injury wasn't severe as we originally thought as he only had a small damage on

SoccerJune 20, 2018

[World Cup] Forget stylish attacking moves, this is set-piece World Cup

VOLGOGRAD, Russia -- The possession football championed by coaches like Pep Guardiola is supposed to produce aesthetically-pleasing goals. Against strong defenses and world-class goalkeepers, sometimes you need to go back to basics.This World Cup has started with a spate of goals off of set pieces and penalty kicks, as many teams have struggled to score in the run of play.Inevitably, superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been part of the story, on opposite sides.Ronaldo’s delivered

SoccerJune 19, 2018

[World Cup] Late header from Kane gives England 2-1 win over Tunisia

VOLGOGRAD, Russia -- Twice wrestled to the ground during the match, England captain Harry Kane finally evaded the Tunisian defense just as time was running out.Kane found an open area of space at the far post and used his head to meet Harry Maguire’s flick-on, scoring the winning goal Monday in a 2-1 victory at the World Cup.It was relief for Kane and Gareth Southgate, who leapt into the air in delight as his World Cup debut as a coach got off to a winning start."The best teams in the world keep

SoccerJune 19, 2018

[World Cup] Belgium wakes up in 2nd half, rolls past Panama 3-0

SOCHI, Russia -- Unlike the other World Cup favorites that struggled through their opening matches, Belgium looked every part the title contender.Having Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku capable of scoring the way they did against Panama helps."People know I am supposed to score goals," Lukaku said. "The most important thing to me is to win matches."Lukaku scored twice in a six-minute span in the second half after Mertens’ perfectly struck volley gave Belgium the lead, and the Red Devils beat over

SoccerJune 19, 2018

[World Cup] Korea face rocky road ahead after losing Group F opener to Sweden

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia -- The importance of winning the first match at the World Cup is rarely lost on players or coaches alike. And South Korea coach Shin Tae-yong went all-in to try to beat Sweden to start this year's tournament in Russia.But South Korea ranked 57th, failed miserably, losing 1-0 to world No. 24 without even putting a shot on target at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. Shin used a 4-3-3 formation, a departure from the 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 settings from tuneup matches immediately preceding t

SoccerJune 19, 2018

[World Cup] Despite 1-0 loss, S. Korean goalkeeper makes impressive tournament debut

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia -- South Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo made an impressive World Cup debut on Monday, although his team fell to Sweden 1-0 in their 2018 FIFA World Cup Group F opener.Jo was South Korea's starting goalkeeper at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, which was somewhat of a surprise decision by head coach Shin Tae-yong.Jo has been competing with Kim Seung-gyu for the starting job in Russia but was thought to be a backup. While Kim had 33 caps and appeared at t

SoccerJune 18, 2018

[World Cup] With stadium dominantly yellow, S. Korean supporters show their energy

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia -- It felt like Sweden's home. Yellow was the dominant color at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on Monday as Swedish fans packed the competition venue for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group F match between South Korea and Sweden. South Koreans in red colors, however, didn't back down.  (Yonhap)Football fans flocked to the stadium even five hours before kickoff. With their families and friends and wearing national team shirts, fans raised their voices from t

SoccerJune 18, 2018

[World Cup] S. Korea fall to Sweden 1-0 in Group F showdown

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia -- South Korea fell to Sweden 1-0 in their World Cup Group F showdown on Monday, unable to put a shot on target after wasting a promising start.(Yonhap)Swedish captain Andreas Granqvist converted a 65th-minute penalty following a video review at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and the 24th-ranked Europeans held on for a clean sheet victory over 57th-ranked South Korea.This was South Korea's first loss in their World Cup opener since 1998.(Yonhap)South

SoccerJune 18, 2018

[World Cup] S. Korea, Sweden scoreless at halftime in Group F showdown

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia -- South Korea and Sweden found themselves scoreless at halftime in their World Cup Group F showdown on Monday.South Korea, ranked 57th, put on some early pressure before No. 24 Sweden turned the tide in their favor at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. For all their superior possession numbers early, South Korea made just one shot attempt, and none on target. Sweden had eight attempts, with two on target.(Yonhap)South Korea had a 4-3-3 formation to start

SoccerJune 18, 2018

[World Cup] With towering striker upfront, S. Korea set to use back 4 vs. Sweden

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia -- Towering striker Kim Shin-wook will start in South Korea's 2018 FIFA World Cup opener against Sweden on Monday.The starting lineup released by FIFA shows South Korea are likely to use a 4-3-3 formation, with Kim, listed at 197 centimeters, as a surprising starter upfront in their Group F opening match against Sweden at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, some 425 kilometers east of Moscow. The kickoff time is 3 p.m. local time, or 9 p.m. Seoul time.(Yonhap)Sout

SoccerJune 18, 2018

[World Cup] Goetze fires Germany to victory

RIO DE JANEIRO ― With two minutes left in full time and the teams stuck in a scoreless deadlock, German coach Joachim Loew told substitute forward Mario Goetze to show the world that he could outperform rival Argentina’s star striker Lionel Messi to win the match.“‘I said to Mario Goetze, ‘Okay. Show to the world that you’re better than Messi, and that you can decide the World Cup. You have all the possibilities to do just that,’” Loew said.And on Sunday at Maracana Stadium, he did it in the dyi

DefenseJuly 14, 2014