Why Korea Can Compete...

I used to share a room with a Korean student and a fantastic soccer player. He taught me the only two things that one needs to know about Korean Soccer. Koreans will study hard to learn EVERYTHING about a sport, and they will play with a passion that is unrivalled the world over.

With almost 2 million Korean fans in support, and a blinding red prescence in their Opener, the Korean soccer squad was bound to get the win against Togo. Watching the game this morning I was reminded of Korea's 2-2 draw with the US in 2002. In that game, the Americans jumped out on top, and seemed to have the win secured. But a disciplined, passionate, and never-say-die Korean squad refused to lose the game at Home. Instead, with pressure mounting from within, the Korean footballers played for the glory of their nation and scored a game-tying second goal.

This passion, this intensity and love for the game and the opportunity of the World Cup is shared by few other teams competing in Germany this June. Most European nations have lost the "fun" of football for the expectation of success. It was just this sort of expectation vs. fun paradox that played the French into a 0-0 draw with Switzerland this afternoon.

It seems that Team USA has also picked the European penchant for not getting excited for World Cup competition. Unlike the spirited team of '02, that refused to give in and shocked the world with its success, this year's squad seems uninspired.

All the more reason to love the Koreans.

Today's game against Togo was a great game. Playing up into a 1 all tie late in the second half, Korea continued to pund the ball into the box and took shot after shot. Like roulette, the odds of scoring continued to rise until FINALLY! Ahn Jung-hwan put away the game-winner at 72'.

Korean fan support is also unrivallled. Unlike the thugs that maruade with England, cruelly expecting victory and ready always to fight, Korean fan support is happy, peaceful and loving. To support the "Red Devils," 2 Million Korean supporters massed in Seoul to celevrate Korean goals (2) with fireworks displays. Meanwhile, back in Frankfurt, the stadium was absolutely overrun by Korean fans. Red jerseys DOMINATED the stands, and cheers wre clearly discrinable in song-like Korean.

The Korean style of soccer closely mimics that of European powerhouses like the Czech Republic, The Netherlands or even a psuedo-Brazilian style of play. Unlike the British blend of long passes and broken one-man runs, Korean attacks are usually centered around a cluster of 3-4 players whose beautiful crisp passing allows opportunities to open up.

In defense of Team Togo, the Africans looked far better than I expected them to be, and readily attacked the mediocre Korean defense. Had the calls gone as they Should have, Togo would surely have secured a penalty kick, and perhaps the tie.

Unfortunately, Korean firepower overwhelmed a strong Togoian defense and brought home the first World Cup victory for Korea not played in their own nation. With France looking mediocre at best, and Switzerland easily neutralized, I wouyld not be suprised to see the Koreans get out of the round robin on TOP, and they will SURELY make the second seeding from group G if nothing else.