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Friday June 21, 2002

RESPECT IS IN ORDER FOR ASIAN FOOTBALL

Asian football is gaining stature on the world stage and respect is in order due to the success of Korea, Japan and China.

Korea currently is at the top of the success heap due to their thrilling 2-1 win over Italy on a golden goal by Ahn-Junghwan in the 116th minute with just three minutes remaining of extra time. The Italians were down to ten men.

The match was sent into extra time when Seol-Ki-hyeon equalized in the 88th minute. The victory was tainted with the controversy of poor officiating and favoritism.

Some bordered on saying that the game was fixed intoning that the powers that be wanted Asia to succeed in their position of being first ever World Cup hosts.

Ahn also played for the Italian club Perugia. That was then…this is now.

The after effect of his heroics knocking out the Italian squad prompted Perugia's chairman Luciano Gaucci to say, "That gentleman will never set foot in Perugia again." (IE) Ahn' services would no longer be needed.

Gaucci went on to say, "I have no intention of paying someone who has ruined Italian soccer."

Ahn has been on lone to Perugia since the summer of 2000 by his Japan squad the Pusan I.Cons. He had five goals in 29 appearances.

It's a good thing that the USA didn't react as strongly when Ahn shouldered in the equalizer in their 1-1 thriller. It's safe to say that Ahn is still welcomed on American soil.

Whatever…. You can say or think what you want but you can't deny or fault the valiant effort of the Korean squad that looked listless for the first eighty minutes of the match. In the final ten minutes of regular time the Koreans kicked their game in gear and dominated a tired man down Italian squad. The Koreans burst of energy took the Italians by surprise. The question is…Have the European squads been underestimating the level of Asia play? Perhaps.

Korea hadn't won a finals match in 14 previous attempts in five World Cup appearances. Japan and Korea advanced to the second round for the first time after topping their groups and went undefeated. That success indicates that Asian soccer has matured to the point where they proved that they could compete with the big boys.

Italy had reached the quarterfinals in five of the last six World Cups failing only in 1986.

Italy manhandled the Korean squad but Korea rose to the challenge and proved their manhood to earn their next step to the quarterfinals. In doing so they raised the level of respect for Asian football.

CHINA shouldn't hang their heads with their quick exit. The Chinese went scoreless in their three matches while yielding nine goals. The World Cup experience will benefit them in the future. You never know what its like to play top teams under that type of pressure until you've done it…now they know what it takes and how deep they have to dig to get there. They can draw from the current success of Japan and Korea who suffered a similar fate when they first participated.

NOTES:

Since 1962 South American teams have won the World Cup every eight years. Brazil won it in 1962 - 1970, Argentina 1978 - 1986 and Brazil again in 1994. An aside, Brazil also won in 1958.

BRAZIL and SPAIN were the only teams to go through the first round with perfect 3-0 records. Seldom has a team that went undefeated in the first round won the World Cup. France accomplished the feat four years ago in France. Brazil did it in 1970 in Mexico.

FRANCE, CHINA and SAUDI ARABIA were the only teams that went scoreless in the opening round.

BRAZIL and GERMANY topped the opening round in scoring with 11 goals respectively.

ENGLAND and GERMANY were the top defenders in the opening round giving up only one goal each in their three matches.

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