[World Cup] Lee Yong: Korea needs to be tough mentally

CUIABA, Brazil (Yonhap) ― South Korea will have to dig deep and stay mentally strong when it opens its 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign against Russia, a South Korean defender said Sunday.South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, on Sunday arrived in Cuiaba in the central-west region of Brazil, the site of its first Group H match against Russia. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. at Arena Pantanal.Ahead of the team’s first practice here, defensive back Lee Yong said it will take more than just a physica

SoccerJune 16, 2014

[World Cup] S. Korea trains behind closed doors again

The increasingly clandestine South Korea trained behind closed doors for the third straight day on Sunday, with the ever-important opening group match against Russia just round the corner.South Korea on Sunday arrived in Cuiaba, the site of its Group H contest against Russia two days later. The Asian representative trained at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in the central-west city, and head coach Hong Myung-bo opened only the first 15 minutes of the session to the media. (Yonhap)The match

North KoreaJune 16, 2014

[World Cup] Messi magic gets Argentina up and running

Lionel Messi scored a trademark individual goal as Argentina opened their World Cup campaign with a narrow 2-1 win over Bosnia-Hercegovina at Rio de Janeiro's renovated Maracana on Sunday.The Barcelona superstar created the third-minute own goal by Sead Kolasinac with which Argentina went ahead, but it took a mid-match tactical shift for him to really start influencing proceedings. (AP-Yonhap)In the 65th minute he scored a goal befitting of the iconic 78,800-seater stadium, collecting the ball d

SoccerJune 16, 2014

[World Cup] Seferovic gives Swiss last-gasp win over Ecuador

Haris Seferovic scored in the last minute of injury time to grab Switzerland a dramatic 2-1 win over Ecuador in their Group E game at the World Cup finals in Brasilia on Sunday.Seferovic's winner capped a remarkable comeback by the top seeds in the group as fellow substitute Admer Mehmidi had taken just 121 seconds to make his mark as he levelled the game in the 48th minute. (AP-Yonhap)Enner Valencia had given Ecuador the lead midway through the first-half as he scored for the fifth successive g

SoccerJune 16, 2014

[World Cup] France beats Honduras 3-0

Karim Benzema scored twice and created a third that was confirmed by goal-line technology as France beat Honduras 3-0 Sunday in its first World Cup match.The dominant win was a relief for France, whose team of highly paid players failed to win in South Africa and was sent home in a disgrace after going on a training strike. ``Winning 3-0 at a World Cup isn't easy,'' France coach Didier Deschamps said. ``(The players should) savor the moment, there's nothing more wonderful.'' France's forward Kar

SoccerJune 16, 2014

[World Cup] Park looks to come through vs. Russia

FOZ DO IGUACU, Brazil (Yonhap) ― The objective of soccer is rather simple: Score more than the opposition.Things haven’t been quite so simple for South Korea, however, in its preparations for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.In 16 games coached by Hong Myung-bo, who took the reins last summer, South Korea has found the back of the net just 15 times, an inflated total given that four of the goals came against an overmatched Haiti.In six matches in 2014, South Korea has scored only three goals while c

SoccerJune 15, 2014

[World Cup] From the pitch to the booth

As the Korean team readies for its first match in the World Cup in Brazil later this week, heroes of the unforgettable 2002 event are back, sharpening their soccer instincts. Their battle, however, isn’t on the field. It’s on TV screens. From striker Ahn Jung-hwan and mid-fielder Park Ji-sung to defender Lee Young-pyo, a total of six players of the 2002 squad which advanced to the semi-finals have joined the country’s three major TV channels as soccer commentators. Here’s the lineup of football

SoccerJune 15, 2014

[World Cup] Ivory Coast double downs Japan

Ivory Coast scored two goals in two minutes to beat Asian giants Japan 2-1 in their World Cup Group C battle on Saturday.Japan's AC Milan star Keisuke Honda knocked the Elephants groggy with a 16th minute goal to make it 1-0.But goals from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho in the 64th and 66th minutes saw Ivory Coast home. (AP-Yonhap)Honda gave Japan hope after escaping his markers at the edge of the penalty area and firing home a left foot shot that gave Boubacar Barry Copa in the Ivory Coast goal no

SoccerJune 15, 2014

[World Cup] Colombia's verve sets tone in Group C at World Cup

Colombia's new generation unlocked Greece's notoriously steely defense with such verve that they could just have become the team to beat in Group C at the World Cup.The Colombians beat Greece 3-0 on Saturday, and didn't need star striker Radamel Falcao to do it.  (AFP-Yonhap)Falcao, who was ruled out of the World Cup due to a knee injury, was just one among the thousands of Colombia supporters who dominated the crowd, turning Mineirao Stadium into a sea of yellow, tinged with red and blue in the

SoccerJune 15, 2014

[World Cup] Costa Rica stuns Uruguay 3-1 at World Cup

Costa Rica came from behind to stun Uruguay 3-1 Saturday at the World Cup, opening the tough Group D with a major upset. Uruguay left star striker Luis Suarez on the bench but went ahead when Edinson Cavani scored a penalty in the 24th minute. The Central Americans fought back after the break and lone striker Joel Campbell drive in a ball headed down by Celso Borges in the 54th  to beat goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Oscar Duarte dived past the outstretched foot of Uruguay's Cristian Stuani to hea

SoccerJune 15, 2014

[World Cup] Balotelli goal gives Italy 2-1 win over England

Mario Balotelli scored with a second-half header Saturday to give Italy a 2-1 win over England at the World Cup.The Italy striker was left free by his marker Gary Cahill and nodded a cross from Antonio Candreva past goalkeeper Joe Hart in the 50th minute.Claudio Marchisio scored first for Italy, sending a long shot through a crowded area and past a diving Hart in the 35th. Daniel Sturridge equalized for England two minutes later, tapping in a cross from Wayne Rooney. (AFP-Yonhap)The win puts Ita

SoccerJune 15, 2014

[World Cup] Netherlands thrashes Spain 5-1 in World Cup opener

SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) – Louis van Gaal, one of the game's greatest coaches, was criticized before the World Cup for being too defensive for a nation that loves attacking play.His decision to field five defenders against Spainthough, proved a masterstroke.His team thrashed the defending world champions 5-1 Friday with a clinical display of counterattacking football that had Spain chasing shadows at the end as Dutch fans roared “Ole!” each time their team passed the ball.“If you see how he prepare

SoccerJune 14, 2014

[World Cup] The beautiful game kicks off

From pubs in England and public squares in Korea to living rooms in the U.S. and bairros (neighborhoods) in Brazil, half the world’s population is expected to tune in to the World Cup over the next month, as fans hope to see today’s heroes, including Argentina’s Messi, Portugal’s Ronaldo and Brazil’s Neymar, lead their countries to victory. Already the most expensive and with an unprecedented 2.96 million spectator tickets sold, this year’s World Cup is widely touted to be the best one yet. Lion

SoccerJune 13, 2014

[World Cup] Korea’s path fraught with challenges

As in any sport, the road to victory in football lies just inches away from failure. The elusive victory cigar usually finds its way to someone willing to “fight for that inch,” as Al Pacino put it in “Any Given Sunday,” a sports classic in which he plays a football coach.But that slim difference between glory and disgrace appeared to have widened to miles, not inches, for the South Korean team on Monday. They were thumped 4-0 by Ghana in Miami, Florida, in their last friendly before the 2014 FI

SoccerJune 13, 2014

[World Cup] Brazil, Italy face tough road from 16-country stage

Football pundits and gamblers aren’t hesitating to pick Brazil, the host of the 2014 World Cup, as the favorite for the World Cup Trophy on July 13.However, the 16-team knockout phase, which is scheduled to start on June 29 after the two-week group stage, may pose a tough test for the “eternal favorite.”If the Brazilian team advances to the round of 16, as is widely expected, it is likely to face Spain or the Netherlands from Group B.Reigning champion Spain is the No. 1 team in the FIFA rankings

SoccerJune 13, 2014

[World Cup] Cup fever needs to boost Korean soccer

Every four years, 32 national football teams clash for the World Cup trophy, the top honor in the sport, sparking a worldwide fever. And the time has come again with the Brazil World Cup 2014 kicking off on Friday. Koreans have been no exception to the craze, whether Korea qualifies for the championship or not. Every time Korea advances to the 32-team contest, Koreans have turned their eyes to football, rooting for their team ardently.However, the World Cup craze doesn’t seem to last long in Kor

SoccerJune 13, 2014

[World Cup] Korean firms gear up for World Cup marketing

The 2014 FIFA World Cup is expected to spur domestic sales and help companies withstand dampened demand in the wake of the Sewol ferry sinking.The global sports event is a good opportunity for consumer electronics companies to increase TV sales. Sales in World Cup years are usually 30 percent higher than the previous year. Though Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are not official sponsors of the 2014 tournament, they expect to reap similar benefits, and step up related marketing to make the

SoccerJune 13, 2014

[World Cup] Neymar rescues Brazil in World Cup opener

Brazil's Neymar celebrates his second goal on a penalty kick during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Croatia, the opening game of the tournament, in the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Neymar hit two goals including a bitterly contested penalty to guide Brazil to a 3-1 victory over Croatia in the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday.Violent protests in Sao Paulo were quickly pushed to one side as drama switched to the footbal

SoccerJune 13, 2014

[World Cup] Photos: The World Cup opening ceremony

Photos: The World Cup opening ceremonyGeneral view of the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo prior to the opening Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia on June 12, 2014. (AFP )Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014, prior to the opening Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia. (AFP)Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 World

Latest NewsJune 13, 2014

[World Cup] Forward Lee Keun-ho embraces role as backup

South Korean forward Lee Keun-ho is no slouch by any stretch of the imagination. The 29-year-old was named the 2012 Asian player of the year by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after helping his South Korean club, Ulsan Hyundai, to the AFC Champions League title that year.  On the current 23-man World Cup squad for South Korea, Lee is tied with forward Park Chu-young for most caps with 63 and is second behind Park with 18 goals.Despite his solid credentials, Lee is expected to serve as a r

SoccerJune 13, 2014