South Korea, Uruguay eye surprising spoils
PORT ELIZABETH:
South Korea and Uruguay meet today in a fascinating World Cup last-16 clash that few pundits would have predicted at the start of the tournament.
The Asian giants have earned a reputation as set piece masters in South Africa, with three of their five first-round goals coming from free-kicks, some feat given the unpredictability of the Jubalani ball.
Uruguay, winners of the inaugural World Cup on home soil in 1930 and again in 1950, crashed out on their last appearance in 2002 when co-hosts South Korea made it into the semi-finals.
A last-four place is again the target coach Huh Jung-Moo has set for his Asian giants in South Africa.
“We’ve achieved our first objective of reaching the round of 16,” said Huh. “After that, anybody can guess what our next objective might be, but I know that the players will immediately set a higher target. They won’t be satisfied now with just having progressed.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2010.
South Korea and Uruguay meet today in a fascinating World Cup last-16 clash that few pundits would have predicted at the start of the tournament.
The Asian giants have earned a reputation as set piece masters in South Africa, with three of their five first-round goals coming from free-kicks, some feat given the unpredictability of the Jubalani ball.
Uruguay, winners of the inaugural World Cup on home soil in 1930 and again in 1950, crashed out on their last appearance in 2002 when co-hosts South Korea made it into the semi-finals.
A last-four place is again the target coach Huh Jung-Moo has set for his Asian giants in South Africa.
“We’ve achieved our first objective of reaching the round of 16,” said Huh. “After that, anybody can guess what our next objective might be, but I know that the players will immediately set a higher target. They won’t be satisfied now with just having progressed.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2010.