Al-Ahram Weekly | Sports

		27 June - 3 July 2002 Issue No. 592 Sports	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Recommend this page

Koreans euphoric

SOUTH Koreans spent Saturday night in euphoria, celebrating their soccer team's win over Spain that sent an Asian country to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in history.
A myriad of fans paraded with national flags and a thunder of voices chanted "Dae Han Min Guk!" (Republic of Korea) in streets in Seoul and across the country in the hours after the historic win. The euphoria lasted until dawn when cleaners poured on to the streets to bring the cities gradually back to normal.
South Korea, co-host of the 2002 World Cup, secured a punishing golden goal victory over Italy, one of the tournament favourites, in the second round after finishing top of group D by beating Portugal 1-0 and Poland 2-0 as well as drawing 1-1 with the US. It then upset Spain 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw, skipper Hong Myung-Bo stepping up calmly to convert the decisive spot-kick.
Until this World Cup, the first in Asia, the Koreans had not won a single match in five previous appearances at the finals dating back to 1954.
The supporters created a huge mosaic at one end of the ground proclaiming the side to be "the pride of Asia".
The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs said it planned to honour South Korea's Dutch coach Guus Hiddink and the team for their remarkable contributions to the country by awarding them the Chongyong Medal, the country's top sports award.

Carried away

CELEBRATIONS in Turkey over the country's victory in the World Cup quarter-finals were marred by deaths and injuries. Fours fans were killed and eight others injured in traffic accidents in the cities of Mersin and Izmit as cheering fans drove through in convoys of cars. Some 50 minor traffic accidents were reported in Ankara during the celebrations, private NTV television reported.
At least 12 people were injured across the country by stray bullets fired in the air during the celebrations, the Anatolia News Agency reported. None of the injuries was serious. Turkey beat Senegal 1-0 in overtime to advance to the semi-finals against Brazil.

Passing by

SENEGAL's soccer players stopped by one of the West African nation's most valuable allies, Taiwan, on Sunday for a two-day visit before heading home after their strong showing in the World Cup.
Carrying soccer balls and dressed in warm-up suits and shorts, the players strolled through Taipei's airport before calling on Taiwan's Foreign Ministry. The underdog team surprised many by making it to the quarter-finals, where it lost 1-0 to Turkey in overtime on Saturday in Japan.
The players planned to attend a ceremony in their honour at a soccer stadium in Taipei. They were also to meet President Chen Shui-bian.
Senegal is one of fewer than 30 nations, mostly impoverished African and Latin American countries, that have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. In exchange for the official recognition, Taiwan often provides generous amounts of aid and other incentives.

For England

ENGLAND's Football Association has said it was planning a public reception for fans to honour the national team's World Cup efforts. The players made a low-key arrival at London's Heathrow Airport late on Saturday night after a 12-hour flight from Japan. The team was knocked out of the World Cup on Friday when it lost 2-1 to Brazil in the quarter-finals.
After taking security advice, the squad disembarked at a special hangar and boarded waiting coaches, disappointing many supporters who waited in the terminal.
But FA Executive Director David Davies denied it had deliberately snubbed fans and said there were plans for a major formal reception later in the week. Prime Minister Tony Blair has promised to receive the team at Downing Street.
About 7,000 fans lined the airport's perimetre roads and cheered as the squad departed. Cars drove around honking their horns with fans leaning out of the windows. Some fans managed to halt the players' coach in order to show their appreciation.
As they thronged forward waving banners a chant of "Seaman" went up in support of goalkeeper David Seaman who let in Brazil's winning goal.
Supporters had to be pushed back by police as they surged forward. It took several minutes for a police escort to inch through the jubilant supporters with the five coaches just before midnight.
The party then set off towards the nearby Meridien Excelsior Hotel from where the players and FA staff went their separate ways.
Senegal could not make it to the semi-finals but left the World Cup with heads held high
Doctors are happy

DOCTORS in Korea and Japan have not found what they are looking for -- which is fine with them. There has not been a single positive result among all the doping tests carried out so far in the World Cup.
Doctors are carrying out tests for prohibited substances on two players from each team after every match in the tournament, using urine and blood samples taken from players selected at random by drawing lots during the match.
The FIFA Sports Medical Committee carried out tests using blood samples for the first time in addition to the usual urine sampling several months before the World Cup kicked off.
The Executive Committee of the world federation advocated the idea, as did the 32 national associations taking part in the tournament. They also promised their full support for the new strategy in the fight against doping.
There have been no cultural or religious objections by the players to giving blood samples. Reports say all those taking part in the tournament had given their consent in writing.
The results of the tests, conducted in two laboratories in Seoul and in Tokyo, are available 12 to 24 hours after the urine and blood specimens have been taken.

Foul!

LEADING Argentine daily La Nacion believes the 2002 World Cup should be declared null and void because of what it said was bad refereeing.
"This should no longer be called the World Cup of surprises. That would be superficial," the newspaper said in a column on Sunday.
"It should be annulled right now, declared null and void because of the mistakes. As of now, everything will be shrouded in doubt and suspicion." Two-time champion Argentina was knocked out of the World Cup in the first round.

One is enough

BRAZIL's Ronaldinho will be able to play in the World Cup final or third-place game, depending on how his team fares against Turkey. Ronaldinho, who scored the winning goal in Brazil's 2-1 quarter-final victory over England, was ejected for a hard tackle, meaning an automatic suspension for the semi-final.
FIFA, which has the option to extend bans, decided on Sunday to leave it at one game, FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper said.

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