2002 World Cup still fairy tale for Korean football

By John Duerden

Thursday sees the 20th anniversary of the 2002 World Cup final in which Brazil, inspired by Ronaldo, defeated Germany 2-0 in Yokohama. Had things gone a little differently, then it could have been South Korea taking on the South Americans as the team made it all the way to the semifinal where it lost 1-0 to the Europeans.

It spelled the end of that fairytale run that shocked the world and after two decades, the event is starting to pass into history. There are people walking the streets of Seoul and Busan on their way to working full-time jobs and who have perhaps even started families who have no, or little, memory of what happened during that crazy summer and what it meant for Korean soccer.

The basics are as follows. The Taeguk Warriors had appeared at five previous World Cups prior but had never won a game, though had come close on occasion. If you weren't there then you won't remember the nerves before it all started. Being a part of the first ever co-hosting situation with Japan only added to the pressure. It wasn't just about winning a game but no host had ever failed to get past the first round before. Imagine if South Korea achieved that unwanted record with Japan going through. It almost did not bear thinking about.

That did not come to pass. An opening 2-0 win over Poland in Busan, the Asiad Stadium never looked so good, took the pressure off and introduced the world to the Red Devils. Then followed an entertaining 1-1 draw with the United States and then came a 1-0 win over Portugal in Incheon that clinched the top spot and a place in the second round. There was another unforgettable image on that Friday night as Park Ji-sung scored the only goal of the game, a fine strike and then ran towards coach Guus Hiddink on the sidelines and jumped into the Dutchman's open arms.

It earned a second round clash with Italy. That was another epic evening, this time in Daejeon. There was a sense around the stadium that beating the mighty Azzurri was possible and that is what happened. The Europeans took the lead but a late equalizer from Seol Ki-hyeon took the game into extra-time. That was won by Ahn Jung-hwan who climbed above Paolo Maldini, one of the best defenders in the history of the game, to send the Land of the Morning Calm into an evening frenzy. I remember people dancing in the streets in the early hours of the morning.

Then there was a penalty shootout win over Spain in a Saturday lunchtime quarter-final which led to a semifinal clash with Germany that ended the run. It meant the end of the dream but there was no sadness, just delight at what had happened. No Asian team had ever performed so well at the tournament and there was immense pride.

At the time, the entire nation was in rapture with games repeated endlessly on the subway, beauty salons, restaurants, bars, buses and anywhere else you care to mention. The legacy of the 2002 World Cup is uncertain. There were huge crowds in the K-League for a short time but it did not last and the stadiums that were built for the tournament did not always suit local teams, fans and cities. Yet that summer will never be forgotten as it was a magnificent fairy tale.