|
Belgium, S. Korea desperate for win
Posted: Wednesday June 24, 1998 06:59 PM
| |
Enzo Scifo and Belgium must beat South Korea and hope for a little luck in the other Group E match (Allsport) |
PARIS (AP) -- Belgium and South Korea
have different reasons for being desperate.
Third in the Group E standings after draws with Mexico and the
Netherlands
, Belgium must beat South Korea on Thursday to keep its second-round hopes
alive.
Though already eliminated from the tournament, South Korea has its
last chance to post its first-ever win in five World Cup appearances -- and
before it co-hosts the 2002 tournament with Japan.
"We decided when we got here to get one win before we return to
Korea," said Kim Pyung-seok, promoted to coach after Cha Bum-kun was fired
after two World Cup losses. "Thursday is our last chance."
South Korea opened with a 3-1 defeat to Mexico before losing 5-0 to
the Netherlands last Saturday.
"We are hungrier for the win than the Belgians," said Kim, who doesn't
plan to seek the permanent coaching job after the World Cup. "Certainly we
are feeling the pressure of realizing the hopes of our nation's
people."
Belgium's disastrous draw with Mexico last Saturday -- when it blew a
2-0 lead -- coupled with the Netherlands' victory over South Korea the same
night left Mexico and the Netherlands with four points apiece in the group.
Belgium has two points and the Koreans have zero.
The Dutch face Mexico on Thursday in the other Group E finale.
"This is what the whole World Cup comes down to for us," said Belgium
coach Georges Leekens. "We've recharged our batteries. The upcoming match
is very important because we need three more points. I don't want to think
about the past anymore; I want to keep my sights on the future."
Both teams will enter the final showdown short-handed.
South Korea is again without star striker Hwang Sun-hong, one of the
nation's most prolific scorers with 43 goals in 74 international matches.
Hwang suffered a knee injury just prior to the tournament after being
tackled in an exhibition match against China.
Belgium is without winger Danny Boffin, out with a knee injury.
First-choice goalkeeper Filip De Wilde and team captain Franky Van der Elst
are also uncertain.
De Wilde has a painful inner thigh. "Every time he goes up for a high
cross, he doesn't feel good," Leekens said.
The coach said Van der Elst has not been well since playing against
Mexico in temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit).
Even a win may not necessarily secure Belgium a place in the second
round.
If the Netherlands and Mexico draw, a Belgian victory would leave all
three teams with five points. In such a case, Belgium would probably need
to defeat South Korea by a margin of at least three goals to go
through.
But a victory would lock up a place in the next round for Belgium if
either the Dutch or Mexicans win their match in Saint-Etienne.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
| 
