World Cup ....

Sorry dude, your team has just been robbed in broad daylight

 

Excuse me for some of the random names that I mention. They are regulars on my Asian Avenue site: http://www.asianavenue.com/Members/Me/personalpage.html?MEMBER=SwisherShot

<b>World Cup Mania</b>
It takes a bit of hindsight to actually tell my tale of the 2002 FiFA World Cup. Growing up, I was never really a soccer fan. Japan always had its roots in the sport of soccer, played almost as frequently as the game of baseball. During my brief yet meaningful residence in the city of Chappaqua, NY, my mom decided it was ideal that I follow the road of a regular Japanese boy by partaking me in the mini-soccer program that the small village offered. It was basically me and a bunch of rich white folks, and I never really got into the game. Simply put, I sucked. Up into I found my love for the game of basketball, had I really considered myself an athlete. Regardless, the sport of soccer was always tainted by my early childhood memories of running, running, running some more... and frustration. Naturally, I was never really into the World Cup Soccer events that were held every four years, in different parts of the world no less.
Now skip with me to the golden years of the JP's reign. The friends that were so deeply rooted with Japanese pride, began having interest in their home-nation's chances at the World Cup. Of course, they've always been the underdogs in the competition, but at least they were working hard representing the Asian race. The JPs got me into Soccer video games, and I started thinking "soccer ain't so bad".
During my late high school years, I was amused by the Women's U.S. Soccer Team to win gold under their home crowd in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. That only furthered my interest in this one-time dispised sport of mine.
Present day (Saturday, June 22, 5:15am) - So when people started telling me about how Korea and Japan would be co-hosting the 2002 World Cup games, I couldn't help but jump on the bandwagon. It was an ideal situation, since my closest friends are all oozing with Korean Pride. I could feel the excitement, as I visited the Official Store of the 2002 World Cup in Shibuya, Japan, during my visit in 2001. Lord knows, I've seen Big Dawg's beaten up old World Cup shirt (from Korea's match hosted in Dallas, TX) enough times. And then it began. Chris was the first to inform me of this year's Japanese team, most noticeable for their bleached hair and blue uniforms. He, himself, was rather excited for China's first berth in the World Cup games. Then the Korean guys began staying up at night to watch the games live. These were, after all, played on the other side of the hemisphere. My parents were visiting Japan for the past month, and they definitely felt the wave of exhilaration in the co-host country. People were Instant Messaging me, discussing the outcomes of each big-game win. Eunhi, who is in the process of visiting L.A., informed me that the buzz about Korea's win against Italy was even more than that of the Laker's Championship victory that occurred that same week. Korea and Japan both advanced to the second round, but Japan faltered against the evenly matched Turkey, ending the hopes of one co-host country. SportsCenter aired constant coverage of US' valiant effort until facing defeat to Germany in the third round.
The focus switches quickly to Korea's amazing climb to the semi-finals - a historical feat in itself. This team has all the makings of a sports team that would be featured in <i>Sports Century</i>. There's the star player, the seasoned veteran, the crafty speedster, and the underrated goalie who meets redemption in the face of Spain's sudden death kicks. The road continues, however, with a David vs. Goliath-type match against Germany. With Korea's momentum in full swing, the home crowd is sure to cheer their asses off for this already instant-classic team. And I thought Arco was tough.
With only two more rounds to go in this year's World Cup, I regretfull brace the boredom that is sure to come once the cup will finally be awarded to its rightful owner. Thankfully, there's X-Box and the World Cup soccer game to keep my interest up for the next four years; or until Yao comes to Houston. http://www.asianavenue.com/Members/Me/personalpage.html?MEMBER=SwisherShot

 

Oh well...it sucks to be you right now.

 

that was one good game...people are going nuts over here. I thought both teams were pretty lackadasical (spelling?),...esp. Korea. You could tell they were feeling the effects from the overtime match with Italy, and only 2 days rest compared to 4 days for Spain. I thought Spain was gonna win, but S.Korea survived regulation...and it became a game of who wanted it more. The 3 goals you mentioned were clear fouls, and the Egyptian referee throughout the game was pretty reserved about making the calls...I thought the officiating was fairly decent.
I wasn't much of a soccer fan before, but the S.Korean team is full of cardiac kids...a never say die attitude, so they deserve credit, and even the media and Spain acknowledged that. Please none of this home team conspiracy crap...the game could have gone either way...a hard fought game....as evident of the shootout at the end. You gotta give credit where credit is due.

 

I think you didn´t see the game. Clearly fouls?????? Please. Read the newspapers around the world. This was the WORST STEAL EVER in the world cup history.

 

Which game are u talking about?

 

please link us. Which newspaper said this was the worst steal ever in the wolrd cup history. Stop making fake reports and manipulate people's mind here. I agree that there have been false calls by officials. But remember, they blew the whistle right before Juakin(?) kicked the ball for setup.. Korean players stopped playing when they heard the whistle.. and spain scored after everything was stopped.
and which 3 goals are you talking about?.. I only remember of 2

 

First, I didn´t said the newspapers talk about this as the worst steal ever, that´s was my opinion. What I said was that around the world, except in Korea (of course), newspapers agree that Spain was robbed. Do you want some links (not spanish)? visit lequipe.com (France), any italian page, clarin.com (Argentina), mirror.co.uk (England). See TV programs. I live in Venezuela, I´m seeing the world cup on directv, and I hear broadcasters from México, Argentina and of course Venezuela, and all of them agree that Spain was robbed.

In the extratime, if you see the replay slowly, you´ll notice how the linier call the ball out long after Joaquin kicked the ball, just an instant before Morientes head the ball. I challenge you to see the replay again.

And the third goal you don´t remember, was a head goal by Morientes, but I´m going to concede that was scored after the referee blew the whistle for an non-existent outside position by Mendieta. And remember the play when Luis Enrique was called for (again) a non-existent outside position. And remember the corner he didn´t allow to Spain at the end of the extra period.

I want to believe in the honesty of the officials, but I challenge you again: Do you remember any close play called against Korea in ALL the world cup? The only thing that didn´t happen in this game was a red card or a penalty against Spain, but how, if Korea attacked just 3 times in 120 minutes.