Asia pays tribute to South Korean

Asia pays tribute to South Korean

Chris Lefkow, Agence France-Presse, Hong Kong

South Korea's spectacular World Cup run may have ended short of the final and been tinged by controversy but it has been cheered across the region as a coming of age for Asian soccer.

"South Korea, you are still the pride of Asia," said the Vietnamese daily Thanh Nien following the co-host's 1-0 loss to traditional powerhouse Germany in Tuesday's semi-final in Seoul.

"What the South Korean players achieved in this competition will become history and a goal that all other Asian teams strive for in the next World Cup," it said.

Bitter rival and World Cup co-host Japan swallowed its own disappointment and magnanimously praised South Korea's achievement in becoming the first Asian side to reach the semi- finals in the 72-year history of the tournament.

"Applause for Asia's tiger," read a headline in Japan's leading daily Yomiuri Shimbun.

"Korea's best eleven, who fought it out with all their strength, were applauded by their proud countrymen and even Japan was deeply impressed," Yomiuri said.

Newspapers in Australia, which has been gripped by World Cup fever even though the Socceroos failed to qualify for the tournament, enthusiastically threw their support behind South Korea, who was coached by experienced Dutchman Guus Hiddink.

"Every Korean is henceforth an honorary Australian, such is the admiration generated by the Red Devils' success in the World Cup," The Australian said in an editorial headed "Korea, Korea, Korea, Oi Oi Oi."

Sydney Morning Herald columnist Michael Cockerill described South Korea's "marvelous, awe-inspiring charge into the last four" as a "Korean fairytale."

As did others, however, he noted the controversy over the refereeing in South Korea's victories over European giants Portugal, Italy and Spain.

"True, Korea benefited from refereeing decisions but perhaps only Spain have a genuine cause for complaint," he wrote. "The reaction of the Italians has been pathetic.

"The referee didn't beat Italy. The Azzurri beat themselves."

Taiwan's China Times said South Korea's glory "came with a price" and warned that because of the dubious refereeing "people wonder if there is any chance that the World Cup will be held in Asia again."

China, whose own World Cup debut was marred by three consecutive one-sided losses, soberly opted to view South Korea's success as a learning experience for their own side.

"We must study South Korea," said China Sports Daily. "The strong nations of the football world are still far from us ... the crucial point for us is to be able to see their strong points and study with an open mind."

Writing in the Philippine Daily Inquirer before the South Korea-Germany game, popular columnist Conrado de Quiros said South Korea has set the stage for a "soccer renaissance in Asia."

Confederation general secretary Peter Velappan said South Korea's run and Japan's qualification for the round of 16 had surpassed his expectations.

"If you had asked me before the tournament of my hopes for the Asian teams, I would have been very pleased with the success of Japan and Korea in topping their first round groups and qualifying for the second round," he said.