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.