sorry for the delay. i moved home and i don't have internet access yet.
scharatz
soccerage preview
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World Cup 3rd-Place Playoff Preview: Korea-Turkey
The third place play-off match is surely one of the hardest games a footballer will ever have to play. How can you raise your game after just missing out on a place in the World Cup final for a match that is fairly pointless? The answer for South Korea is simply their fans who will be treating this match as another reason to have a party.
This match also looks set to be Guus Hiddink's last in charge of the Red Devil's and his fans, who now idolise him, will give him an almighty send-off, although I'm sure they'll still be hoping he will stay on. The former Real Madrid coach guided Holland to the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup against Brazil, which they lost on penalties and were then unable to lift themselves as they lost 2-1 to Croatia in the third place play-off match. The Dutchman insists the match is meaningful, saying: "There is a big difference between the third and fourth place so it is important for us to take third place by beating Turkey. We will do our best."
65 thousand fans in Daegu will be passionately cheering on their team for one last match knowing that they may never get to this position again. As a result the story of the 2002 World Cup will go down in the history of South Korea, so for that reason whether they finish 3rd or 4th does matter, even if the rest of the World won't remember the result.
Turkey, like South Korea, are glad to be in the last four, although they were openly aiming at a sensational final against Germany, which would have sent all the Turkish football fans to bliss. It won't be the case, unfortunately. The whole country was very sad after the defeat. Brazil proved an obstacle too big to be overcome and now the Tetra could become Penta... The performance against Senegal was great but it was not that good against Brazil, and it was a downer (not a döner, of course - don't mess with other people's culinary traditions!) for the fans who had expected a different kind of match. Turkey were unable to contain the skillful Brazilian wing players, even though it was a clear and present danger.
Contrary to past habits, this 3rd place playoff will be played "until death occurs" by Turkey, who are, er... dying to win it! What a good result it would be: finishing third in a World Cup. This match will not be so unfamiliar for Gunes' men: after all, they already faced a host nation in this tournament, when they knocked out Japan in the Second round.
Senol Gunes' plans are clear: he will field the strongest formation to try and clinch the third spot. He indicated morale was set to be low now that they had missed out on the Final, but national pride will play a role in this instance. Like Korea, people at home or accross Europe see it as a matter of honour! Sukur and his team-mates know it will be the only way for them to be "forgiven" for their Brazilian lapse.
TEAM NEWS
Choi Jin-Chul and Kim Nam-Il are both big doubts and are unlikely to be risked as Hiddink may well take the opportunity to give a run-out to some of the players who have rarely featured in the World Cup campaign. Yoon Jong-Hwan and Hyun Young-Min are in line for starting roles. Ahn Jung-Hwan should also be recalled to the starting line-up at the expense of Cha Du-Ri after an ankle injury kept him out of the starting line-up for the semi-final defeat to Germany. Veteran's Hwang Sun-Hong and Hong Myung-Bo have both revealed that they will be retiring from international football after the World Cup and so will be looking to go out on a high. Especially Hong, who has been named by Fifa on a ten-man shortlist for the Golden Ball, which is the award given to the best player of the tournament.
Senol Gunes is troubled by the fitness of his ailing attacking pair: Hakan Sukur's problems have been famous for quite a while, whereas Hasan Sas' recent troubles came as a shock for the Turkish setup. Super-sub Ilhan should step in if Sas does not make it. Gunes looks set to rely on a classical 4-4-2 formation, hoping that luck will be on his side.
STARTING LINE-UPS
South Korea (4-3-1-2): Lee Woon-Jae - Yoon Jong-Hwan, Kim Tae-Young, Hong Myung-Bo, Song Chong-Gug - Hyun Young-Min, Yoo Sang-Chul, Lee Young-Pyo - Ahn Jung-Hwan - Park Ji-Sung, Hwang Sun-Hong..
Turkey (4-4-2): Rustu - Fatih, Bulent, Alpay, Ergun - Umit Davala, Tugay, Basturk, Emre Belozoglu - Hasan Sas (or Ilhan Mensiz), Hakan Sukur
WHO IS HOT
Korea is made up of a team of heroes and all are deserving of praise. Ahn has stolen much of the limelight following his golden goal against Italy and consequent transfer saga with Perugia, while Hong Myung-Bo has been singled out for praise by FIFA. However, Song Chong-Gug and Yoo Sang-Chul have also been sensational throughout the World Cup.
Turkey: Rustu Reçber. Heis being named in the World Cup all-star team says it all! He was fabulous against Brazil and kept his team in the race until that solo effort by Ronaldo. A fine tournament all round.
WHO IS NOT
Korea: There isn't any obvious candidates for this position, although Cha Du-Ri disappointed against Germany having previously made an impact on matches as a substitute. His performance and the return of Ahn should see him return to the bench where he may once again be used as a super-sub.
Turkey: Hakan Sukur. Yes, him again! Our Turkish expert believes he might finish the tournament without even scoring a single goal. How embarrassing it would be for the Bosphorus Bull to end like that his long and fruitful international career.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Saturday's match is the first time South Korea and Turkey have met.
scharatz
soccerage preview
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Cup 3rd-Place Playoff Preview: Korea-Turkey
The third place play-off match is surely one of the hardest games a footballer will ever have to play. How can you raise your game after just missing out on a place in the World Cup final for a match that is fairly pointless? The answer for South Korea is simply their fans who will be treating this match as another reason to have a party.
This match also looks set to be Guus Hiddink's last in charge of the Red Devil's and his fans, who now idolise him, will give him an almighty send-off, although I'm sure they'll still be hoping he will stay on. The former Real Madrid coach guided Holland to the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup against Brazil, which they lost on penalties and were then unable to lift themselves as they lost 2-1 to Croatia in the third place play-off match. The Dutchman insists the match is meaningful, saying: "There is a big difference between the third and fourth place so it is important for us to take third place by beating Turkey. We will do our best."
65 thousand fans in Daegu will be passionately cheering on their team for one last match knowing that they may never get to this position again. As a result the story of the 2002 World Cup will go down in the history of South Korea, so for that reason whether they finish 3rd or 4th does matter, even if the rest of the World won't remember the result.
Turkey, like South Korea, are glad to be in the last four, although they were openly aiming at a sensational final against Germany, which would have sent all the Turkish football fans to bliss. It won't be the case, unfortunately. The whole country was very sad after the defeat. Brazil proved an obstacle too big to be overcome and now the Tetra could become Penta... The performance against Senegal was great but it was not that good against Brazil, and it was a downer (not a döner, of course - don't mess with other people's culinary traditions!) for the fans who had expected a different kind of match. Turkey were unable to contain the skillful Brazilian wing players, even though it was a clear and present danger.
Contrary to past habits, this 3rd place playoff will be played "until death occurs" by Turkey, who are, er... dying to win it! What a good result it would be: finishing third in a World Cup. This match will not be so unfamiliar for Gunes' men: after all, they already faced a host nation in this tournament, when they knocked out Japan in the Second round.
Senol Gunes' plans are clear: he will field the strongest formation to try and clinch the third spot. He indicated morale was set to be low now that they had missed out on the Final, but national pride will play a role in this instance. Like Korea, people at home or accross Europe see it as a matter of honour! Sukur and his team-mates know it will be the only way for them to be "forgiven" for their Brazilian lapse.
TEAM NEWS
Choi Jin-Chul and Kim Nam-Il are both big doubts and are unlikely to be risked as Hiddink may well take the opportunity to give a run-out to some of the players who have rarely featured in the World Cup campaign. Yoon Jong-Hwan and Hyun Young-Min are in line for starting roles. Ahn Jung-Hwan should also be recalled to the starting line-up at the expense of Cha Du-Ri after an ankle injury kept him out of the starting line-up for the semi-final defeat to Germany. Veteran's Hwang Sun-Hong and Hong Myung-Bo have both revealed that they will be retiring from international football after the World Cup and so will be looking to go out on a high. Especially Hong, who has been named by Fifa on a ten-man shortlist for the Golden Ball, which is the award given to the best player of the tournament.
Senol Gunes is troubled by the fitness of his ailing attacking pair: Hakan Sukur's problems have been famous for quite a while, whereas Hasan Sas' recent troubles came as a shock for the Turkish setup. Super-sub Ilhan should step in if Sas does not make it. Gunes looks set to rely on a classical 4-4-2 formation, hoping that luck will be on his side.
STARTING LINE-UPS
South Korea (4-3-1-2): Lee Woon-Jae - Yoon Jong-Hwan, Kim Tae-Young, Hong Myung-Bo, Song Chong-Gug - Hyun Young-Min, Yoo Sang-Chul, Lee Young-Pyo - Ahn Jung-Hwan - Park Ji-Sung, Hwang Sun-Hong..
Turkey (4-4-2): Rustu - Fatih, Bulent, Alpay, Ergun - Umit Davala, Tugay, Basturk, Emre Belozoglu - Hasan Sas (or Ilhan Mensiz), Hakan Sukur
WHO IS HOT
Korea is made up of a team of heroes and all are deserving of praise. Ahn has stolen much of the limelight following his golden goal against Italy and consequent transfer saga with Perugia, while Hong Myung-Bo has been singled out for praise by FIFA. However, Song Chong-Gug and Yoo Sang-Chul have also been sensational throughout the World Cup.
Turkey: Rustu Reçber. Heis being named in the World Cup all-star team says it all! He was fabulous against Brazil and kept his team in the race until that solo effort by Ronaldo. A fine tournament all round.
WHO IS NOT
Korea: There isn't any obvious candidates for this position, although Cha Du-Ri disappointed against Germany having previously made an impact on matches as a substitute. His performance and the return of Ahn should see him return to the bench where he may once again be used as a super-sub.
Turkey: Hakan Sukur. Yes, him again! Our Turkish expert believes he might finish the tournament without even scoring a single goal. How embarrassing it would be for the Bosphorus Bull to end like that his long and fruitful international career.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Saturday's match is the first time South Korea and Turkey have met.
