The Korea Herald

[World Cup] Spain salvages pride with 3-0 win over Australia

Defending champion Spain salvaged some World Cup pride on Monday with a convincing 3-0 victory over Australia in their last match at the tournament.Spain`s David Villa fires wide with a shot during the group B World Cup soccer match between Australia and Spain at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil, Monday. (AP)After losing their previous matches in Group B to the Netherlands and Chile, both teams took to Arena da Baixada in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba knowing they could not adv

SoccerJune 24, 2014

[World Cup] Spain salvages pride with 3-0 win over Australia

[World Cup] Brazil beats Cameroon 4-1, reaches 2nd round

Neymar knew the responsibility was his. An increasingly anxious host nation was relying on him to ensure Brazil avoided the almost inconceivable prospect of going out in the group stage of a World Cup on soil.The 22-year-old Barcelona striker delivered on the weighty expectations Monday, setting the Selecao on course to clinch its place in the knockout stage with two precision first-half goals in a 4-1 rout of Cameroon.“I have the responsibility to go out there and help my teammates, said Neymar

SoccerJune 24, 2014

[World Cup] Brazil beats Cameroon 4-1, reaches 2nd round

[World Cup] Korea routed by Algeria

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil ― South Korea’s defensive problems returned to the fore as it fell 4-2 to Algeria in Porto Alegre on Sunday, giving the African country its first World Cup victory in 32 years.Facing a far more aggressive opponent than in its opening match with Russia, Korea displayed a less careful and more desperate game against a heavy defense and speedy offense. Midfielder Son Heung-min and captain Koo Ja-cheol softened the blow with second-half goals, but the team’s weak defense could n

SoccerJune 23, 2014

[World Cup] Belgium powers through

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Teenage forward Divock Origi turned a listless Belgian performance into a late 1-0 win over Russia on Sunday, enough to qualify for the next round of the World Cup with two straight victories.Belgium barely contained a reinvigorated Russia for most of the match, yet struck with a blistering final spurt of class and opportunism to turn a bad situation into a wild celebration for coach Marc Wilmots in the 88th minute and hugs all around at the fulltime.“It was not easy, but w

SoccerJune 23, 2014

[World Cup] Pitch invader was neo-Nazi sympathizer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― The man who invaded the pitch during the Germany-Ghana match at the World Cup was a neo-Nazi sympathizer, according to a report that will be delivered to FIFA on Monday.The fans’ anti-discrimination network, Fare, is preparing a report on Saturday’s incident, when a shirtless fan interrupted play.Messages written on his chest and back included “HH,” signifying Heil Hitler, and “SS,” referring to the Nazi paramilitary unit.“There would be no other explanation for it,” Fare e

SoccerJune 23, 2014

[World Cup] Number crunching begins for Korea

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (Yonhap) ― It seems to be an unlikely scenario after South Korea was thoroughly defeated by Algeria 4-2 on Sunday at the FIFA World Cup, but the Asian side still has a fighting chance to reach the knockout stage.An earlier 1-1 draw with Russia and the loss Sunday leave South Korea with one point, last among the four teams in Group H. South Korea will face Belgium in its must-win finale on Thursday in Sao Paulo.Belgium already qualified for the knockout stage with a 1-0 win o

SoccerJune 23, 2014

[World Cup] Asia having a terrible World Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― At midway point, the World Cup went from bad to worse for Asia and the tournament’s next host, Russia. But it went from great to even better for spectators hankering for goals.South Korea teeters on the verge of elimination after losing 4-2 to Algeria on Sunday. Asia is now at real risk of having no team in the next knockout round of football’s showcase.One of the four Asian nations ― Australia ― is already sure to be going home, regardless of whether it wins its last match

SoccerJune 23, 2014

[World Cup] Argentina’s only sparkle: Messi’s left foot

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) ― It’s hardly a secret weapon. Everyone knows Lionel Messi shoots with his left foot 9 times out of 10.Yet over 90 minutes there’s bound to be that one moment when he finds enough space to unleash a left-foot strike that can’t be stopped even if you see it coming.Against Bosnia, it was with 25 minutes left of the match. Against Iran, it happened in stoppage time.In fact, considering that Bosnia’s early own goal in the opening Group F match resulted from Messi’s free k

SoccerJune 23, 2014

[World Cup] Korean fans despondent after World Cup defeat

Cheers by tens of thousands South Koreans on the street across the country were muted early Monday following the national football team's defeat against Algeria in their second World Cup match.The Group H clash between South Korea and Algeria kicked off at 4 a.m. on Wednesday (Seoul Time) at Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, southeastern Brazil.Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul turned into a sea of red as fans packed the plaza, sporting their signature Red Devil shirts and hair bands, and ho

SoccerJune 23, 2014

[World cup] Hong: He takes responsibility for loss to Algeria

(연합)After his team was defeated by Algeria 4-2 in its Group H match at the ongoing FIFA World Cup on Sunday in Brazil, South Korean head coach Hong Myung-bo said he takes full responsibility.South Korea gave up three first-half goals in the loss in Porto Alegre, southeastern Brazil, and the nine-time World Cup participant remains stuck in last place among four nations in the group.With South Korea's hopes of advancing to the round of 16 flickering, Hong said it was his fault that the team came o

Latest NewsJune 23, 2014

[World cup] Hong: He takes responsibility for loss to Algeria

[World Cup] Korea routed by Algeria 4-2

Korean player Son Heung-min reacts as the national team was defeated by Algeria 4-2 in the World Cup on Sunday. (AFP-Yonhap)PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- South Korea suffered a 4-2 defeat to Algeria on Sunday in its second group-stage match of the World Cup. Korean midfielder Son Heung-min and captain Koo Ja-cheol softened the blow with second-half goals, but the team’s persistent defensive weaknesses left them open to the ruthless Algerian attack.Islam Slimani took advantage of an inattentive Korean

SoccerJune 23, 2014

[World Cup] Belgium defeats Russia 1-0 to next round

Hours before South Korea would face Algeria in their second group match, Belgium broke a lackluster stalemate against Russia to score in the 88th minute, winning 1-0 on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro to see it through to the Round of 16. Russia's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev (2R) fails to stop a shot from an obscured Belgium's forward Divock Origi to score a goal during the Group H football match between Belgium and Russia at The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on June 22, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA Wo

SoccerJune 23, 2014

[World Cup] Belgium defeats Russia 1-0 to next round

[World Cup] Messi scores winner, Klose ties Ronaldo’s record

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Miroslav Klose scored a World Cup goal for the record books. Lionel Messi grabbed a late winner to put Argentina into the round of 16.Nigeria eliminated Bosnia-Herzegovina from its first World Cup with a 1-0 win, with Peter Odemwingie’s first-half goal getting the African champions closer to the knockout stage.Klose’s 15th World Cup goal matched Brazilian great Ronaldo’s record tally on football’s greatest stage, more importantly for his team, it secured a 2-2 draw for Germ

More SportsJune 22, 2014

[World Cup] Rooney tells teammates to remember WC pain

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― As England endures its worst World Cup for more than 50 years, Wayne Rooney wants his teammates to remember the pain of this campaign.England is already out of contention after losses to Italy and Uruguay, its run lasting less than a week. Not since 1958 had England failed to make it to the second round of a World Cup it qualified for.This is considered a debacle in a country where expectations, as the game’s inventor and host of the richest league, seemingly surpass its fo

SoccerJune 22, 2014

[World Cup] Rooney tells teammates to remember WC pain

[World Cup] France deals with new pressure

RIBEIRAO PRETO, Brazil (AP) ― Having captured people’s attention at the World Cup with some scintillating attacking football, France’s players are now in unknown territory after raising expectations back home.“Vertigineux” (Vertiginous) was the front page headline of sports daily L’Equipe on Saturday, illustrating how France has hit new heights with a photo of striker Olivier Giroud leaping into the arms of his teammates after scoring in Friday’s 5-2 rout of Switzerland. The emphatic victory fol

SoccerJune 22, 2014

[World Cup] Spain looks to avoid having worst ever WC defense

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) ― Spain will take on Australia in its final Group B match Monday in the knowledge that defeat will officially make its defense of the World Cup the worst in history.Following two straight defeats for both teams, neither can qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup.But Spain in particular has something to play for, despite having already made history of the wrong kind. It is the first defending champion in modern times to be eliminated after two matches, following a

SoccerJune 22, 2014

[World Cup] Clashes keep city on alert

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) ― Brazilian police detained on Saturday two suspected members of Argentina’s infamous hooligan gangs ― known in Spanish as “Barras Bravas.”The pair were among nearly 20 Argentines detained inside the Mineirao stadium where Argentina beat Iran 1-0. All were turned loose by Brazil’s federal police, but the two tagged as being known hooligans were ordered to leave Brazil within 72 hours, and not return during the World Cup.Meanwhile, policing of a central Belo Horizonte

SoccerJune 22, 2014

[World Cup] Algerian coach calls Korea ‘better,’ still thirsts for victory

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- Algerian coach Vahid Halilhodzic realizes the weaknesses in his young team, and he is not shy about praising his opponents. But his squad still thirsts for to secure its first World Cup win in three decades, he said Saturday, on the eve of the match between Algeria and Korea.Algerian coach Vahid Halilhodzic (left) and Korean coach Hong Myung-bo. (Yonhap)“I said … that the Algerian people needed this victory. But it will not be easy, because the Korean team is basically be

SoccerJune 22, 2014

[World Cup] Algerian coach calls Korea ‘better,’ still thirsts for victory

[World Cup] Hong: Algeria will attack

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- South Korea’s coach Hong Myung-bo doesn’t expect to play the same Algerian team on Sunday that was defeated by Belgium 2-1 last week. This time, they’re going to be faster and ready to attack, he said Saturday in Porto Alegre on the eve of Korea’s second group-stage match of the World Cup.Team Korea (top) and Team Algeria attend soccer practice at Estadio Beira-Rio, the venue for Sunday’s match, on Saturday in local time. (Yonhap)After Algeria scored the opening goal agai

SoccerJune 22, 2014

[World Cup] England has no case for the defense at World Cup

No excuses. No one to blame but themselves. Feeble defending has sent England home from the World Cup. England's forward Wayne Rooney lies on the ground after being fouled during the Group D football match between Uruguay and England at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (AFP-Yonhap) Costa Rica's surprise 1-0 win over Italy on Friday meant that England made its most humiliating exit from a World Cup since 1958, following consecutive defeats by th

SoccerJune 21, 2014

[World Cup] England has no case for the defense at World Cup