We lost. We're out. Time to lick our wounds until 2010. In the meantime, for Koreans, kyopos, and fans of Korea, there are several things to still feel good about.
1. Sleeping patterns can return to normal.
What idiot decided to have soccer games start at 4 a.m.? I was really beginning to fear that continued participation in the World Cup would lead to a drop in GDP. Now people can finally get some sleep, be rested for work, be productive, and life will be back to soju-swilling normalcy.
2. Korea did pull off its first World Cup win outside of Korea.
Okay, it was to one of the weaker teams, but it was still something that Korea had not managed to do in several World Cup appearances prior to 2002.
3. Korea did manage a draw against the country that won the World Cup in 1998.
All right, so France has been basking in their glory since then and don't quite measure up to past glories, but this is still a pretty tough feat.
4. We can still cheer on Guus Hiddink.
The coach of Korea's wildly successful 2002 World Cup team enjoys near god-like status in Korea (which makes him a rich man when it comes to commercial endorsements). He is probably about as idolized as General Douglas MacArthur has been (and always will be to many) for most of the period after 1950. Probably the most popular "foreigner" in Korea right now.
5. Korean fans have made a pretty positive impression.
Maybe not at The Marmot's Hole, but elsewhere.
6. The popularity of soccer in Korea sparked by the co-hosting of the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup means an ever-growing pool of good prospective footballers.
In other words, I think Korea has a good chance of making a stronger showing in 2010.
7. Korea is in the running to host the 2014 Winter Olympiad.
And Pyongchang, I believe, is the favorite for hosting rights.
So, my friends, don't wallow in the bitterness of defeat (even if it was to those Nazi-collaborating Swiss). Instead, sit back and enjoy the rest of the World Cup. There's some great soccer to be played, even if we're out of the running (similar sentiment goes out to my fellow US citizens).
I cried when Korea lost...it was so heart-breaking.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, why didn't u reply to my reply to your e-mail?
That is heart-breaking too...ㅠ.ㅠ
gyopo wrote:
ReplyDeleteI cried when Korea lost...it was so heart-breaking.
Yeah. I think that's one reason I chose not to go to City Hall Plaza for the third match...I suspected a result like this.
Oh yeah, why didn't u reply to my reply to your e-mail?
Okay, I'll get on that (I thought I had).
That is heart-breaking too...ㅠ.ㅠ
I think it's heart-breaking that you spell it gyopo and not kyopo.
Unlike you, I am not a fan of McCune-Reischauer Romanization System...
ReplyDeleteAnd at long last, I have finally started referring 부산 as Busan and not Pusan.
Korean fans have made a pretty positive impression
ReplyDeleteYeah, while they were winning.
Thanks to other events, I think the positive impression will end up being the lasting one.
Well, at least they aren't hooligans.
Korean fan behavior would have to really seriously deteriorate for Red Devils (both on- or off-line) to get the kind of reputation common to several European countries.
Not even pasty pants-down-guy comes close.