Pitch Invasion - A Blog Exploring Soccer Around The World » South Korea

Front Page: South Korea Focuses on Diego Maradona, Past and Present

Tom Dunmore — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:52:45 +0000

As we take a look at today’s newspaper front pages for our World Cup special daily feature, we find South Korea’s papers unsurprisingly focused on Diego Maradona past and present, with both The Chosun Ilbo and The Dong-a Ilbo visually juxtaposing the South Korean and Argentinian coaches. The JoongAng Ilbo, meanwhile, remembers the 1986 group stage match-up between the two countries, won 3-1 by Argentina with Maradona tormenting the Koreans. Images again courtesy of Newseum, and yeah, I have absolutely no idea what the headlines say. Anyone?

JoongAng Ilbo, published in Seoul, South Korea

The Dong-a Ilbo, published in Seoul, South Korea

The Chosun Ilbo, published in Seoul, South Korea

Hong Kong’s Historic Win In Photos

Tom Dunmore — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:35:45 +0000

Perhaps the happiest fans in the world this weekend were in Hong Kong. The special administrative region of China, as I guess we should formally call it, has been competing in international football for sixty years, and yesterday won its first ever title, a gold medal in the East Asian Games football tournament.

A capacity crowd of over 40,000 watched the hosts, consisting largely of amateurs from the Hong Kong league, beat Japan 4-2 on penalty kicks, after a 1-1 draw.

Japan and Hong Kong prepare for penalties. Image courtesy of ibausu on Flickr.

Image courtesy of Johnny Leung ^^ on Flickr.

This was no pansy field: Hong Kong defeated World Cup qualifiers North Korea in the semi-final (also on penalty kicks), and surprisingly crushed South Korea 4-1 in the group stage. Hong Kong’s East Asian rivals did not field their strongest teams, but that will do little to dampen the celebrations and a major spur to the sport’s growth in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's players celebrate. Image courtesy of YUKEI813 on Flickr.

Hong Kong fans celebrate. Image courtesy of H.L.Tam on Flickr.

Hong Kong fans outside the stadium. Photo courtesy of H.L.Tam on Flickr.

Gold medal winners. Image courtesy of ibausu on Flickr.

Korean Fans Go Disciplined

Thomas Dunmore — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 06:44:58 +0000

A lot of tifo is about fans going wild; setting-off flares, and generally creating as much of a riot of colour and noise as possible. Doing this intimidates the opposition and drives on the ultras’ team. It’s all part of what is considered ultras culture.

The Korean fans below, who we’ve featured before, have a vastly different spirit. The jeju boys’ displays for their high school soccer team are rigidly coordinated and disciplined. The game seems entirely superfluous to their actions. That’s not to say they’re not impressive, though.

Human LCD

Thomas Dunmore — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:12:30 +0000

I’ve never seen tifo quite like the efforts of these South Koreans fans in the video below. I’m not even sure what to say about it. It’s more like art than anything to do with football, I think, but it’s still pretty mindblowing. The hardcore fans I’ve known in the U.S. and U.K. would never be sober enough to pull something like this off.

(Thanks to garcia en dolor for the tip).