Koreans might be optimistic about their own team’s chances in Germany, but they’re even more certain that Japan’s going to fold:
The majority of South Koreans expect Asian rivals Japan to be knocked out of the World Cup in the first round, according to a survey released on Friday.
A poll conducted by the Japan Research Centre and Gallup in South Korea found that 64 percent of South Koreans expected Japan to fall at the first hurdle next month.
The pessimism (or in the case of Koreans, optimism) about Japan’s chances in the World Cup do not appear to be reciprocated:
Only 12 percent of Japanese polled believed 2002 semi-finalists South Korea would fail to reach the knockout stages.
Actually, what I found interesting was that a lot of Japanese apparently don’t give a shit about footie at all:
Just 51 percent of Japanese said they were interested in the World Cup, in contrast to 93 percent in South Korea.
(Hat tip to reader)
48 Comments
93% of Koreans are not actually interested in soccer. Many (most) are really only interested in it for the nationalism angle.
Of course Japan will be out in the first round - just look at their competition
It’ll be a close thing for sure.
peace.
In 2002, Japanese fans showed more maturity and sportsmanship than their fellow Cup co-hosts and were willing to cheer on teams other than Japan. In polls like this, PC (patriotic correctness) would require dissing Japan.
I have to agree with the polls in both countries. South Korea has a far better chance of advancing than Japan. Just look at the groups that they are in, and you immediately notice South Korea will have a much easier time than Japan. France always chokes. Togo is a first timer, and South Korea has always had good record against African teams. I predict the Swiss atop, South Korea second, France and Togo goes home. Japan, on the other hand is in a group of death. If I had to pick a surprise in that group, it would be Australia (they have nothing to lose or prove), but not Japan. Zico’s squad has been very mediocre to poor, ever since the end of 2002, while South Korea, with much more international league experience since 2002, has steadily improved. The FIFA ranking has always put Japan in the top 15 countries in the world - which is simply ludicrous and does not reflect reality.
France always chokes? They’ve won the whole tournament once, and been in third place twice. How does that equate to ‘always chokes’?
Hmm. Prior to 2002 I would have agreed that the South Korean people don’t give rat’s ass about soccer. But with Park Ji Sung at Manchester United and Lee Young Pyo at Tottenham Hotspurs, a lot of Korean people are following the Barclay’s Premier League. K-League stadiums still seems somewhat empty, but it looks like it might have some survival possibility depending how the national team does. (BTW K-league is the oldest professional soccer league in Asia) Just take a good look a the sports section of the Korean websites. Their treatment of Premier’s League is on par with their treatment of MLB. I’d say that it’s just a matter of time until “foreign soccer” news will dominate MLB news, since it really looks like Park Ji Sung and Lee Young Pyo will improve–whereas, Park Chan Ho, although pitching decently lately, does not inspire anyone’s confidence.
Nationalism would explain why Korean people obsess about “who-cares” sports like short line skating, but soccer is much much much bigger. You can’t deny the sheer magnetism of the World’s Favorite Pastime. (Minus Baseball-USA & Cricket-India & SealHunting-Antartica) I bet more Korean people recognize the name Ronaldinho than Bonds. I’d wager my left nut that you will never see 40,000 Korean kids dressed in red, hitting drums, unrolling flags during an ice-skating, badminton, ping pong, or baduk tournament. Likewise Iran defeating US in any other sport other than soccer would have been less tasty, less glorious for them.
Also, you have to remember that Korean people have been watching their national team get spanked every 4 years since 1986. (If you want to get technical, the spanking began in 1955 I believe, which is when this whole “we must beat Japan at all cost” began) This makes Korea’s WC appearance the 6th consecutive. During that time, except for 1998, the Korean national team have been visibly improving each time. Prior to this world cup, the Korean national team also got spanked even in friendlies prior to the WC competition. This year, they actually didn’t do that bad. You can’t get this unless the kids in Korea were watching soccer and playing more. Currently, the south korean kids are wildly optimistic, but it makes sense when you think about WC 1998, WC 1994, WC 1990, WC 1986 and compared that to WC 2002 and the current Korean national squad. They never had a team that could credibly reach 2nd round. The whole goal of Hiddink, the national mission he accepted, was NOT to beat Italy or Spain. He’s goal was simply to reach “16″. (and hope Japan does worse or equal) From the Korean kid’s perspective, 4 previous world cup’s unfavorable referee decisions all came in with interest. And this also makes them think “luck is part of the game” and thinks their national team is inherently lucky, although they’ll never admit this.
What’s really impressive when you put it into perspective is how the US national team has been fairing. In Korea, the government actively supports the sport. In the US, even kids who grew up playing soccer does not know who Bruce Arena is. I bet most of you don’t even know who Coby Jones is. Or Beasly. Every year you hear everyone complain how commercialized professional sport is and how the professional athletes don’t really care about the sport blah blah blah. Then here is this one sport where there’s a bunch of guys who excel in it, simply because they really love the sport, and no one watches them. The US national soccer team is a LOT better than the US national baseball team. I jest you not. Look at the replays of US in the WBC and just look at US FIFA ranking.
Strangely enough, the United States might be one of the only countries in which womens’ soccer is more widely-known than mens’ soccer, if primarily because of the overwhelming success of the womens’ soccer team over the past decade or so. And yes, it is pretty amazing that the US team does as well as it does, even despite the average American’s response to the game of soccer. Of course, if memory serves me right, I believe major league soccer also pours a considerable amount of money into the US team, in hopes of increasing the profile of the sport.
Actually, if 40,000 Korean kids came dressed in red and beating drums to a baduk tournament, they’d probably get thrown out.
And I have to question why Iran beating the US in any sport should be glorious for Korea, if not for the nationalism, but I digress.
Zonath,
Sorry, my writing skill sucks. What I meant to say was that Iran beating US in soccer is sweet for the Persians–it is an especially sweet victory for them since a soccer victory for the Iranians are much more imporntant than say an Iranian victory over the US in chess. I was merely trying to point out that the victory over soccer is more important than victory over ping pong, backgammon, midget tossing, and other various phallus measuring contests.
In other fun news, Japan’s Zico throws in the gauntlet!
http://football.guardian.co.uk.....62,00.html
This man must be a genius! He is trying to develop a reverse Japan-Korea “alpha” factor.
Who wouldn’t be nationalistic when it comes to soccer especially on World Cup? I think, definitely, you are not a soccer fan.
What is natioanlism angle anyway? I wonder if there’s any national cheer for the “pure sportsmanship” when they have match with other country. Please name me which nationals (Just FYI they are Europeans, Africans, South Americans, Australians, Americans and Asians) have different “nationalism angle” over World cup?
BTW
Despite of home advantage and the red devils, I think, Korea and Switzerland will advance to second round.
And just adding in to one of 64 percent of Korean, There is not much chance for Japan in Group F. It is an expectation from “Korean hates Japanese” where most of you want to see or this post want to lead.
I think we expected Japan to fall because we know the simple factor about the soccer. That it is Simple far less chance for Japan with mighty Brazil, Croatia and Australia than Korea with France, Swiss and Togo.
Oops.
It is “not”an expectation from “Korean hates Japanese” where most of you want to see or this post want to lead.
If you follow soccer at all, you know that Japan has a helluva hill in front of them, and not much of a climbing record. I wouldn’t call Group F “The group of Death”, but Brazil and Croatia seem likely to OWN and CRUSH Japan and Australia. Then you’ve got Australia coached by Hiddink, who lets face it has a record of getting mediocre teams to crank up their performance (sorry Korean fans), so Korean fans are right in line with world commentators in not giving Japan much chance. The June 12 opening Japan/Australia match is a must-win for both teams, so we’
ll see this in a few weeks for ourselves. My money is on the Aussies, yah?
Think about it, you see Koreans reading the sports section about soccer everyday - this poll is based on fact, not prejudice against Japan I’d say.
HansaraminVancouver, what I meant by that is that a lot of Koreans are only interested because it is a chance to jump up and down and revel in nationalist pride. Of course, people in every country do this, but because over the top nationalism is so strong in Korea, more people do it than in other countries, such as Canada. Though hockey is extremely popular, there are still many people who don’t give two shits about Canadian teams when they play international tourneys. Many Koreans take it so seriously, the results in soccer.
I love hockey, but I really don’t get too worked up when the Canadian team tanks, as they did in this year’s Olympics. If the same happens in Korea, there will be some severe gnashing of teeth and soul searching and people asking ‘how did we go so wrong?’ In other words, because of over the top nationalism, I think Koreans just take it too seriously (and so do some fans in other countries). It’s just a stupid sport. Who really gives a crap. It’s good to be proud and to have fun with it, but my self-worth does not revolve around how well some Canadian hockey team plays.
If Japan pulls out another come-from-behind victory like they did in baseball, it could turn into a military conflict.
Why not just let Korea & Japan play soccer for Dokdo/Takeshima Island(s)? Winner takes all.
Japan just tied Scotland 0-0 in the Kirin Cup, at home. That’s pretty bad if you can’t even beat Scotland at home. I’m rooting for Australia. They’re the real under dogs.
This post reminded me of teaching in Japan, way back in 98, during the France World Cup.
I was teaching junior high in a small city in a rural province, and when World Cup time rolled around, everyone was excited (not to the Korean level, just mellow Japanese excitement)
Anyhow, Japan, America, and Korea ended up as the bottom three countries, but towards the end, Korea scored some goal, and my students were totally excited by Korea having scored a goal. The Japanese saw Korea’s goal (Japan went blank) as a victory for Asian soccer. And these kids were like 12 years-old (today they’d be Japanese College students).
Team Japan is a lot like team Korea, they both have decent midfield. I think most soccer pundits rate team Japan slightly higher based on the competitiveness of J-league compared to K-league and also on the performance of team Japan during the AFC and the like. But Korea has a longer history of World Cup appearance, so I think they probably have better support from their organization. i.e. Hong Myung Bo is on the coaching staff in Korea, this is something that Japan lacks. Japan’s most senior veteran is probably Hidetoshi Nakata. And I think that Advocaat is probably more helpful to the Korean team that’s used to the Dutch soccer philosophy as opposed to Japan and Zico. What I’m trying to say is that the Korean players have an uber respect and faith in Dutch coaches, but who knows how the Japanese players feel about the once soccer genius Zico far as coaching is concerned? In anycase, both teams have awful forwards and if neither side reach “16″, that would not be surprising.
We can’t forget that Brazil is a better team than France. This isn’t to say France sucks, because Zidane and Henry alone can make any national team a powerhouse, but a Brazillian team composed of their benchwarmers could win this World Cup.
Croatia is one of the very few team that could beat Brazil, and I think most Europeans would rate Croatia higher than Swiss.
Australia has been in the World Cup before, led by a very capable coach, Hiddink, and they can play a very physical game. I think anyone would rate Australia higher than Togo, if not for the simple fact that Togo has been doing very poorly in African competitions since qualifying for the World Cup.
During the 2002 World Cup, the situation was reversed. Korea was stuck in a group with Portugal, Poland, and the US, while Japan was stuck with Belgium, Russia, and Tunisia. It was generally understood that: Portugal>Belgium, USA>Russia, and Poland>Tunisia. Nationalistic Korean people were saying that it was unfair that Japan will probably make “16″ because of their “easy” group while Korea has a high chance of getting knocked out. I think though, Korean people thought the “weaklink” was team USA, not team Poland. The way the games played out, it was team USA that was the hard team and team Poland that was easy game.
Anyway my point is that there is a lot of nationalistic Korean people who hate Japan, but you cannot assume that all analysis concerning Japan is driven by nationalism.
France chocked in 2002 world cup and got eliminated in the first round. One of the worst record for the champion in the previous cup. I think France paid off Brazil to win the cup in 1998. Maybe, they used world-renouned French hookers to weaken the opposition. Don’t laugh. The world cup is a big event and countries use tactics other than soccer skills to win. And there are some patriotic French working girls, I am sure.
This time around, Zidan is old and France does not have zeal. They are not hungry. Korea should be able to poop on “art soccer”.
Japanese players cannot eat good food because high food price in Japan. They are small and weak. Compared to Korean team position-by-position, Japan is lucky to be in the cup games. Japan will be eliminated 0-3.
Korean team should make top-16 and then be gone. Soccer is very competitive sports. It is very hard to repeat, unless you are Brazillian team.
See Baduk’s comments for the type of nationalistic drivel that most of the others here have been decrying.
France got eliminated in the first round in 2002 (the first time that’s happened to a WC champion, if I recall). Korea let Turkey score the earliest goal in WC history during their third-place game. Luckily for them, neither team will be relying on those (frankly pitiful) performances in the upcoming World Cup.
“Countries use tactics other than soccer skills to win.” Oh… like how South Korea bribed the referees in 2002? (No, I don’t believe this, but it has just as much basis in fact as badku’s speculation about French whores.)
Zidan was injured and thus not playing at his top of the game in 2002.
“Strangely enough, the United States might be one of the only countries in which womens’ soccer is more widely-known than mens’ soccer, if primarily because of the overwhelming success of the womens’ soccer team over the past decade or so. And yes, it is pretty amazing that the US team does as well as it does, even despite the average American’s response to the game of soccer.”
I would disagree. Soccer is actually a very popular sport in America up until middle school. After middle school, soccer players basically “Drop out”.
““Countries use tactics other than soccer skills to win.” Oh… like how South Korea bribed the referees in 2002? ”
Actually, one of the potential big winner’s of this years world cup would have been a Malaysian. He ran a one man shop that would have raked in millions from illegal online gambling. Unfornately, he was busted by our own police force a month ago. So while all you guys are out there shouting and screaming till your lungs come out, remember that somewhere out there, another guy is laughing his way to the bank.
Of course, if Korea does well, a lot of people will be rich.
“I would disagree. Soccer is actually a very popular sport in America up until middle school. After middle school, soccer players basically “Drop out”.”
said Mahathir_fan.
WJk says, yeah, probably true.
I was looking up the history of the World Cup, and lo and behold it was made in response to the rejection of soccer “football” from the Los Angeles Olympic games in the early 1900’s, because Los Angeles didn’t want soccer, which was not a popular sport in America, to be showcased in the Olympics.
The response to this is the creation of the World Cup.
You know why I am interested and fascinated by this?
Same thing happenned to baseball.
Olympics rejects baseball as an Olympic sport after Beijing, 2008. Major League Baseball responds by doing the World Baseball Classic. Interest is strictly regional in countries already playing a lot of baseball.
Except in the World Cup, the uninterested Americans still won a World Cup title, despite low public interest in soccer, or “football”.
American football is not really football. The game doesn’t involve a lot of kicking. It is heavily dominated by passing the ball, and running with the passed-catched ball. In fact, kickers are always labeled the guys with no strength, sissies, and in some cases a woman can do the job of a kicker. (No way for that to be true in my opinion. ) I saw a woman kicker in NCAA division I. Men kick way better. In fact, we give props when a kicker makes an unexpected tackle. He’s not supposed to do that well.
Call it Passball, Americans ! WJK encourgaes you to call it the National Passball League.
I should work on a patent, and get people to pay me a penny every time they say it.
The National Pass League. the NPL.
They might as well throw the ball between the goal posts or do a throw off, just like most of us do in pick up games.
National Passball League. Feel the power.
QB = Passing back.
correction, US scored 3rd place, not the whole title
Baduk, sometimes I think you are an alien.
“Japanese players cannot eat good food because high food price in Japan.” You know that you are repeating old Korean stereotypes about the Japanese ever since wae pirates raided Korean villages everytime there were famines? I think though, what’s funnier is that the Japanese themselves believe this! This kinda logic is reminiscent of the DPRK claims that Kimchi cures SARS.
And I am lead to believe that you haven’t watched any frenchmen play soccer, because you seems to have difficulties comprehending that the French national team is not composed of just Zizou. If the French had no Zizou, the Korean media would be focusing only on Henry. Of course if that was the case, I would be seeing you type away here saying how Henry always chokes during international competition blah blah blah. Don’t get me wrong, I hope France chokes (sorry France!), but the likelihood of that is not very good. France doesn’t have to worry about jetlag or playing on a vastly different pitch. Also remember, the aging Hong Myung Bo was critical to a 2002 WC success for Korea. Even an aging Zidane is a decent player.
Your analysis seems to be the typical “Be the Reds”-I-Only-Watch-Soccer-Every-Four-Years anaylsis. I wonder if you can even tell apart the two nakatas on the Japanese national team.
Frankly the Korean NT faces an uphill battle. But compared to any previous WC sans WC2002, Korean NT has the best chance yet. This is the easiest group Korea was ever in. And the Korean squad is probably the best even counting 2002 squad. But honestly France and Swiss have the edge. But the saying goes that the soccer ball is round and blah blah blah. This is definitely a doable challenge.
It is very rude of Japanese villagers to attack Korea because they had famine. Very rude! I am so embarrassed for them. So, these “polite” Japanese would suddenly turn into murdering, raping and stealing bandits when they do not have enough to eat.
Food price is so high in Japan these days. Will they turn into a land-grabbing, rice-stealing and baby-killing pirates once again? I think they will.
They even attacked the US, even when they are not that hungry. The Japanese just like to play Samurais killing all competitors.
They like to kill.
I would be stunned if Brazil didn’t go through to knockout phase but strange things can happen. I only hope that the second team that goes through does so because they beat great teams. Japan always plays so well in losing efforts to great teams but when they’re supposed to win the fold, much like the US in that regard. Anyway, I don’t care who wins as long as it’s good ball.
Problem with last world cup is there was so much lack of effort from elite teams. Portugal and Argentina were truly disappointing while the Dutch weren’t even in the tournament despite being rated in the top 5 in the world. I just hope this year the competition stays intense and everyone plays to their ability. Not having Uruguay in the tournament helps in that regard. Sorry for the jab but they spend more time rolling on the ground then any other team and its wonderful to have Australia in there instead.
BTW, Anyone know if Joe Cole is going to be back to full health in time?
Do you mean Ashley Cole? If so, he should indeed be there. He had a couple of run-outs before the end of the English domestic league season.
For my money, France to top the group, and Korea to edge Switzerland for second place.
Ohh, I hadn’t even thought about Ashley Cole. Actually, I meant Michael Owen and had his injury in mind when I read an update that Joe Cole might step into Rooney’s role for the first round. Thanks for catchin that. My mistake.
I’m gonna go out on a ledge and say France doesn’t make it again; I don’t know why but I’m not convinced of their effort yet. My bet is they have a couple 0-0 ties and lose out on aggregate goals. I hope I’m wrong cause I wanna see the best possible game out there. If Henry plays like he did with Arsenal in the last months then I’ll be eating my words. But for betting sake I’m going with Korea and Togo.
Korea and Togo???
I’ll take that bet.
My (sort of) sleeper pick: Holland.
Ice, how’s about 3:2 odds? I’m feelin rather plucky these days…
Holland is a pretty strong pick I’d say. I’m gonna say this is the year England does it. Just for shts and giggles of course…2-0 against Brazil.
I’ll give you 3:2 odds if you’re saying both of those teams are making it through to the Round of 16. I guess we should continue this conversation somewhere else though. Wouldn’t want anyone to mistakenly think Mr. Marmot is running a gambling operation.
Roger that…
I’d put more money on the second coming than on Togo and Korea progressing from that group together.
Holland is very strong this year, Iceberg, and also my dark horse pick.
I don’t see the Japanese making the sort of grandiose claims for their team’s progress that a lot of Koreans are making for theirs, so they don’t have as far to fall. Highting!
The goal of making the round of 16 is a grandoise claim?
CM, some Korean media have been a little over the top lately. I wish Korea every success, but realistically I think you are underestimating France as to who will go on from the group stage.
From today’s JoongAng Daily:
“We will beat Togo,” said Lee Young-pyo of the English Premier League Tottenham Hotspur, referring to the first match June 13 against Togo. “We know how to deal with African players.”
Hmmm. I wonder what’s going to be plastered on the wall of the Togo dressing room for the opening game with Korea.
And…
At a joint press conference, Park Ji-sung, the team’s midfielder who plays for Manchester United of the English Premier League, said the team had no weaknesses to improve. He said the key to victory was teamwork.
“In soccer, it’s not only the striker attacking or the defender playing defense. How the 11 players do on both sides of the ball is important. There is nothing special that we have to work on,” Park said.
“No weaknesses”??!! “Nothing to improve”??!! It seems Lee and Park have missed out on learning perhaps the strongest element of the English game: giving a cliched interview answer that avoids the slightest hint of insight or controversy. Next time, guys, just say, “There are no easy games at this level.” Or better still, “We’re just taking each game as it comes.”
Come on Dangermouse, we are talking about the Korean Sports “journalists” here. These guys are the lowest of the low spin-meisters. Pick up a typical Korean “sports” newspaper and 2 pages are devoted to baseball, 4 pages devoted to Ms. “anonymous” K playing hide-the-salami with Mr. “anonymous” producer L. 10 remaining pages are trying to sell you Tiger p3n1s.
Besides what possible controversy can Lee Young Pyo or Park Ji Sung generate when noone listens to what they say anyway outside Korea? These guys don’t have the international ears of say David Beckham. Despite some of the prepsoterous expectations in print, very few Koreans will be genuinely surprised if they don’t make “16″.
Seriously, if Korea gets eliminated at Round 1, there is no humiliation factor. Same is not true for WC contender England. If England gets eliminated at Round 1, people will be going on and on comparing England to France 2002.
Park & Lee must be doing what Zico did. SK team probably have serious confidence issues. Afterall these guys are professional players who watch the same French/Swiss/Arsenal games that we watch too. Some cheerleading do-or-die attitude plus luck is what that team needs. If they go in their focusing on their obvious weaknesses, they will never win. Especially since it is at this point, impossible to fix their obvious weaknesses. No amount of practice in 1 month time will turn Ahn Jung Hwan into Wayne Rooney. Screw Wayne Rooney, he won’t turn into C Ronaldo during his worst of plays. Tell the junior Korean defenders they can stop Henry. You do that and they might put up a fight. Tell them the truth and they’ll just give up.
Virtual Wonderer
Whatever your opinion of Korean journalism, the quotes were not taken from a sports daily, but from the JoongAng Daily, perhaps the best of what is, admittedly, a very poor bunch.
I don’t think this is a simple either/or between bravado and focusing on your weaknesses. All it requires is for the players to trot out the usual platitudes like, “It could have been worse, and I think it’s a good draw for us. We will have very difficult games, but the way we are playing at the moment we will also be difficult to beat,” which Dick Advocaat said following the draw. There is no better way to gee up your opposition than publically saying you are going to be beat them. And you can be sure that Korea’s first round opponents will be listening to what Park and Lee have to say.
I’m not so sure that Korea’s players have serious confidence issues either. In Park and Lee, they have two excellent players coming off the back of acclaimed seasons with two of England’s best clubs, Lee Eul-yong is doing well in Turkey, and Park Chu-young is, apparently, a player of great promise (although Seol Ki-hyeon is pony). Add to that a highly respected and successful coach and you have genuine grounds for optimism.
The thing is, when I watch the interviews by Park Ji Sung or Lee Young Pyo, it doesn’t sound so much like a statement of fact, but a promise. In one interview Lee Chun Soo says that he used to be afraid of African teams, but he overcame this fear. Park Ji Sung in one interview talked about how he is wary of Adebayor.
I hope you are right that the SK players don’t have confidence issues, but it really wouldn’t be surprising. Park Ji Sung and Lee Young Pyo are good, but they were not “stars” of Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspurs. Park Ji Sung scored like 2 goals and about 7 assists this season. And the assist figures are inflated because if you pass to Wayne Rooney, that is what people call “assist.” I hear that Lee Eul Yong is doing well, but that gives SK team 3 players that has tested themselves and prevailed in international leagues. Let’s say that Park JS, Lee YP, Lee EY, Ahn JH, Park JY all have inflated egos and have no confidence issues. That’s 5 players out of a team of 11. (not counting bench warmers) OK. Lee Chun Soo is also cocky so let’s say that only 5 players from K-league/J-league *could* have confidence issues. Those 5 players represent the Korean defence! 1 goalie, 3 backs, and 1 midfielder. These guys have to face Henry/Adebayor a mano a mano. I hope to God that these the defenders have an uber inflated ego, because I’ve seen what Arsenal can do. But we know from reports that the Korean defense have been having problems.
It just seems like everybody is saying what the Korean Football Association wants them to say. “Yes watch us play soccer, we won’t let you down.”
French and Swiss are dedicated to wining no matter what Korean players say. You can’t fire them up any more by making grandiose remarks. Only an condescending gesture from a legitimate rival can do that, and I don’t think the French or the Swiss thinks of the Korean national team as rivals. Togo on the otherhand…
I’m sure you can find couple of quotes out of context from any other team and turn it into a hey look they think they’re so hot. I’ve heard so many accusations like that against the American team. But anyway, who cares?
Korea should be lucky, if they reach the 2nd round.
France will take bloody revenge for their tournament disaster 2002 in Korea.
The Swiss guys have a nice, devoted team. Typically mid-European-standard, which means for the rest of the world pretty high standard soccer.
Togo is some kind of a blank sheet of paper. African players a talented and gifted solo artists, dunno how they perform as team players. With a disciplined strategy they can surprisingly beat everbody in this tournament…
That’s the exciting point of the World Cup: nobody knows the outcome for sure.
My favorites: Chech Republic or the Netherlands.
“We know how to deal with African players.”
Wow…. does Mr. Lee play for Korea, or for the Confederate States of America? Unfortunately, somehow I don’t think that staring at the African players and trying to insult them in broken English will work all that well.