Shattered Koreans regroup for 'terrible' third-place playoff

KUALA LUMPUR: South Korea's jaded coach, Pim Verbeek, says his players will recover from the anguish of their penalty shootout defeat to mentally regroup for Saturday's "terrible" third-place Asian Cup playoff .

The spent Koreans were dumped from the tournament 4-3 on penalties in their second shoot-out in three days on Wednesday as Iraq advanced to Sunday's all-Arab final against Saudi Arabia in Jakarta.

South Korea, winners of the first two Asian Cups in 1956 and 1960, were again cruelly denied a chance to reach their first continental tournament final since 1988.

Verbeek has the task of lifting shattered spirits for the third-place playoff in Palembang, Indonesia, in a match he describes as "the most terrible game there is in football," yet which will qualify the winners for the 2011 Cup.

The outspoken Dutchman, who has been with the Korean team for six years, was in a defiant mood after the match, critical of over-inflated expectations of his young team.

"First, we all have to recover from this disappointment, not only the players, but the staff as well," Verbeek said.

"I have to look at my players, how fit they are mentally, physically before taking a decision. We will not give up because Korean footballers never give up.

"We will go for the third and fourth place match. I think it's the most terrible game there is in football, but we will go for it and we will be ready again Saturday."

Verbeek, who had to battle against the Korean Football Association and KFA clubs to have his players released for pre-tournament training, said he had already made a decision about his position as national team coach.

"I've taken my decision already, but I'm not going to tell you. I'll keep Korea excited for the coming days," said Verbeek, who had a running battle with football media throughout the tournament.

"If the Korean fans think we didn't play a good tournament then the fans have to think very deeply about having a real vision of international football.

"I think a lot of countries would be very proud if their teams got through to the semifinal and fought until the last seconds and two times in extra-time for 120 minutes. I would be proud if I was a fan of Korean football.

"We were not outplayed once in this tournament, we were fighting like hell to get the good result, if people think it is not enough, then it's okay.

"I have no problem with that, I think it's a problem for the Korean people, not my problem."

South Korea reached Wednesday's semi-final after beating Iran 4-2 on penalties after last Sunday's draining match, which also finished scoreless.

Verbeek said his young team, playing without three injured English Premier League stars and veteran captain Kim Nam-il, learned invaluable lessons of what's required in international football at the Asian Cup.

He fielded a largely inexperienced team minus the gloss of Manchester United's Park Ji-sung, Tottenham's Lee Young-pyo and Reading's Seol Ki-hyeon.

"These players tried everything and I think it's easy to speak about the players who were not here," Verbeek said.

"I did not do it five weeks ago and I won't do it now.

"I think we have a very talented selection, they did a very good job together in difficult circumstances and this experience will be very good for them in international football for Korea."

AFP

(China Daily 07/27/2007 page23)