France Vs Korea

Korea definitely has a big chance to go into the stage of 16 teams as they managed to equalise scores (1-1) with the match against France early this morning at 3am. One more win against Switzerland this Friday morning should well guarantee them into the next round. Keep it up and do us proud!

South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung (R) celebrates next to French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez (L) after scoring a goal during the World Cup 2006 group G football game France vs. South Korea, 18 June 2006 at Leipzig stadium.

Summarised report from the World Cup 2006 website:

Korea Republic fought back to earn a 1-1 draw with France as Park Ji-Sung cancelled out Thierry Henry's first-half opener in Leipzig on Sunday, 18 June 2006.

The point salvaged here put the Koreans top of Group G, at least until the end of Monday's match between Togo and Switzerland in Dortmund. The evening began promisingly for Les Bleus when Thierry Henry scored their first FIFA World Cup™ goal since the 1998 Final with nine minutes on the clock.

However, Korea Republic drew level when Park bundled the ball over the line in the 81st minute. To compound France's disappointment, Eric Abidal and Zinedine Zidane both collected bookings which rule them out of their final group game against Togo.

In conclusion:
Both sides went close to sealing victory in the dying minutes but in the end they had to be content with a share of the spoils. The Koreans will surely be the happier of the two as the French still hunt their first FIFA World Cup win since the Final of France 98. As Group G stands now, Korea Republic lead the pack with four points with France second with two points. Switzerland and Togo have one and no points respectively ahead of their second game.

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