Coaches reunion after 1986 World Cup

February 1, 2010

This is a story of South Korea coach Huh Jung-Moo. Twenty-four years ago, the South Korean player was called upon to mark the then greatest player in the world, Diego Maradona, in the 1986 Mexico World Cup match against Argentina.

It was South Korea’s second appearance on the world’s biggest stage, after 1954, when they had become the first nation from Asia to play at the World Cup. And they hadn’t won a game yet.

That would not change against Argentina, as the opening game on June 2 went Argentina’s way by a 3-1 scoreline. Huh did everything in his power to stop the genius of Maradona that day but, despite some clattering tackles, the Argentine wizard garnered three assists that day on the way to becoming the World Cup-winning star of the tournament.

While that game has not gone down as a World Cup classic by any means, Maradona still vividly remembers the day that he was clattered by the solid enforcer from South Korea.

“I remember Huh very well, of course,” Maradona recently told the Argentine media, after South Korea were drawn with Argentina, Nigeria and Greece in a tricky-looking group for this summer’s tournament. “In 1986, the Koreans played taekwondo - not football - against us. I still remember Huh.”

As football fate would have it, the two meet again this summer as opposing coaches, which is certainly something no one would have predicted in 1986, especially given Maradona’s interesting development since. The South Koreans, too, have developed since the two sides’ meeting in Mexico, although in a different manner altogether: known as hard-working football, they have hardly caused a scandal at all.

Instead, having been pronounced co-hosts of the first World Cup on Asian soil, the South Koreans enchanted the world by finally winning their first World Cup game and going on a stunning semi-final run on home soil. Even a final berth might have been on the cards had an inspired Michael Ballack not turned up to snatch a last-four winner for Germany. The big question is whether South Korea can repeat their 2002 magic once more.

That semi-final appearance, coupled with the consistency of seven straight World Cup appearances, makes South Korea the one of the strongest sides on the continent, according to FIFA world ranking.

For South Korea, the second encounter with Argentina could make or break their finals campaign. They will be faced with another left-footed football genius who is also at the peak of his powers on the world stage, and equally intent on lifting the only trophy missing from his sparkling title collection. Lionel Messi, at only 22 years of age, will be the major threat to South Korea in their encounter in South Africa, and it is another young midfielder who may be given the unenviable task of man-marking the Barcelona star this summer.

“Kirrard” may well be the man to track Messi’s runs in Johannesburg. Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Jueng is nicknamed after his Liverpool idol Steven Gerrard, and strikes an equally awesome free-kick, as he proved in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Iran as well as setting up South Korea’s equalizer for Manchester United star Park Ji-Sung.

Huh may well have learnt his lessons from that 1986 meeting with Argentina and choose to alter his tactics accordingly. “This will be the last chapter in my football life,” the South Korean coach said. “I will put in all my energy to achieve good results at the World Cup.”

With promising AS Monaco forward Park Chu-Young also set to make his mark on the world stage, South Korea will be looking to achieve what their coach did not manage in 1986: a famous victory against Argentina, even though I think a draw will be a great help for them to be promoted to the second stage, as the other two rivals, Nigeria and Greece, are not too strong. I believe they are at a similar level and I am confident South Korea should have a chance to get four to six points in those two games!

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