If one looks into the administration of the Korean professional soccer league, however, the reasons for this are apparent. The league is a single one with just 10 teams unlike that of Japan, which has 28 teams in two divisions, and teams are not linked to specific regions. In addition the bottom team after a season has nowhere to be relegated to and so stays in the league.

Financially the teams generate just 20% of what they need and are propped up by company owners. Pohang Steelers, the most adept produced only 26%; last year it spent W11 billion, but income was W2.998 billion - W790 million from tickets, which is less than the W900 million from adverts on the players' strips. The average number of spectators at a game last year was 12,596 with four including Anyang LG, the second placed team in the league, having attendance below 10,000. Most teams only survive because of their parent companies, as they do not market themselves.

If spectators begin to attend the games they will be able to see at least half of the national team who play for domestic clubs namely Lee Woon-jae, goalkeeper for Samsung's Suwon based team; Hong Myong-bo (Pohang Steelers), Kim Tae-young (Chunnam Dragons) and Choi Jin-cheul (Chonbuk Hyundai), the "three musketeers" in defense; Kim Nam-il (Chunnam Dragons), Lee Young-pyo (Anyang LG), Song Chong-kuk (Busan I-cons) and Lee Eul-yong (Bucheon SK), four world class attackers; and Lee Chun-soo, who was brave enough to go head to head with Italian star Paolo Maldini.

Of course, the owners of the teams should not just stand back, as next year many of the national team stars will be going abroad and so they should be nurturing new ones. One expert advises bringing in foreign players and coaches to break down the Korean system. In Japan there was a time when 12 foreign coaches were working. Guus Hiddink demonstrated the effect of coaches from overseas enough. Only if competitive coaches are appointed with increased investment will Korean soccer survive. Teams cannot be run just to avoid deficits.

The government should also actively support teams and follow up on its pledge. In Seoul, the country's capital and where most soccer fans are concentrated, there is no soccer team. Also teams are reluctant to move into the World Cup stadium there because they will have to share the W20 billion building costs. Maybe the central or local government can help them out if they really want to see soccer develop.

There is also a call for the KFA to reorganize itself. In Europe, schedules for professional and national teams are announced a year in advance so they do not collide, but in Korea this is not the case. In addition the KFA can pick on any player for national duty without recourse.

A league official said if the people, government, and business contribute half of the enthusiasm shown at this World Cup then the national team will have more surprises in 2006.