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The Taeguk Warriors drew 1-1 with football powerhouse France during their World Cup match at the Central Stadium in Leipzig, Germany on Sunday. Thierry Henry put France ahead in the ninth minute, but Park Ji-sung scored the tensely awaited equalizer 36 minutes into the second half.
Seol Ki-hyeon broke down the right flank and crossed to Cho jae-jin, whose header deflected from the goal post. But Park popped up and nestled the ball over goalie Barthez inside the post. In the first half, Korea failed to control the field but succeeded in boxing in ¡°US$6.6 million man¡± Zinedine Zidane.
With the match, Korea is well placed to advance to the round of 16, topping group G with four points (one win against Togo and a draw). France has two points after two draws, the Swiss one point with one draw, and Togo none with one defeat.
The stadium in Leipzig was filled with roars from some 10,000 Korean supporters nicknamed the Red Devils, who chanted, ¡°You are my champion, You are our champion, We will shout together and win.¡± Korean fans cheered energetically despite being outnumbered by French fans who had colored the stadium blue, and erupted in wild enthusiasm when Park seemed to net a second goal.
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Women cheer for Korea during the team's second match of the World Cup against France in Leipzig, Germany broadcast on big screens in front of Seoul City Hall in downtown Seoul on Monday morning.
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At home, Seoul streets bustled with people clad in red into the early hours of the morning by Korean time. Some 150,000 citizens gathered in eight locations around the capital including Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, Sejong-ro and the World Cup stadium. About 500,000 people across the nation cheered their team in the streets in some 75 places, police estimate. The lights never dimmed at the huge apartment complexes of Jamsil and Mokdong as families awaited the match starting at 4 a.m. while watching Australia vs. Brazil (1 a.m.) and Japan vs. Croatia (10 p.m.). Hotels and saunas near Gwanghwamun, Jongro, Namdaemun and City Hall in downtown Seoul, where Red Devils gathered to cheer, were crowded with office workers who decided to stay there so they would make it to work on time rather than brave traffic congestion in the morning.
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Park Ji-sung fights for the ball with Willy Sagnol of France during Korea¡¯s second World Cup football match in Group G at the Central Stadium in Leipzig, Germany on Sunday. The teams drew 1-1./Yonhap
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Manager Dick Advocaat expressed satisfaction after the match. "First of all I'm very happy with the result. In the second half we improved, and as the game went on, sometimes we were able to control it,¡±" he said. ¡°I'm very proud of the team. Just like against Togo we came from 1-0 down, and this time we were able to get a draw against what in my opinion is still a great France team.¡±
Park agreed. "I'm not satisfied with myself, but I'm satisfied with my team because we got a point against a very strong French team," the Manchester United striker said.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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