More than results, Korea needs a new start
On Friday, two Asian powerhouses meet in Qatar. Saudi Arabia and South Korea have had some titanic clashes over the years — not least when the Taeguk Warriors lost 2-0 in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, in 2005, which resulted in head coach Jo Bonfrere losing his job despite the team qualifying for the World Cup. Just four years later, Korea went on to win in the Kingdom and qualify for the 2010 tournament…
In a rematch between two regional giants, South Korea and Saudi Arabia are set to face off in Qatar. The two teams have a history of intense competition, most notably when Korea suffered a 2-0 defeat to South Arabia in 2005, leading to the dismissal of Head Coach Jo Bonfrere despite their qualification for the World Cup. Just four years later, Korea managed to triumph in the Kingdom and secure a spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The two countries are due to meet again in Qatar for a friendly game, which was originally scheduled to be a warm-up for the January Asian Cup. However, due to ongoing regional conflicts, the fixture has been moved to December of the following year. This change has created a significant gap in the sporting calendar not just for South Korea, but also for a host of national teams that had been anticipating the tournament.
Furthermore, it has left interim coach Robert Moreno in a precarious position, as his contract runs until the end of November. There is a possibility of a contract extension leading to a permanent appointment if the team performs well, but without a tournament to prepare for, the urgency for both coach and players has diminished.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- More than results, Korea needs a new start koreatimes.co.kr
