Football fans and just amateurs, as well as regular viewers! The FIFA World Cup is probably one of those events, watched by almost every inhabitant of our round planet.
Well, or at least that resident, whose country participates in the championship.
I am not a fan of excited football, and for some time I prefer hockey to football, especially if there is an opportunity to support the team not from the monitor but from the pulpit. BUT! Nevertheless, the World Cup is something I am looking for with pleasure. It does not matter that in Korea the first game starts at 11 and the second game ends after 5 am, and by 2AM I've got to run work ... miss out on the competition just maybe!
About the World Cup and especially about football itself, I will not fool you. Let's talk about football in terms of art. I, as a resident of Morning freshness country, will give you a short trip to South Korean football world.
Recently, while I was shopping, I found a temporary exhibit, taking place in one of Seoul's largest shopping centers at Lotte Tower Mall. The exhibition is dedicated to the 2018 World Cup, and its entrance is free.
The exhibition is organized with the support of collectors and football specialist Lee Jae-hyun, who is the biggest footballer in Korea, and whose 48,000+ "cup" collection is estimated at around $ 180,000 today (or 2 billion Korean won, so according to the local he's a billionaire !).
Apart from some unique items from Lee Jae-hyun's collection, the exhibition presented a very strange painting of 12 authors from the East (Kwang Jakga, Kim Bomi, Boot Jil, Atmosphere, Airfigure, Zooki, Jeong Hyeongdae, Jin Vip, Fenomeno, Daniel Nyari, Iida Kosuke, Yann Dalon).
A few words about South Korean football
The 17th World Cup in 2002 took place in South Korea and Japan. This is the only championship in history, which takes place in two countries at once. Championships in 10 Korean cities were built and reconstructed 10 stadiums, one of them in Seoul. And the stadium is in a big park, which is divided into sections. Today is a beautiful place not only for vorouth, but also for family holidays and picnics.
For the 2002 World Cup Korea special not only because it was the host country, but also because in that year the Korean national team even if not among the three winners, but took 4th place! For the whole of South Korean football history, 2002 was the most successful. It was the only year when the Korean team could reach the semi-finals. Before that, South Korea did not participate, or did not qualify, or only reached the first round. Apparently, the players from Korea are not too. And then the most common sport is baseball.
The most outstanding footballer from South Korea
An Jeong Hwan (안정환) - midfielder and striker. Some say that he showed himself at the World Championships in 2002, that 4th place is a reward. And someone claimed that the peak of his career was at the Chinese football club. But in that case he is the record holder of South Korea in the number of goals scored at the World Cup, everyone agrees. Jeong Hwan completed his football career in 2012.
Very popular was Pak Chi Song (박지성) midfielder, who started his football career in 1999, joining the youth team. But he achieved the greatest success, speaking for football clubs in Holland and England. He is the first Asian footballer at Manchester United, and today is the club's global ambassador.
The attacker of Seoul football club Park Zhu Yong (박주영) has been part of the national team since 2003. He is able to prove himself, speaking for football clubs Monaco, Arsenal, Watford, Al Shabab. He has 2 bronze medals and 1 gold medal. In 2005 he was recognized as the best player of the year in the South Korean championship.
This year shows himself a young soccer player born in 1991, goalkeeper Cho Hyun Wu (조현우). Literally last year he received the best goalkeeping title of the season. And last year started his career as a football player in the national team in international competitions. Well, this year at the 2018 World Cup he is 6 times not giving away goals against South Korea, and in the match against the German team helping the team to win.
No doubt, there are other talented soccer players in the national team, behind him there are many achievements.
A historic moment for South Korea in the 2018 World Cup
Qualifying matches are watched by all countries. The South Korean national team match can be heard without leaving home. To watch a game in a bar or pub, you have to go there at least 2 hours before the game, otherwise there will be no seats. In the town square largest, large screens have been installed so people can come and cheer for their country.
Especially, the last match is remembered in that country: a match with the German national team. Few people believe in the victory of the South Korean team, even Korea itself, although they hope and are sick. Every goal, every effort to score goals, the country is accompanied by applause and applause, which is not typical for the quiet and simple Korean people. And when the match ends with a 2: 0 score that supports South Korea, sentimental Koreans shed tears, and it is clear that the next day everyone will no longer work. Despite the fact that this victory does not open the door to the 1/8 finals, it means a lot to the country. After all, the South Korean team is able to defeat the current world champion.
And of course, what kind of exhibitions can be done without a gift shop ?!
The exhibition ended yesterday, and I'm very glad I made it.