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Shock Germany win ‘shook South Korea upside down’
SEOUL, June 28, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – South Korean fans rejoiced Thursday and
called for national service exemptions after their team went out of the World
Cup in a blaze of glory, eliminating defending champions Germany with a shock
2-0 victory.
In one of the great World Cup upsets, Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min
both scored in injury time to condemn footballing superpower Germany to their
first opening-round exit in 80 years.
South Korea were pelted with toffees, a Korean insult, when they returned
winless from Brazil 2014 and although they again leave early, after defeats
to Mexico and Sweden, they finished above Germany on goal difference in Group
F.
“We didn’t make it to the round of 16… but we sent the world number one
packing,” said a headline in Seoul’s major Dong-A daily.
“We are so proud of you,” the newspaper said on its front page, adding the
game “shook South Korea upside down”.
Germany went into the game knowing that a win by two clear goals would
have seen them into the last 16. But instead it was Sweden and Mexico who
advanced after the Scandinavians romped to a 3-0 win in the group’s other
match.
The Taeguk Warriors, semi-finalists in 2002, brought the defending
champions “down with them”, Yonhap news agency said, adding that Germany
“unceremoniously bowed out of the tournament”.
South Korean social media were flooded by tens of thousands of messages
from fans expressing joy and astonishment over a victory that had seemed
utterly implausible before the match.
“This is far more shocking than our advance to the semi-final at the 2002
World Cup,” one commenter said.
“Who cares we won’t make it to the round of 16? We defeated Germany, the
world number one!” added another.
“It was an honourable exit.”
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon joined them, tweeting on Thursday: “Reality
beat our imagination today” and praising the South Korean footballers.
South Korean players swept the most-searched terms on major portals and
dozens of online petitions were launched on the presidential website, urging
Moon Jae-in to exempt star players, including Tottenham Hotspur forward Son
and goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo, from their mandatory two-year military service.
“They gave us so much hope,” said one petitioner. “Their talent should not
be wasted in the military!”
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1100 hrs