'Spectacular'

South Korea coach expects 'a battle' in U.S. match

Updated: Saturday June 08, 2002 12:46 a.m. ET

SEOUL (Reuters) -- South Korea's coach said on Saturday the only history to be settled between South Korea and the United States are matters of football in a key World Cup clash he said would be "spectacular." (Korea coach: Ref error gave U.S. win.)

The two nations are close security allies with deep political and economic ties, but there is also a history of friction over trade, policies on North Korea and the presence of U.S. military bases and 37,000 American troops.

"The only history I regard is the football history when we met twice in recent times," coach Guus Hiddink told reporters at the team's training camp.

South Korea lost 2-1 to the United States in January's Gold Cup after winning a friendly 1-0 in December.

"It was always a 50-50 situation for both teams," Dutch-born Hiddink said.

"That's a condition for a spectacular game, I think."

The match on Monday is vital for each side as they vie for a place in the final round of 16 and shake off disappointing campaigns in the 1998 finals in France.

The co-hosts' historic 2-0 win over Poland on Tuesday has sparked rabid football fever across South Korea, whose team had never claimed a World Cup win despite five past finals appearances dating back to 1954.

The United States are also coming off their best result in 52 years, with a 3-2 win over Portugal being compared to their 1-0 victory over England in the 1950 World Cup.

"It will be a battle," Hiddink said.

The U.S. embassy in Seoul is on a wide avenue where local media expect crowds of up to 400,000 to congregate to watch the match on large, outdoor screens.

The embassy will close at noon on game day "to allow its staff to enjoy the U.S.-Korea World Cup soccer game," it said in a news release.

An embassy official declined to comment on speculation the closure was related to security concerns seen in armed guards and helicopter surveillance protecting the U.S. squad.

South Korea entered the finals as the underdogs of group D but now sit first ahead of the United States.

Portugal, one of the cup favorites, and Poland play in the other group D match set on Monday.

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