Portugal, Korea meet with much at stake

Updated: Thursday June 13, 2002 03:46 a.m. ET

From Sports Illustrated • Grant Wahl: New breed of U.S. player • Wahl Insider: Gray Goose • Michael Bamberger: Mathis is a goal digger Features • 91st Minute: Italy sneaks in • Baddoo Mailbag: What the bleep • World Cup Hall of Fame: Top 100 • Scores | Schedules and Standings From Soccer America • Mahoney: U.S. must possess • Archive: Coverage from Korea From World Soccer • Glanville: England has history vs. Argentina • Archive: Subscribe to World Soccer From CNN.com • French coach asked to meeting • Special Coverage: CNN.com Europe From Time.com • World Cup Weblog • Full Coverage: Insight from Korea/Japan Multimedia • Photo Gallery: A fine first week

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Joao Pinto knows the danger presented by South Korea.

The attacking midfielder was on a Portuguese team that scraped out a 1-0 win against the South Koreans 11 years ago on its way to winning the World Youth Championships in Lisbon.

"It wasn't easy," Pinto recalled. "Even back then they were improving as a soccer nation."

About half the current Portuguese squad, including world player of the year Luis Figo, was on that team and grew up to become the country's "Golden Generation" of stars, playing at clubs among the cream of Europe.

But this is their first World Cup, and so far they have won no trophies with the national team. And when they face the World Cup's co-host on Friday, the Portuguese will be playing for survival in the tournament after a disappointing start.

Following a stunning opening-game 3-2 loss to the United States and a 4-0 win over Poland, Portugal must beat the home team before its legions of avid fans to advance to the next round.

"It's an extremely important game in our careers," defender Rui Jorge said.

It's also likely to be a tense encounter.

South Korea, which leads Group D with the United States, one-point ahead of Portugal, is close to its first advancement to the second round of a World Cup. A win or tie will lift it into the second round.

But failure to advance would bring the embarrassment of being the firstr host nation that failed to reach the knockout stage.

South Korea is making its sixth appearance in soccer's premier tournament. During its five previous trips to the World Cup, South Korea had never won a match.

Thousands of South Koreans camped in tents amid heavy rains in front of Incheon Stadium near Seoul, hoping to buy tickets for the game.

Some of South Korea's players are among the fastest in the tournament. Under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, they have improved their tactical awareness, too.

"They're faster than the teams we've faced so far and they're better organized than some of the other Asian sides," Jorge said. "We've got to watch out for their counterattacks."

South Korea's midfield will be toughened by the return of Lee Young-pyo.

A standout player in warmup games against Scotland, England and France, Lee missed the first two group games because of a calf injury sustained in training.

However Park Ji-sung, another key midfielder, is doubtful for the match after spraining his left ankle against the United States.

There's also a question whether Ahn Jung-hwan, who came on as a substitute to snare the tying goal against the United States, is fully match fit.

But the striker, who plays professionally in Italy, should play some part in the game given South Korea's problems with converting chances into goals.

The pressure is intense for both teams in Friday's game. The Koreans have millions of soccer-crazed fans to please. The Portuguese will have a legacy of underachievement if they go out in the first round.

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung is expected at the stadium, and Portugal's expectations are high.

"It's our duty to win," Portuguese soccer federation chief Gilberto Madail said. "We should be able to win."

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)