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In the end, there was a new World Cup beginning for South Korea.

 Ravaged by injuries, mauled by Mexico, hammered by Holland and demoralised by the sacking of the country's one true footballing icon, Cha Bum-kun, the players pulled off a mental Houdini act.

 They raised their spirits, and their game, against Belgium and will face preparations for the 2002 World Cup on home soil with renewed vigour.

 Belgium may not be one of Europe's best teams but they were playing for World Cup survival against South Korea and were matched in technique and tactics by the Asians.

 The true meaning of their 1-1 draw in the Parc Des Princes was glaringly evident on the final whistle.

 As the Belgium players sank to the turf, disconsolate and disbelieving at their failure to progress to the second round for the first time in five World Cup finals, the Koreans raced over to salute their supporters.

 The record books will show it was a draw but, for Korea, it felt like a victory.

 'This was our last chance to show our true form in the World Cup and give our supporters a morale boost,' said Kim Pyong-sok, Korea's one-match manager.

 'We prepared for this World Cup with particular tactics and strategy in mind but after two defeats were demoralised and had to change our approach.

 'I think the Korean supporters can be proud of our performance against Belgium, although they will still remember the defeats.

 'Now it is up to the team to start preparing for the next World Cup in 2002.'  South Korea, and Japan, are in the happy position of knowing that they will be in the 2002 finals and that was probably enough to keep the Koreans motivated after a shocking start to the tournament.

 The 3-1 defeat by Mexico might have been avoided if Ha Seok-ju had not been sent off just 80 seconds after putting Korea ahead.

 Nothing much could have been done, however, to stop the dangerous Dutch, although it was naive of Cha to expect his players to successfully man-mark the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars.

 The 5-0 scoreline flattered Holland a bit but it looked so bad on paper that public opinion turned against Cha, who had a distinguished club career in Germany and was the country's most popular footballer, and the Korean FA acted quickly to limit the damage.

 Under Kim, whose only previous coaching experience was with a women's team, the atmosphere was more relaxed and that translated into a free-flowing game against Belgium.

 The early goal from Luc Nilis did not unsettle the Koreans and for the majority of the match they were the more organised, more spirited team. Captain Yoo Sang-chul's equaliser was well deserved and Korea could easily have gone on to win the game.

 The rangy Choi Yong-soo, top scorer with nine goals in the qualifying competition, missed three chances in the space of seven second-half minutes. He flashed two headers over the bar and then shot wide with just the 'keeper to beat.

 While South Korea flew home yesterday having salvaged some pride from the World Cup, Belgium had to duck for cover as the bullets started to fly. Labelled boring and over the hill before the match, they did little to change people's opinion of their play.

 With UEFA President Lennart Johansson nodding off in the stands, either through boredom or the effects of a long lunch, they huffed and puffed for most of the match.

 Marc Wilmots, scorer of two goals against Mexico but strangely quiet in the final match, summed it up pretty well.

 'We did not construct our attack - we just kicked long balls to the forwards,' he said.

 'We should have varied our attack but we just could not pull it off.

 'We did everything we could to win - perhaps somewhat clumsily. We just were not good enough.'  Bye, bye, boring Belgium.



Spirited Koreans go home with heads held high