Fifa World Cup: shadow of 2002 hangs over Japan and South Korea, as old adversaries face prospect of quarter-final clash
- From tournament co-hosts 20 years ago to a potential last eight meeting in Qatar, the two nations have raised Asia’s profile on the world stage once again
- Japan will take on Croatia, while South Korea face Brazil in back-to-back matches on Monday
Over the past three decades, the football rivalry between Japan and South Korea has been among the most intense in Asia. On and off the field, the two nations have fought to establish their pre-eminence, often at the other’s expense.
From seeking to outdo one another on the pitch to engaging in a bitter, acrimonious battle for World Cup hosting rights back in 2002, the enmity between the pair has been palpable. Now that battle could be about to move onto the global stage.
Japan and South Korea take on Croatia and Brazil respectively in their second round matches on Monday, one playing immediately after the other in Qatar’s spectacular billion-dollar venues with the prospect of a quarter-final clash between the East Asian adversaries a possibility.
However fanciful it may seem, given upcoming clashes against the 2018 World Cup runners up and a country that has won the tournament a record five times, the potential of this great rivalry being played out in Qatar – and with a semi-final berth at stake – is significant.
During a World Cup that has already seen numerous surprise results, anticipation has been growing in both nations. But the players are attempting to remain focused on their immediate task at hand.
“I know Korea is a rival for Japan but I don’t care about the next match,” said Ao Tanaka, who scored the goal against Spain that earned the Samurai Blue a shock 2-1 win and their place in the knockout rounds. “We need to focus on the Round of 16.
“Japan has never gone to the quarter-finals so this game is important for us. That’s why we need to prepare and focus on the next game.”
The co-hosting by the two nations of the World Cup in 2002, a hugely controversial move at the time, still looms large in their respective football histories.