Hong Myung-Bo & Hwang Sun-Hong, "Veterans Reign"

Veterans were alive. `Key player` of the match was Hwang Sun-Hong (34. Kashiwa Reysol). Besides, Hong Myung-Bo (33. Pohang Steelers) was there to back him up in the defense.

The reason that the Korean national soccer seemed different in the evaluation match on the 20th was not only because of the new images of the players. The national team’s `Two Big Brothers`, who had been together since the early 1990s, were there to energize both the defense and offense, and the fans found satisfaction in them.

In the evaluation match with Finland, the finishing goal came from the tip of Hwang’s foot to add 1 victory on the team’s A-Match record, which has fallen into a slump since the year’s beginning with 1 victory, 2 ties, and 4 defeats. As if he was assuring his name on the final World Cup entry list, Hwang made another goal with an accurate heading.

Hwang called on all the junior players before the match. He gave them a word as a senior, “Let’s play some winning games now.” Feeling incited by the big brother, the players seemed different from the past on the field.

Hwang, oddly, have had no good tie with the World Cup. Although he was selected in the national team for the Italy World Cup in 1990, he could not participate properly. In 1994 U.S.A. World Cup, he made a goal in the match with Germany, but kept missing the goal gate in the Bolivian match. Also in 1998 France World Cup, he failed to participate in any of the games due to injury. That is why his expectations for 2002 World Cup are peculiar.

Hong Myung-Bo is the only Korean `World Cup star`, who scored 2 goals in World Cup matches. However, he had to go through some complications this time to be selected in the national team. His stamina was pointed out as a problem, and injury added up to his misfortune of having to return the Taekuk-badge. Although rumors said that `Hong Myung-Bo’s times are gone`, he vividly resurrected through the European field training this year, earning coach Guus Hiddink’s full trust.

He displayed excellent defense capability and precise control over the ball’s flow in the match with Finland. Finnish Coach Antti Muurinen complemented on him by saying that “Korea will obtain good results in World Cup, because of Hong Myung-Bo”.

`Hiddink-division` is full with `new blood` more than ever. However, the two veterans are still showing off their good health, putting on last spurts for the entry to `Best 11`.

Sung-Won Joo swon@donga.com