The ‘AGAIN 2002’ card section in the 2002 World Cup Heroes Gathering
The first Asian player in English Premier League (EPL) scorer Son Heung-min (Tottenham) led the Taegeuk Warriors and the ‘world’s strongest’ Brazil were engulfed in the soccer fever on an early summer night.
On the followingnoon of the 2nd, when the friendly match between Korea and Brazil was held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, a lot of fans followed from three hours before the game started.
There was also a long line of food trucks where you can buy food, including the North Square, where the 20th anniversary of the 2002 World Cup, ‘Football Festival Seoul’ is in full swing.
On the first day of the first day of online ticket sales, the fans, who fought the ‘pre-order war’, which attracted 740,000 people at the same time, took their uniforms and cheering tools and headed to the stadium.
In particular, regardless of national team and team, Bentuho’s ‘Captain’ Heung-Min Son’s uniform stood out the most, realizing the sky-high popularity.
Jeong Yu-jin (26), who wore Son Heung-min’s national team uniform, said, “It was difficult to hold the curb to watch with my friends.
I waited 3 hours to make a reservation, and today I came from Daegu around 2pm.
Jung expressed his anticipation, saying, “I mightn’t come to Uruguay following (October 2018) because of Corona 19, and I came to Match A.
A number of fans wearing jerseys bearing the names of Brazilian players, including superstar Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), also stood out.
Jo Ji-min (23), who wears the Brazilian national team jersey marked ‘Ronaldo 9’, said, “I’ve been playing soccer with my brother since I was little and I like soccer, and I also like Brazil.
Neymar and of course, I am a Real Madrid fan, so I am looking forward to seeing Real players such as Vinicius play.”
He added, “Korea will definitely support us,” he said.
Fans who entered early and felt the atmosphere on the ground lined up, and from the ceremony of awarding the Blue Dragon Medal of Sports Medal by national team captain Son Heung-min, held regarding an hour before the start of the game, the heat intensified in earnest.
At the award ceremony, the 2002 World Cup ‘legends’ Park Ji-sung and Ahn Jung-hwan were together, and the fans’ welcome was even hotter.
Then, when both teams appeared to warm up, the fans focused on each and every movement of the players.
The Korean players as well as the Brazilian players showed their unique rhythmic movements and individual skills, and there was a lot of excitement.
It was unusual for players to be introduced, and the names of the players of the opposing team continued to shout every time.
In particular, the stadium seemed to leave when Neymar of Brazil, who had caused concern by news of a foot injury the day before, was introduced as the starter.
But it was Heung-Min Son who beat all the players.
After the game started, the decibels in the spectators grew even bigger.
In the 12th minute of the first half, cheers resounded in line with the attack development of both teams, including Son Heung-min’s consecutive shooting.
After regarding 22 minutes of the first half, the card section reminiscent of the 2002 World Cup was spread out throughout the audience and it was spectacular.
‘AGAIN 2002’ on the east stand, the Taegeukgi on the north stand, and ‘We, the Reds! Reds!) is engraved in bold.
As Korea conceded one goal in the 6th minute and equalized with Hwang Ui-jo (Bordeaux)’s equalizing goal in the 31st minute of the first half with support from Korea, the Seoul World Cup Stadium seemed to return to 2002 when the whole country was full of soccer enthusiasm.
/yunhap news
