The Korea Herald

Lim Chang-yong out for season with elbow injury

Jun 28, 2012

South Korean pitcher Lim Chang-yong of the Yakult Swallows in Japan will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ligament in his right elbow, his Seoul-based agent said Thursday.Park Yu-hyun, Lim’s agent, said the right-hander has opted to go under the knife to repair the ligament damage.“We’ve informed the team of the decision to undergo surgery today,” Park said. “The operation will take place sometime next week at the latest.”This will be Lim’s second elbow reconstructive surgery,
Lee Dong-gook breaks K-League goal record

Jun 28, 2012

Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors broke the K-League’s goal-scoring record Wednesday night with the 127th goal of his career.In a Hyundai Oil Bank 2012 K-League 3-0 win over Gwangju, Lee added the second goal of the game eight minutes into the second half.If he keeps up his scoring form, he is likely to finish the season as the league’s top scorer for the second time. His latest goal, his 63rd for the team, also ties the scoring record of the team for which he started to play as a forward
Spain storms into Euro final

Jun 28, 2012

DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) ― Still not pretty to watch, still just as effective.Spain again failed to dazzle at the European Championship yet still advanced to its third straight major championship final, beating Portugal 4-2 in a penalty shootout Wednesday following a scoreless draw after extra time.“We’re playing better in defense than what the characteristics of our players would suggest,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. “That’s what earns victories.”After earning plaudits for the eye-catchin
Spain beats Portugal on penalties at Euro 2012

Jun 28, 2012

Still not pretty to watch, still just as effective.Spain failed to dazzle yet again at the European Championship, but still advanced to its third straight major championship final by beating Portugal 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday following a 0-0 draw after extra time.“We're playing better in defense than what the characteristics of our players would suggest,'' Spain coach Vicente del Bosq
Hamburg footballer Son not to join Olympic squad

Jun 27, 2012

Son Heung-min, a Korean footballer who plays for German Bundesliga side Hamburg SV, will not join the national squad for the 2012 London Olympics, local reports said.Kicker, one of Germany’s leading sports magazines, said on its website Tuesday that Son has decided not to make an appearance in the Olympics in order to concentrate on the next league season, which is his third year after signing with Hamburg.“In Korea, an Olympic appearance has a special meaning, but I want to speed up for Hamburg
A soccer fan dies after watching Euro 2012 without sleep

Jun 25, 2012

A Chinese soccer fan was found dead after watching all the soccer games of Euro 2012 for 11 days without sleeping.Jiang Xiaoshan, 26, died due to exhaustion caused by lack of sleep last Tuesday.The last game he watched was the match between Italy and Ireland. He and his friends watched the game together and then Jiang went back to his home. He took a shower, went to bed and did not wake up again. According to Chinese news sources, Jiang’s death was caused by intake of alcohol and tobacco as well
Italy beats England on penalties at Euro 2012

Jun 25, 2012

Italy won the semifinal place its dominating play deserved, though it took a penalty shootout to overcome England's resistance Sunday at the European Championship.Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive penalty to give Italy a 4-2 shootout victory after a 0-0 draw, setting up a semifinal match against three-time champion Germany on Thursday in Warsaw, Poland.Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo _ with an
Alonso, Spain cruise into semis

Jun 24, 2012

DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) ― Even if Spain failed to live up to expectations, Xabi Alonso exceeded them.The defending champions, who are trying to win a third straight major title, advanced to the European Championship semifinals with a not-so-commanding 2-0 win over France on Saturday. In the next round, Portugal and star player Cristiano Ronaldo could provide a much sterner test.“These types of games, in this type of competition, are always very tense,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said of Saturd
Germany beats Greece 4-2 to reach semifinals

Jun 23, 2012

Germany`s Philipp Lahm, left, celebrates after scoring during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between Germany and Greece in Gdansk, Poland, Friday, June 22, 2012. (AP-Yonhap News)GDANSK, Poland (AP) _ With Chancellor Angela Merkel cheering every step of the way, Germany dominated Greece _ on the football field.The Germans reached the European Championship semifinals for a reco
Ronaldo puts Portugal into Euro 2012 semifinals

Jun 22, 2012

Portugal`s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between Czech Republic and Portugal in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday. (AP-Yonhap News)Cristiano Ronaldo and his finely coiffed head of hair knocked in the only goal Thursday, sending Portugal into the European Championship semifinals with a 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic.Aft
France ready for Spain

Jun 21, 2012

DONETSK (AP) ―Tensions are creeping into the French camp at the European Championship, with the players involved in a “heated” bust-up following the team’s 2-0 loss to Sweden.France, which was hit by internal strife at the 2010 World Cup, capitulated against the Swedes on Tuesday and would have lost more heavily if goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had not made several saves.Although the defeat did not prevent France from advancing to a quarterfinal against Spain, the manner of it exasperated coach Laurent
Greece doesn’t fear Germany

Jun 21, 2012

GDANSK (AP) ― Germany’s most prominent fan will be in the stands, and that could provide extra motivation for Greece in the European Championship quarterfinals.Chancellor Angela Merkel is believed to bring luck to the German team, but she is not popular in Greece. So passions could be running high Friday when three-time champion Germany takes on the surprise 2004 titlists.“We are playing for our shirt, our flag and for the people back home,” Greece midfielder Costas Katsouranis said.Greece has p
Liverpool eyes Ki Sung-yueng

Jun 20, 2012

England’s Premier League club Liverpool has joined the line of teams interested in Ki Sung-yueng, the Korean midfielder with Celtic. European soccer website TribalFootball reported on Tuesday that Liverpool and Queens Park Rangers both want to lure the Korean international to the Premier League. Meanwhile, Russian club Rubin Kazan, whose bid for Ki was unsuccessful, attempted to play down their interest in the 23-year-old. “This has nothing to do with reality and they want to make the price of t
England beats Ukraine 1-0 to advance at Euro 2012

Jun 20, 2012

(AP-Yonhap News)Only one goal counted, and it belonged to Wayne Rooney.The England striker returned from a two-match suspension to head in the lone goal Tuesday and give his team a 1-0 win over Ukraine and a spot in the European Championship quarterfinals. The co-host Ukrainians, however, will leave the tournament knowing that things could have been different.Needing a win to advance, the Ukrainia
FIFA extends match-fixing bans in SKorea, Croatia

Jun 20, 2012

FIFA has imposed global bans from football on 13 players and coaches found guilty of match-fixing in South Korea and Croatia. FIFA says its disciplinary committee ordered binding verdicts to extend national suspensions.Former South Korea international Kim Dong-hyun was banned for life, and Choi Sung-kuk got a 5-year ban. The South Korean investigation involved fixed matches in the K-League and Le