INCHEON -- South Korean players and coaches got a rousing welcome home Monday after their runner-up finish at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland over the weekend.Coached by Chung Jung-yong, the young Taeguk Warriors recorded the country's best finish at any FIFA men's tournament. No South Korean men's team had reached the final at any FIFA competition before last Saturday, when Chung's squad lost to Ukraine 3-1 in the championship match at Lodz Stadium in Lodz.Despite the crushing loss, the playe

President Moon Jae-in said Sunday he is proud of South Korea's under-20 World Cup team after they finished in second place with a loss to Ukraine in the final."I am proud of our players who greatly enjoyed themselves," Moon said in a Twitter message posted on his way home from a three-nation Nordic trip, after South Korea lost 3-1 to Ukraine in the final at Lodz Stadium in Poland on Saturday.  "The night in South Korea was just as bright as a white night in Stockholm. I also

South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in isn't one to have regrets over a loss, even if it comes in the championship final of the biggest tournament of his burgeoning career.South Korea lost to Ukraine 3-1 in the FIFA U-20 World Cup final at Lodz Stadium in Lodz, Poland, on Saturday, unable to hold on after Lee's successful penalty gave them a 1-0 lead after just five minutes.Ukraine pushed back with three consecutive goals for their first title. But Lee, who ended the tournament with two goals and f

South Korea may not have captured the champion's trophy at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday, but their coach Chung Jung-yong said the players should still be proud of coming this far.South Korea lost to Ukraine 3-1 in the final at Lodz Stadium in Lodz, blowing an early 1-0 lead to come up one win shy of their first championship at the biennial youth tournament.A win would also have given South Korea their first title at a FIFA men's tournament, but Ukraine had other ideas, as they b

Tens of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets nationwide for the nation's under-20 football team Sunday, expressing support for the young players who came up short in their first-ever World Cup championship in the final with Ukraine.South Korea lost 3-1 to Ukraine, finishing in second place in the U-20 World Cup. It was the country's best-ever performance at a men's FIFA event. Seoul and major cities organized street cheering events to help fire up football fans, as the championship mat

Though South Korea fell one win shy of winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday, they still beat the odds to even reach the final, thanks in no small part to the leadership of an unheralded coach who demonstrated impressive tactical acumen on the field and developed strong connections with players off the field.Chung Jung-yong, 50, coached South Korea to their best performance at the biennial youth tournament. They took second place after losing to Ukraine 3-1 at Lodz Stadium in Lod

South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-win earned the Golden Ball as the best player of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday.The 18-year-old playmaker helped lead South Korea to the runner-up finish, the country's best showing ever at the biennial tournament. Lee scored South Korea's lone goal in their 3-1 loss to Ukraine in the final at Lodz Stadium in Lodz earlier in the day.Lee, who plies his trade with Valencia CF in Spain, had two goals and four assists in seven matches during the countr

It was close but no cigar.South Korea finished in second place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup following a 3-1 loss to Ukraine in the final at Lodz Stadium in Lodz on Saturday.Lee Kang-in converted a penalty in the fifth minute to give South Korea an early lead, but Ukraine scored three unanswered goals for their first title. Vladyslav Supriaha scored twice and Heorhii Tsitaishvili scored a late dagger for the champions.South Korea fell one victory shy of winning their first title at the biennia

South Korea dropped to Nigeria 2-0 for their second straight loss at the FIFA Women's World Cup in France on Wednesday, as their knockout hopes faded further.South Korean defender Kim Do-yeon had an own goal just before the half-hour mark at Stade des Alpes in Grenoble, and the Taeguk Ladies face an uphill climb to reach the round of 16 for the second straight tournament. Asisat Oshoala had the other goal for Nigeria in the second half. South Korea, which lost to France 4-0 in the opener last Fr

Asia's top football official on Wednesday praised South Korea for reaching the final at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, saying the country's run demonstrates the growth of the sport on the continent.South Korea defeated Ecuador 1-0 on Tuesday in Lublin, Poland, to set up the championship match against Ukraine. It will be South Korea's first appearance in the final of any FIFA men's tournament. "Their achievements so far have been remarkable, and I hope they carry on this form and go on t

A small step for the South Korean men's youth team, but a giant leap for the country's entire football program.That's how Chung Jung-yong, South Korean head coach at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, views his side's advance to the final at the biennial tournament. South Korea knocked off Ecuador 1-0 to reach the championship match against Ukraine on Saturday, with Choi Jun scoring the lone goal in the 39th minute. It is South Korea's first trip to any final at a men's FIFA tournament. The coun

The march goes on.South Korea's Cinderella run at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland will extend all the way to the championship final, after their 1-0 victory over Ecuador in Tuesday's semifinals.Wing back Choi Jun played the unlikely hero, scoring his first goal of the tournament to send the young Taeguk Warriors to the ultimate stage.Before the tournament, when South Korean players talked confidently about making the final four, their bravado was mostly dismissed as a product of the players' y

Football referees from the two Koreas will reunite on the pitch Monday as they are set to collaborate in the group stage at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.FIFA said that North Korea's Ri Hyang-ok will serve as referee for the Group E match between Canada and Cameroon, with her compatriot Hong Kum-nyo and South Korea's Kim Kyoung-min working as assistant referees. The match will kick off 9 p.m. Monday (local time) at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, France. They are three of the 12 Asian refer

One more win over a familiar foe in a familiar city, and South Korea will reach unfamiliar territory at the FIFA U-20 World Cup: the championship final.South Korea will take on Ecuador in the semifinals at Lublin Stadium in Lublin, Poland, at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday (local time), or 3:30 a.m. Wednesday (Seoul time).  South Korea have never finished higher than fourth at the biennial youth tournament. In 1983, they advanced to the semifinals but lost to Brazil, and then fell to Poland in the third

South Korea's youngest player at the FIFA U-20 World Cup has also been their best player, and midfielder Lee Kang-in put on a dominant show when the team needed it the most.The 18-year-old scored a goal and assisted on two others as South Korea knocked off Senegal 3-2 on penalties in the quarterfinals at Bielsko-Biala Stadium in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, on Saturday. The teams were deadlocked at 3-3 after 120 minutes of action, and Lee was involved in all three South Korean goals. For the past two