FOZ DO IGUACU, Brazil (Yonhap) ― The objective of soccer is rather simple: Score more than the opposition.Things haven’t been quite so simple for South Korea, however, in its preparations for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.In 16 games coached by Hong Myung-bo, who took the reins last summer, South Korea has found the back of the net just 15 times, an inflated total given that four of the goals came against an overmatched Haiti.In six matches in 2014, South Korea has scored only three goals while c

Park Ji-sung, Ahn Jung-hwan and Lee Young-pyo among players-turned-commentators

Ivory Coast scored two goals in two minutes to beat Asian giants Japan 2-1 in their World Cup Group C battle on Saturday.Japan's AC Milan star Keisuke Honda knocked the Elephants groggy with a 16th minute goal to make it 1-0.But goals from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho in the 64th and 66th minutes saw Ivory Coast home. (AP-Yonhap)Honda gave Japan hope after escaping his markers at the edge of the penalty area and firing home a left foot shot that gave Boubacar Barry Copa in the Ivory Coast goal no

Colombia's new generation unlocked Greece's notoriously steely defense with such verve that they could just have become the team to beat in Group C at the World Cup.The Colombians beat Greece 3-0 on Saturday, and didn't need star striker Radamel Falcao to do it.  (AFP-Yonhap)Falcao, who was ruled out of the World Cup due to a knee injury, was just one among the thousands of Colombia supporters who dominated the crowd, turning Mineirao Stadium into a sea of yellow, tinged with red and blue in the

Costa Rica came from behind to stun Uruguay 3-1 Saturday at the World Cup, opening the tough Group D with a major upset. Uruguay left star striker Luis Suarez on the bench but went ahead when Edinson Cavani scored a penalty in the 24th minute. The Central Americans fought back after the break and lone striker Joel Campbell drive in a ball headed down by Celso Borges in the 54th  to beat goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Oscar Duarte dived past the outstretched foot of Uruguay's Cristian Stuani to hea

Mario Balotelli scored with a second-half header Saturday to give Italy a 2-1 win over England at the World Cup.The Italy striker was left free by his marker Gary Cahill and nodded a cross from Antonio Candreva past goalkeeper Joe Hart in the 50th minute.Claudio Marchisio scored first for Italy, sending a long shot through a crowded area and past a diving Hart in the 35th. Daniel Sturridge equalized for England two minutes later, tapping in a cross from Wayne Rooney. (AFP-Yonhap)The win puts Ita

SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) – Louis van Gaal, one of the game's greatest coaches, was criticized before the World Cup for being too defensive for a nation that loves attacking play.His decision to field five defenders against Spainthough, proved a masterstroke.His team thrashed the defending world champions 5-1 Friday with a clinical display of counterattacking football that had Spain chasing shadows at the end as Dutch fans roared “Ole!” each time their team passed the ball.“If you see how he prepare

All eyes on Brazil for soccer’s biggest global event

As in any sport, the road to victory in football lies just inches away from failure. The elusive victory cigar usually finds its way to someone willing to “fight for that inch,” as Al Pacino put it in “Any Given Sunday,” a sports classic in which he plays a football coach.But that slim difference between glory and disgrace appeared to have widened to miles, not inches, for the South Korean team on Monday. They were thumped 4-0 by Ghana in Miami, Florida, in their last friendly before the 2014 FI

Argentina, Germany expected to have easier route to semifinals

Head of Red Devils hopes cheering will ease nation’s grief over ferry sinking

The 2014 FIFA World Cup is expected to spur domestic sales and help companies withstand dampened demand in the wake of the Sewol ferry sinking.The global sports event is a good opportunity for consumer electronics companies to increase TV sales. Sales in World Cup years are usually 30 percent higher than the previous year. Though Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are not official sponsors of the 2014 tournament, they expect to reap similar benefits, and step up related marketing to make the

Brazil's Neymar celebrates his second goal on a penalty kick during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Croatia, the opening game of the tournament, in the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Neymar hit two goals including a bitterly contested penalty to guide Brazil to a 3-1 victory over Croatia in the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday.Violent protests in Sao Paulo were quickly pushed to one side as drama switched to the footbal

Photos: The World Cup opening ceremonyGeneral view of the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo prior to the opening Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia on June 12, 2014. (AFP )Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014, prior to the opening Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia. (AFP)Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 World

South Korean forward Lee Keun-ho is no slouch by any stretch of the imagination. The 29-year-old was named the 2012 Asian player of the year by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after helping his South Korean club, Ulsan Hyundai, to the AFC Champions League title that year.  On the current 23-man World Cup squad for South Korea, Lee is tied with forward Park Chu-young for most caps with 63 and is second behind Park with 18 goals.Despite his solid credentials, Lee is expected to serve as a r