Word: spain
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...have ever faced each other at the World Cup, but except for 1978, one of the two has played in every final since World War II. How is it that Brazil or Germany are almost always in the final, while a perennial powerhouse of European club football such as Spain has never even reached the semis...
...dream had been lovely, a crescendo of victories that catapulted the South Korean team into the quarterfinals of the World Cup. But sitting in a Seoul movie theater watching the historic match between Korea and Spain, 23-year-old university student Jo Aram pinched herself as regulation time ended without a goal. Then two halves of extra time slipped by scoreless, after a linesman controversially disallowed a Spanish goal. Suddenly, the biggest game her country had ever played was to be decided by penalty kicks. Jo knew this was the part where she was going to awaken, because dreams always...
...team's ascent largely comes courtesy of one gray-haired Dutchman: Guus Hiddink. So popular is the national coach that newspapers have half-jokingly suggested he run for President. Never mind that he isn't Korean. After transforming the country's ragtag side into a power that beat favorites Spain, Italy and Portugal, Hiddink has become the country's favorite adopted...
...Perhaps the only thing that could spoil Korea's party now is a refereeing controversy that has tainted Korea's victories over Italy and Spain. During the latter match, a potential game-winning Spanish goal was disallowed over a debatable offside call. But even if the team goes down to defeat at the hands of Germany in the semifinals, few Koreans will be complaining. "I don't know if we have felt like this since we gained independence from Japan," said Hahn Juho, a lawyer in Seoul, as he joined the after-game jubilation. No matter what happens...
...makes no difference whether Sanchez missed the call. The men in black are not always right. These finals have been loaded with dubious, match-changing decisions, including Ronaldinho being sent off in the Brazil-England game and disallowed goals that helped Korea defeat both Italy and Spain. But officials cannot officiate if they labor under the threat of intimidation and assault by players and coaches. FIFA last week issued a statement defending the World Cup referees and congratulating them on a noticeable improvement in officiating standards. The game's authorities should do more to protect the most vulnerable...