On April 4, news came out of the Beijing time zone that South Korean media outlet BEST ELEVEN disclosed that the fate of South Korea's grouping with Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana in the hotly contested 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has been sealed. Recently, Uruguay's leading media outlet, El País, reviewed the history of the South Korean national soccer team at the World Cup, but questioned South Korea's stellar record of reaching the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.
South Korea, coached by Paulo Bento, was assigned to Group H. Once the draw was made, the global media focused on the strength and history of their respective groups. Uruguay's El País was no exception, known throughout South America as one of its most influential media outlets, founded in 1918.
In reviewing the World Cup history of the South Korean national soccer team, The Nation disparaged South Korea's trip to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan, stating, "South Korea has been the best in Asian soccer since qualifying for consecutive World Cups in Mexico in 1986. However, due to the controversy surrounding the World Cup in Korea and Japan, South Korea prevailed in the quarterfinals and in turn made it to the semifinals."
The Nacional also recalled the first meeting between the two teams at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, when Uruguayan legend Fonseca scored a goal, as well as the equally remarkable Round of 16 match at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where Luis Suarez scored twice to help Uruguay beat South Korea 2-1. The Nacional commented, "At the 2010 World Cup, South Korea showed ambition and managed to reach the Round of 16, causing a lot of problems for the Uruguayan national team's 'Celeste'."
Now, South Korea is about to face Uruguay in their first match at the World Cup in Qatar.
