Millossobek's Master League Written Stories!

[millossobek]

BUILDING FROM THE BOTTOM UP!



Millonarios Hire Past Legend Alberto Gamero to Rescue them from the Doldrums of 2nd Division!
​

Check out the INTRO to this ML Story: https://evoweb.uk/threads/millossobeks-master-league-written-stories.88367/page-4#post-3786520

For the first time in their storied history, Millos have to face a new season in Division 2 The disappointment in the fans is palpable, as relegation occurred in the last game of the season, in sudden and heartbreaking fashion. Needing only a draw to maintain their category, Millonarios could not salvage the result, and following the 0-1 defeat, the media and the fans were in an uproar. In the days following relegation, many players decided to leave the team, some were not re-signed, virtually half of the team's starting eleven embarked on new roads and opportunities, and the team was left with an uncertain future to say the least!

Fortunately for Millonarios, three of the team's veterans, out of a sense of loyalty and love for Los Azules, decided to stay with the team, pictured below along with a new signing:

- Team Captain Mayer Candelo: The 34 year old veteran captain, decided to re-sign with the team. He is the classic #10, enganche who likes to play a creative attacking midfielder role. He has a calm personality, but is a proven leader. However, he is also a very proud player deep inside, and his heart is hurt as he was not able to keep Millos in the top flight, and most definitely feels like he has something to prove. Even though he has still been called up to play for the national team, and had big contracts offered to him from Brazilian teams to play his last years as a footballer, Candelo remained loyal and is now determined to lead Millos back to first division.

- Center Forward Wason Rentería: Wason, the 26 year old starting Center Forward, is a slightly different story. Once touted as a great prospect, Wason had a big offer from South American elite Racing Cub of Argentina, but relegation hit his future prospects hard. He did not have a great season with Millonarios, as he was plagued by injuries and only played half of the matches. Now fully healthy, Rentería wants to prove to himself and to the fans that he belongs in that elite level of footballers in the league, and what better way to do that than to earn promotion?

​

- Goalkeeper Juan Carlos Henao: JC Henao, also known as "The Monster" for his fighting spirit and warrior appeareance, is a historic player who, 8 years prior, won only the 2nd Libertadores for Colombia in their history, beating South American Giants Boca Juniors in the final with historic performance in the penalty shootout, stopping several shots en route to the title for Once Caldas! Now, 39 years old, and the oldest goalkeeper in the league, JC Henao's contract was not renewed by Once Caldas, but Millonarios decided to take a chance on "The Monster" in this offseason, hoping his veteran leadership and experience will bear fruit in the campaign!

- Center Midfielder Rafael Robayo: Considered by the fans as the "Heart and Soul" of the team, Rafa grew up a Millonarios fan in Bogotá, always dreaming to play for "El Embajador". The 28 year old midfielder is the longest tenured player on the team, now in his 8th season, and is not only considered a player, but also a fan who bleeds Blue through and through. Robayo, more than perhaps any other player, feels the sting of playing in 2nd Division because he feels it both ways, as a member of the team, as well as a die-hard supporter. Even though he was shattered in the final game of the season, as he was seen lying on the pitch sobbing in anger, Rafa Robayo is absolutely determined to leave it all on the field this season, and re-signed a contract extension with the team as soon as he could.

​

Aside from these important pieces, though, many players left them team, both from the starting 11 as well as from the bench. These players were either looking for different opportunities or were not re-signed by Millonarios due to their underwhelming performance. This leaves the team with a huge challenge, trying to incorporate 10-15 new players in less than a couple of months. Chemistry is a big question, and even though a good mix of youngsters and veterans were signed, it has hastily done to face Division 2, so the team is facing many many questions. Talent wise, the team is much less stacked than the previous year, due also to budgetary constraints and problems. On talent alone, the team probably regressed from a B- to a C grade at the South American level for this season.

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And this is when management decided to bring in a new manager, Alberto Gamero. A previous Millonarios player and champion, Gamero is very much familiarized with Millonarios' inner workings, and even though he is not considered a household name in South America (or Colombia) yet, he has shown quite a good performance leading small team Boyaca Chicó to first division, leading them to a league title in 2008. Now, Millos has given him a nice contract, quite large for a Colombian manager, but now he knows the pressure is on.,,, He has to lead Millos back to "Primera Division".

Rafael Robayo: "This is the darkest era in the history of our dear Millos. Words cannot express the profound disappointment I felt in the last game, but the problems started earlier for our team. A disastrous campaign which I was part of now led us to this situation. But I have been taught not to quit when things get tough.. I feel and we, as a team, owe it to our fans, to our city, to our new manager Gamero, to leave it all out on the pitch every single game, not to rest at all until we are back where we belong. Yes, I am very disappointed! But I plan to take this and convert it into determination, this is an enormous team with an enormous fanbase, and we are determined to persevere. The road is long and we're just starting, but we must never forget this feeling, and convert it into strength."

The Pressure is On!! Mired in a 24 year title drought, and now in 2nd division, is this the start of a long spell in the footballing dark ages? Or will Millonarios find the spirit and strength in their historic colors to pull through and regain their past glories? Only time will tell....!!

Stay tuned to the next edition of Millossobek's Master League Stories.
Comments are welcome! ​

 

[Holland]

Good luck in this new adventure, fortunately the veterans have decided to stay, you will see that thanks to them you will succeed in the task of returning to the first division

 

[millossobek]

"THE MILLOS MYSTIQUE"



At the midway point of their first Serie B season, Millonarios stands firmly in first place!​

17 games played
10 Wins 4 Draws 3 Losses
1st Place in Colombia Serie "B"

Millonarios' descent into Serie B has come with a lot of questions, asked by the media and the fans. Will "El Embajador" be able to recover from this? How will the fans respond to Millonarios' first campaign in second division? Will the players succumb to pressure? Or will they rise to the occasion and be able to show their metle and their colors? A lot of these questions have been answered going into January of 2013. As 2012 comes to a close, and the Christmas break is underway, Millos are firmly in first place. (The top 3 teams are promoted to first division). Generally speaking, we have been playing consistent football and outplaying our opposition. Even with a reduced team, with less talent and many players from the starting eleven in different teams now, Alberto Gamero has more or less been able to steer "Los Azules" into a solid position, with a strong emphasis on the team leaders and veterans, some good signings (which we will get into more in next installment) and hoping that our relegation adventure will be a short one!



Millos' campaign started off rather inaspiciously with a 0-0 draw at home vs Deportivo Pereira, another historic (albeit much less successful) team from the country's interior who have fallen on hard times recently. It seemed like Millonarios had a tough time incorporating all the new players in this first match, as the team's game and strategy didn't flow well at all. In fact, only a nice save by 39 year old keeper JC Henao saved the match for Millos, (a first match loss at home would be quite discouraging!), as Pereira had a chance to win it all at the end. And, at the final whistle, in front of a smaller crowd than usual at home, Millos was unfortunately booed off the field. It was far from the ideal start for Gamero and Millos.

However, the team recuperated well in their second match, 0-3 vs Llaneros F.C., a small team from the eastern plains, and Millos was able to impose their hierarchy with a hat trick by Wason Renteria, who was relieved to be able to show his quality after an injury-ridden season. This was followed by a decisive 3-1 win at home vs Barranquilla F.C., in which once again, attendance was quite low for a Millos game. But good signs started to appear, as goals were starting to open up for the team, and the offense was gearing up. The next match was a bit of a letdown for Millos though, as they lost 2-1 vs tough Union Magdalena, in very hot conditions, (very different from the altitude, cool weather of Bogotá), in 35+ degree heat. After 4 matches, Millos was 2-1-1. Not exactly a brilliant start, but the team was starting to gel a bit more.

The next match was against major historic rivals América de Cali, the Colombian Red Devils, at their stadium Pascual Guerrero. This was an interesting match because it matched up two of Colombia's largest teams in second division for the first time in their historyy. América de Cali in 2012 is historically a very successful local team in the Colombian League, with 13 titles (the same as Millonarios). However, they have fallen on hard times, as they were also relegated in the last game of the season against Patriotas Boyacá, in penalty kicks. This match had a lot of passion and national interest, with two of the large fanbases in the country (an equivalent would be, for example, if Corinthians and Palmeiras were both relegated in Brazil, so you can get a sense of the national importance). This is what made Millonarios 0-2 victory all the more impressive, as this match robbed América of the first position, and was quite a large boost for Millos' morale!



After this match, the manager was faced with a decision. With 2 matches in 6 days (a cup match and a league match), Alberto Gamero decided to rest all of his starters for the Cup Match against Itagui, and concentrate on Serie B. The reason for this was simple, even though winning the Colombian Cup would ensure Millonarios a qualification for an international cup, (quite possibly a Libertadores berth for next year) the priorities were simple and straightforward, and Gamero deemed Serie B to be much more important. This was shown in the Cup match, a 1-2 loss, which an entire substitute team. However, what was more disappointing was the fact that the next league match against Real Santander was only a 1-1 draw at home, and Gamero was quite displeased with his starting 11. He exhorted focus in the practice field, and asked for more ledership from his veterans, as the team is also riddled with a lot of new youngsters who were taking their time finding their stride.

The next 4 matches were up-and-down affairs: 1-0 vs Deportivo Rionegro, a 1-1 away draw vs Universidad Caribe, a 3-1 win at home vs Jaguares de Cordoba, a disappointing 0-2 loss against Universitario de Popayán. 2 wins, a draw, and a loss. The campaign was off to a good start, but not as dominating as some would expect given the standing of the team. The press and the fans were a bit restless, and even though Millonarios was hanging around promotion zone, there was cause for concern.

All of this would decisively change in the next match. A historic 7-1 drubbing against cross-town team Bogotá F.C. The offense simply woke up in this match, and Millos received a much needed boost. This match will be remembered for a while, since it was the first time that Millos and Bogotá F.C. had ever met in an official match ever. The scenes from the match were quite interesting: A small but dedicated fanbase from Bogotá F.C. emerged to support their team, perhaps wanting to show Millos that they've tried to establish themselves in the city, as they have long been the most promising second division side from the Capital city. But this was Millos' day. One goal after another, a 7-1 result that will live on in the history books as the first of this possible future derby, and one that fans will remember for a long time!On a different point, and more importantly, this was the start of a 3 game winning streak for Millonarios: An 0-1 win against Real Cartagena, another side with a large fanbase who have made some noise in first division, and 4-2 at home against Expreso Rojo! The offense was really clicking at this point, and the teams veterans are really pulling through in these decisive matches, as Millos had the top scoring team in the league and the league's top goalscorer in Wason Renteria, the top assist man in team captain Mayer Candelo, and singificantly, a three game winning streak which propelled Millonarios to first place!



Millos' next 4 matches to end the first half of the season were perhaps not as stellar, a surprising 3-1 loss against Depor F.C., a 2-4 win against Fortaleza F.C. (one of the favorites to earn promotion and have one of the more talented teams in Serie B but who, surprisingly, have had a pretty poor campaign), a 2-2 draw against Valledupar F.C., and a 1-0 victory at home against Atlético Bucaramanga closed out the first half of the season for Millonarios. An important thing to note is that, in this tournament, there are several historic first division teams that we've had to face (América, Bucaramanga, Pereira, among others), and so, even though the competition is there, and talent wise, Millonarios is not head and shoulders above the rest of the league at all, Gamero has been able to sustain a pretty good campaign, solidly in first place but not with an assured position. Even if there have been a few bumps on the road, the team has gelled well, with the mix of veteran leadership, young players, and two significant signings which we will cover soon. Only time will tell if the second half of the season will be as solid as the first. One thing is for certain though, Gamero has the team focused and ready to go, and after a somewhat shaky start, we are showing our hierarchy and history, and hopefully, we will be able to climb back to first division, where we should've never left in the first place!

Stay tuned to the exciting conclusion of Millonarios' first season in second division!



Alberto Gamero: "I believe we have "el peso de la historia" (the weight of history) on our side. We're not just any institution, we are Millonarios' FC, and I will not be remembered as the manager who wasn't able to promote us back to our rightful place in Colombian Football. I am a proud defender of these colors, like all of us. We are determined to prove that, even if our talent does not overwhelm our opposition, el "peso de la camiseta" and of our colors will pull us though. I am certain of that, we possess an extra weapon, "Nuestra Grandeza". Yes, mythical qualities, I believe in magic if you want to call it, backed up by our glorious history as the largest team in the country. With all due respect to our opponents, and with all possible humility that we are approaching each and every match, playing each one as if it were a final, Millonarios does have a MISTICA, a mystique, we are the owners of something else that is helping us, the ghosts of championships past, and the effort of our current players. Our glorious fanbase will be back in droves. We WILL return to first division."

Stay tuned to the next edition of Millossobek's Master League Stories.
Comments are welcome! ​

 

[mattmid]

Nicely placed at half way! Come on you Millos!

 

[cleanslate]

Man..
All of this is very well thought of and constructed
And along with PES 2013 which from what I have seen, is possibly the best ever Master League in (sadly the dead franchise) PES history!
This would be a certain amazing adventure for anyone included

 

[rammeal]

Looks awesome, you're making me want to start a PES 13 playthrough.

 

[millossobek]

🏆 OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE IN HISTORY! 🏆



MILLONARIOS FUTBOL CLUB RETURN TO FIRST DIVISION!​

34 games played
20 Wins 7 Draws 7 Losses
1st Place in Colombia Serie "B"
Promotion to 2013-14 First Division!

After a rather difficult and uncertain start to the second half of the season, Millonarios FC has rallied in a big way, earning promotion back to Colombian First Division, their true place in history, a place we should've never left. Even though there were some bumps in the road, Millonarios showed their true colors when faced with adversity, as Alberto Gamero and our Blue Knights pulled through in style, bringing out the hierarchy and the mystique of our colors when it was most needed!

Let's recap: After the Christmas Break, Millos wanted to start things off on the right foot, but a surprising home defeat 1-2 Against Deportivo Pereira was a stunning blow. This is a team which, in the first leg of the season, also gave Millonarios some problems, but this time they surprised "El Embajador" with a late goal which gave them the win. Gamero was hoping that we would rebound in our next match, but we were only able to salvage a 1-1 draw at home against Llaneros FC, after conceding an equalizer in the second half. Things started to look up in the next fixture, however, a 1-3 win at Barranquilla's stadium, in very hot and muggy conditions. This was a good victory for Millonarios, featuring a brace by perennial scorer Wason Renteria, who was most definitely continuing his hot scoring streak and showing the team and the fans what he is capable of doing when fully healthy. But things would get difficult for a stretch.

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Back home after a draining match against Barranquilla, we wanted to capitalize on our momentum, but the next match was perhaps Millonarios' worst of the season: A 0-3 loss, an embarrassing one, against Union Magdalena who were second in the table before the match and . This defeat was particularly meaningful because it relinquished our lead in the tournament, and more worrisome, the team was off to quite a disappointing start after the break. After 4 matches, the team only had 4 points out of a possible 16 to show for, with 1 win, 1 loss, and 2 losses, and things were starting to look a bit confusing for Alberto Gamero and the fans. Gamero felt that the next match, however, would be a great chance to recuperate some momentum, against the other relegated giant, América de Cali but indeed, it was perhaps the low point of the season. After leading 2-1 very late in the game (a hard-earned score, in a very passionate and intense match full of bookings and dramatic moments), Millonarios' Keeper JC Henao would commit a very uncharacteristic error, throwing the ball directly to a forward and conceding a late equalizer, once again. After earning a valuable victory against our rivals in the first half of the season, a careless defensive mistake gave away valuable points. Was this the start of a worrisome pattern?



Manager Alberto Gamero knew that he had to make some adjustments. Feeling the effcts of a long and mostly successful season, Gamero sensed that some of his top 4 veterans were a bit tired and burned out. He decided to rotate his squad, depending more on fresh legs and form and giving some of his veterans a rest. In this stretch of the season, newly arrived Ayron del Valle (giving the team goalscoring opportuntities on the wing, as well as speed) and David Macalister Silva (who is flourishing as a role of a natural leader and center midfielder), both played an important role, as Millonarios went on an important 3 match winning streak: A 1-2 vs Real Santander, an 0-1 victory against Rionegro (a very tough, cagey victory in which Rionegro threw at Millonarios the entire strength of their youth squad, and which Millos won with more mettle and grit than talent), and a more comfortable 2-0 victory at home vs U. Autónoma del Caribe rounded out the impressive 3 game winning streak. This match was followed by a disappointing albeit valuable 1-1 draw as visitors vs Jaguares de Cordoba. As a consequence of these results, Millonarios had re-taken the lead in the tournament, and were once again the pace-makers and in rhythm to earn promotion.

After the draw vs Jaguares, Millonarios went back home, but was once again suprised by Universitario de Popayán, a 2-3 loss against a difficult team. Even if talent-wise we were a step above them, they were able to exploit some gross defensive errors, as the centre backs left spaces which they should've defintely covered. This match was quite disappointing, because Millonarios had led 2-1 at one point and conceded 2 goals in the last 25 minutes of the match due to these defensive mistakes. Gamero knew thatthe team would have to focus in the latter stretch of the season.



And focus we did! What occurred next was amazing: Millonarios, seemingly out of nowhere and faced with yet another setback, went on a 5 game winning streak! A 2-3 victory against Bogotá FC (even though not our crosstown rivals, Bogota FC wanted had something to prove after the 7-1 thrashing against us in the first leg of the season, our most lopsided victory in quite a while). This was followed by a 2-1 victory against Cartagena in our stadium, a 2-3 victory against Expreso Rojo, and Millonarios was back on a roll, with our veteran leaders (the quartet of Candelo, Henao, Robayo, and Rentería), playing every match and back to leading the team. More importantly a win next match against Depor FC, combined with some other results, could clinch promotion for us, and this is exactly what happened. A 2-0 victory at home against Depor was met with celebrations, in front of a packed house, as our win, coupled with results around the league, ensured promotion with 3 matches to go. Even though the stadium was full (which had not always been the case during our campaign in second division), and the fans were loud and celebratory with chants and songs, some observers felt that the mood was more of released tension than celebration. We were definitely glad to return to First Division, but it was more a matter of relief, as befitting of our history.

With promotion ensured, the next three matches only decided the symbolic first place in second division, and after a 2-0 victory against Fortaleza and a 1-0 loss against Valledupar, Millonarios was able to capture first place in the last match of the season (and hopefully our last match in second division in our storied legacy), an 0-2 away win against Atlético Bucaramanga. Even though the second division trophy was ours, with Candelo winning player of the tournament and Rentería winning top goalscorer as well, it was not befitting to celebrate this much, as our true titles, the ones that matter, come in Colombian First Division, and our quest for eternal INTERNATIONAL GLORY. But this is a good first step.

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Team Captain Mayer Candelo: "Yes, I suppose we were not in a celebratory mood even though we were quite happy and relieved. This relegation was, without a doubt, the darkest era in Millonarios' history, and we're glad that we earned promotion under the leadership of manager Gamero. But you won't see us lift a second division trophy. With all due respect to this league and their players, and the very tough opponents we had to face, which gave their heart and their souls to their respective teams, we are Millonarios FC. We are the most historic team in Colombia and our dreams are bigger. Now that we are back where we belong, we have to go back to our roots, our identity and give our fans and this institution their deserved spot. Our goal is to win the First Division Championship and go back to the Copa Libertadores de América, La Gloria Eterna. Our Rightful Place In History."

Stay tuned to the next edition of Millossobek's Master League Stories.
Comments are welcome!
​

 

[caballofoca]

good job Millonarios bro, what an exciting campaign! Well deserved! From an Alianza Lima Fan 😁

 

[mattmid]

Congratulations! Are they now ready to take on and beat Atletico Nacional though in the coming season?

 

[Holland]

Fantastic season bro ..................... now the consecration in the Olympus of the great !!!

 

[millossobek]

Hi my friends!

I've decided for now to conclude my current Millonarios PES 2013 campaign, and move on to a different ML story!

The reason for this is actually quite simple: Even though I enjoyed my promotion campaign to First Division, I am ready to try a different PES edition.

I feel like I achieved my goal of promoting Millos, even though this never happened in "real life", it was fun to play against 2nd division teams. I might come back to this story in the future, and see what happens in the following season, but for now, I would like a change to a different version of PES.

I'm thinking several options for ML, from PES 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 15, 17, all the way to PES 2021. I might even try a Winning Eleven. Once I've chosen a game, and a team, I'll definitely let you guys know!

Thanks a lot for following my stories, I will be back very soon with a new Master League campaign!

 

[jetroo]

Hi my friends!

I've decided for now to conclude my current Millonarios PES 2013 campaign, and move on to a different ML story!

The reason for this is actually quite simple: Even though I enjoyed my promotion campaign to First Division, I am ready to try a different PES edition.

I feel like I achieved my goal of promoting Millos, even though this never happened in "real life", it was fun to play against 2nd division teams. I might come back to this story in the future, and see what happens in the following season, but for now, I would like a change to a different version of PES.

I'm thinking several options for ML, from PES 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 15, 17, all the way to PES 2021. I might even try a Winning Eleven. Once I've chosen a game, and a team, I'll definitely let you guys know!

Thanks a lot for following my stories, I will be back very soon with a new Master League campaign!

Good luck with the new adventure bro! 👍

 

[millossobek]

Hi bros!

I'll probably take a little while deciding on my next ML story, since this week will be full of work and other stuff, but in the meantime..

Just to keep the thread alive while I decide on the new adventure, here is my youtube channel, where I've posted a few of the most historic goals from my Gunma United story with Comizzo!

Note: these are just short clips of goals, as I intend to keep going with my written approach to my Master Leagues!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMmgLDpxypnKN3L34gmZjTg/videos

I'll be back soon!

 

[*aLe]

I'm a little too late to the party I guess.
Gotta read this as soon as I have enough time to concentrate on it properly. 🙁

 

[The Moroccan]

I'm also a little too late, but I had the time to read all the story. Although it is a challenge to play against second division teams, I am absolutely not buying the fact that Millos would (somehow and someday) relegate to Serie B haha. But I see your point. So clever!!
However, I enjoyed reading the journey. I liked the Quartet because wherever you go there are loyal players who would do anything for the colors of their jersey. Wason was on fire although I always confused him with Hugo Rodallega haha.
So happy to see Millos back amongst the top teams. I which next time they would win the league title (in PES and in real life of course).

Note: I have added Millos to my list of overseas teams to support 💙

 

[millossobek]

Cup Story #1: Reliving the 2006 World Cup with: SOUTH KOREA!

Stay Tuned....

​

 

[millossobek]

Cup Story #1: SOMETHING TO PROVE!
Can South Korea Repeat Their 2002 World Cup Performance In European Soil?

​

After South Korea reached the World Cup Semifinals in the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, in their home soil, the entire nation celebrated. After finishing first in their tough group (against USA, Portugal and Poland), dramatic victories against Spain in the Round of 16, and Ahn-Jung Hwan's Golden Goal in the Quarterfinals against Italy, The Land of the Morning Calm became anything but calm, the whole country exploded with joy and celebration, as South Korea became, almost overnight, a football-mad nation! Hundreds of thousands of people could be seen crying and jumping in happiness and incredulousness, as they could not believe what their fellow countrymen had achieved, bringing a small and unknown team, with no world-famous stars, into the best 4 in the world. A country that was previously known for other disciplines such as Taekwondo and Baseball, were suddenly a footballing nation, as everyone rallied and felt proud of the historical achievement of the "Taeguk Warriors".

​

Yet most of the Footballing World was not convinced. Even though the joy in Korea was unsurpassed, most of the rest of the world was skeptical that South Korea's run to the semifinals was legitimate. There was questionable refereeing in Spain's round of 16 match, with many dubious calls including 2 disallowed Spanish goals which were legitimate (an own goal by Kim Tae-Yong, and a goal by Morientes). Refereeing was also highly polemic in the quarterfinals against Italy, in which star Francesco Totti was harshly sent off in the 26th minute, a goal was by Tomassi was controversially disallowed, and other fouls by the Korean side against Zambrotta and Del Piero were not called. All of this, given the fact that it occured in home soil, put the Korean's World Cup run in serious doubt by the media and footballing fans alike. Even those who did not question the refereeing, also called Korea's run a fluke, a feat that could not be repeated outside of Asian soil.

​

4 years have passed since then, and Germany has been awarded the 2006 World Cup. Most of the usual suspects are there, defending Champions Brazil are present, with an aging but still dangerous Ronaldo, and also Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Kaka, and others in the absolute prime of their careers. France with world renowned star Zinedine Zidane playing in what many believe will be his last World Cup and Arsenal superstar Thierry Henry. Argentina with a star studded squad including Juan Román Riquelme, Hernan Crespo, Carlos Tevez, and a young star called Lionel Messi. Italy with legends Buffon, Totti, Del Piero, and Cannavaro are there to win their first Cup in 24 years.. Of course Germany with their Captain Michael Ballack, Miroslav Klose.. This World Cup is teeming with Superstars. But there's also a side story, which not many people are focusing on: South Korea has qualified to the World Stage, and the Footballing World watches with skepticism.. Will the Koreans be able to prove that their 2002 World Cup Run was no fix, no fluke? Or will they bow out as most expect and join the ranks of the expected Asian nations which historically are very much below the level of their European and South American counterparts? Nobody expects the Koreans to repeat their 2002 performance, but the Korean side is eager to prove to the world that they have become a footballing nation, and that they can perform well in foreign soil, with no questionable refereeing or hometown calls, and playing football with Passion, Discipline, Heart and Desire!

And so the 2006 World Cup is here. Captain Park Ji-Sung, from Manchester United, commands a national side which is hungry, has most of the footballing pundits against them, and want nothing more than to redeem themselves in the eyes of the World, in the biggest possible stage, against the best possible rivals. After the 2002 World Cup run, former Dutch manager and Korean folk hero Guus Hiddink left to coach his hometown team PSV Eindhoven, and is now managing Australia in the 2006 WC. Star forward Ahn Jung Hwan (who scored the golden goal) was not renovated at Perugia following the controversy, and is now playing at Germany 2nd Division MSV Duisburg. The team has a chip on their shoulder, and now is the perfect time to shine and show their true quality! Thousands of Korean fans have made the trip to Germany, and now the time has come.

The World Cup groups are set: (with a brand new draw)

Group A: Germany, Netherlands, Tunisia, Costa Rica.
Group B: Mexico, Paraguay, Czech Republic, Serbia and Montenegro.
Group C: France, Ecuador, Poland, Trinidad and Tobago.
Group D: Spain, Ivory Coast, Portugal, Saudi Arabia.
Group E: Brazil, Sweden, USA, Australia.
Group F: England, Croatia, South Korea, Angola.
Group G: Italy, Ukraine, Japan, Togo.
Group H: Argentina, Ghana, Switzerland, Iran.

This is where our story begins!!

Stay tuned to the next edition of Millossobek's World Cup Stories.
Comments are welcome! ​

 

[millossobek]

GROUP PREVIEWS!
SOUTH KOREA lands in a tough, interesting group full of Personality!


​

December 9, 2005. The Footballing World awaits expectant for the most important group draw, the World Cup 2006 Group Draw! The entire footballing media has their entire attention veered towards the Draw, as the groups start suspensefully to take shape! After the draw has been completed, and the groups are made, journalists, coaches, players, and fans alike start drawing their own conclusions! Here is a quick summary of the groups..

Group A: Germany, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Tunisia:
Germany is stoked to be hosting the World Cup, and is eager to show the world their organizational skills as hosts. They are one of the favorites to win it all, as they will be passionately backed up by their crowd, and has a World Class captain in Michael Ballack. The Netherlands also boasts a strong squad, they are dubbed perhaps the best team never to have won a World Cup. With established stars like Van Persie and Van Nistelrooy, and young emerging stars like Robben and Sneijder, the Netherlands are poised to take the second qualifying spot. But don't count out Costa Rica, as they have a great goalscorer in Paulo Wanchope and a small but passionate fanbase. Many pundits aren't picking Tunisia to advance in this group, but they could play spoilers, or why not, even perform a miracle.

Group B: Mexico, Czech Republic, Paraguay, Serbia and Montenegro:
Mexico find themselves in an unusual position of being the top seed of the group, but they boast a strong, well balanced squad, composed almost entirely of players who play in the local league, and which can give any top team trouble. The Czechs have one of the world's leading goalkeepers, Petr Cech, and many established stars like Pavel Nedved who play in some of Europe´s top teams. Paraguay is always tough, a physical and scrappy team which emerged from a tough South American qualifying campaign and could very well advance to the second round, and Serbia and Montenegro, who finished ahead of Spain in World Cup qualifying, could very well be the darkhorse of the group. A well balanced group.

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Group C: France, Ecuador, Poland, Trinidad and Tobago:
The French are on a Mission. After a dismal 2002 World Cup which saw them eliminated in the first round after their 1998 historic title, France feels like they have something to prove. With Zidane, Henry, Makelele, Vieira, and their multicultural band, they are eager to win it all and prove that 2002 was a fluke. Ecuador was one of the surprise stories in qualifying, finishing ahead of Paraguay and leaving more heralded teams such as Uruguay and Colombia out of the cup. Poland feels like they have much to prove, after failing to reach Euro 2004, they feel like this could be their chance at redemption. And tiny Trinidad and Tobago, in their surprising first World Cup, this caribbean nation is just happy to be here, will be playing with joy.

Group D: Spain, Portugal, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia:
Spain is another great team who has never won the Cup, and the Spaniards hope that 2006 could be the year that breaks the spell. They have a powerhouse team, full of young promise (Xavi, Fernando Torres, Casillas, Iniesta, Sergio Ramos), and are one of the favorites. "La Furia" feels like this could be their year. Portugal, captained by their eternal star Luis Figo, and also boasting veteran Pauleta, has a 21 year old precocious star in Cristiano Ronaldo who is eager to prove himself in the national level. Ivory Coast's qualification has had great repercussions, helping end a civil war, and is perhaps one of the feel-good stories of the cup, led by charismatic Chelsea superstar Didier Drogba. Can the Saudis emerge from their perennial role as World Cup weaker teams and prove they are really "The Arabian Brazilians?" We shall see!

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Group E: Brazil, Sweden, USA, Australia:
Brazil fields one of their best squads ever, with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Adriano and Robinho. They are one of the clear favorites to win the Cup as back to back champions, the ambassadors of Jogo Bonito. Sweden, with a mix of veteran leadership, historic Henrik Larsson, grit and skill Ljunberg from Arsenal, and young promise, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the brash and incredibly charismatic young star who is eager to prove himself on the world stage, are also favorites to advance. But the United States is also coming from a strong showing in World Cup 2002, where they beat Mexico and historically reached the quarters, and will be looking to repeat their feat. Australia, in their first World Cup since 1974, also has hopes to do well with many of their players also playing in European leagues, the "socceroos" cannot be counted out.

Group G: Italy, Ukraine, Japan, Togo:
Captained by Fabio Cannavaro, the Italians are also eager to have a great World Cup after not winning it since 1982. Under coach Marcelo Lippi, Italy has to be considered one of the powerhouses and favorites to win it all, with their famous defensive skill. Even though the Ukraine has never reached a World Cup, they have true star power in Andriy Shevchenko and have to be considered the second favorites to pass to the second round. However, don't count out the disciplined and always colorful Japan, led by perennial star Hidetoshi Nakata and talented midfielder Shinji Ono, Japan reached the round of 16 in the 2002 World Cup and will be a tough opponent. Togo, another first time qualifier, lacks World Cup experience but will surely attempt to make it up with joyful football.

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Group H: Argentina, Ghana, Switzerland, Iran:
The Argentines have to be considered one of the favorites to win it all. Like France, they also had a dismal performance in the 2002 Cup, being eliminated in the group of death. But now they have an incredibly talented team, with Riquelme, Crespo, Maxi Rodriguez, and young stars Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi. They must be considered the favorites in the group. Ghana has a very talented squad, perhaps their best ever, captained by Stephen Appiah from Fenerbahce, and also boasting one of Africa's best young talents in Asamoah Gyan. Switzerland, even though they are lacking in big names, plays consistent, disciplined football and will be very tough to crack. Iran is a surprise qualified squad and could definitely rely on their passionate fanbase for support.

and finally

GROUP F: ENGLAND, CROATIA, SOUTH KOREA, ANGOLA:

- England is another one of the true favorites to not only win the group, but win the cup. Many pundits and observers have called this the best English side ever, and truly, they are loaded: Gerrard, Terry, Lampard, Ferdinand, Owen, Beckham, Campbell, Rooney.. On paper the English are arguably the second strongest team in the cup after Brazil. After 40 years, will this be the year in which it's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming, Football's coming home?

- The Croatians. Captained by Hertha BSC's Kovac, the checkered ones have proven to be one of the most exciting sides in the World Cup in their young history as a nation. Also awaiting in the shadows, a relative unknown from Dynamo Zagreb, but clearly a future star, a young boy who survived war in order and one of the most exciting and mercurial talents in the world, Luka Modric!

- South Korea: Will the Taeguk Warriors prevail and show an incredibly passionate fanbase and the footballing world what they are made of??
https://evoweb.uk/threads/millossobeks-master-league-written-stories.88367/page-5#post-3798783

- Angola: The Angolans have also qualified for the first time, but they have a strong and skilled team. Like most African sides, they play with a lot of joy, were solid in qualfying, and even if they don't have World Cup experience, a lot of pundits are commenting that this side is stronger than what their relative unknown footballing name shows!

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Get Ready for World Cup Drama, Excitement. The Whole World is Watching! Will SOUTH KOREA be able to prevail in their tough, colorful group??

Stay tuned!!!!!!

Stay tuned to the next edition of Millossobek's World Cup Stories.
Comments are welcome! ​

 

[mattmid]

After 40 years, will this be the year in which it's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming, Football's coming home?

No, I guarantee the wheels will come off at some point

 

[The Moroccan]

I don't want to sound early, but I put my bet on England. Will it come home? We shall see
Come on England!

 

[mattmid]

I don't want to sound early, but I put my bet on England. Will it come home? We shall see
Come on England!

It's the hope that kills you

 

[millossobek]

KOREA FIGHTING!
In a close finish, South Korea qualifies second in Group F!!



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In a tough, difficult group, South Korea pulled off the qualification! Matched up against powerhouses and World Cup candidates England, Talented and young Croatia, and EnigmaticAngola, the Taeguk Warriors had their work cut out for them. Most experts predicted England and Croatia to advance to second round, on the sheer strength of their stars- However, the Koreans were able to pull it off in 3 very contested matches!

The first match was against the mysterious and enigmatic Angola. Even though they don't boast many stars, the opening match for Korea was interesting in the sense that they were facing a virtual unknown. As previously mentioned, some observers saw Angola as a stronger team than what it looked like on paper, and they sure played that way, going out with no fear and matching up well against their Asian counterparts!



After a cagey start of the match, in which chances were a bit difficult to come by, and Angola was playing physically and with tough defense, South Korea's offense started to wake up, as the combination of Park Ji Sung-Ahn Jung Hwan, and Park Chu Young started to make good midfield/forward combinations! Finally, at minute 29, South Korea was able to capitalize with captain Park Ji-Sung's goal! South Korea 1, Angola 0! The rest of the match was much of the same, even though Angola had a few clear chances at the end, especially in the 85th minute, where the South Korean keeper was able to keep out a one on one chance by the Angolan striker! This proved to be game saving, and the final score gave the victory to Korea! Perhaps not the most convincing of victories, but 3 valuable points nonetheless!

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The second match was against mercurial, talented Croatia. Capable of bowing out in the first round, but also of advancing to latter stages, Croatia boasts a talented squad. This match was much fought, and from the first whistle, South Korea could sense that Croatia had higher quality than Angola. They were aggressive, cutting through offensive space, and using a lot of through passes to create scoring opportunities! The first goal was by Klasnick, a rebound goal after a very hard Croatian shot which hit the bar! This goal came at minute 32 of the first half, after Croatia had had many more opportunities than Korea. The Koreans were on the ropes starting the second half, but their offense started opening up. Even though the Croatians kept pressuring, the fast and tenacious Koreans would not give up, and started playing well and regaining possession!



And an equalizer finally came, in minute 61! After playing beautiful possession football, Captain Park Ji-Sung worked the ball into the box, and Lee Eul Yong clinically equalized, taking advantage of a mistake by the Croatian defender as Lee outmuscled the defense! Croatia 1, South Korea 1! A well deserved result. South Korea was a different team in the second half. Perhaps sensing that the Croatians were rationing their energy and playing a bit more defensive, the Koreans started to pressure more and the fastbreak counters paid off in the result. Luka Modric played a brilliant game controlling the midfield and the possession but despite the Croatians best try to score a game-winning goal, South Korea stood firm and salvaged the incredibly valuable point!

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Facing their last match against powerhouse England, the standings looked like this:
England led the group with 6 points, South Korea second with 4, Croatia had 1 point, and Angola 0.. The Koreans also had an advantage of goal difference against the Croatians. The fate of the group would hinge on this last match. Korea still had a chance of winning the group if they could somehow pull of the historic upset against England. A draw would see South Korea through as well, but a loss could leave our Warriors out of the World Cup, If Croatia were to beat Angola!

However, even if the particular circumstances of the group seemed to favor South Korea, they could not afford to get careless! England is the strongest team in the group, and even if they had qualification assured, it was clear that England wanted to win the group, and would not be content conceding the points and the lead! And so with the entire band, England came out to win. However, the "Taeguk Warriors", surprisingly, played them man to man, and were more than holding their own against the English! Most surprisingly, even though the Koreans did not have many chances to start the match, they weren't conceding many either..



And then, in minute 18, a completely unexpected goal by South Korea! Seemingly out of nowhere, coming from a throw in, Park Ji Sung with the perfect cross and Chung Kyong Ho with the header! Goal!!!!!!!! South Korea leads England 1-0 and is temporarily, the leader of group F!! In this amazing turn of events, now the Koreans were leading, and perhaps even more surprisingly, they were containing England! However just before the first half ended, Beckham scored with a screamer of a Free Kick, in one of his classic FK's like in Real Madrid, there was nothing the Korean keeper could do and England would equalize 1-1! The second half was full of drama. The Croatians were beating Angola (adding 4 points), and Korea now were forced to salvage the draw in order to qualify, or else things could get really interesting with the Goal Difference! England started pressuring, but fortunately the Korean Goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae and the Korean defense, after some very nervy moments in the second half (denying Michael Owen in the box!!!!!!), were able to pull off the draw. South Korea qualifies to the Knockout Phase of the World Cup, and proving that they're for real!!!!!





South Korea has already proven that they could be successful in the World Stage in European soil, now the time has come to take that dream even one step further.. Captain Park Ji Sung, in his press conference, said the following!

"To be able to qualify to the second round is a great honor for us as a team, our manager, and the whole nation of Korea. As a team, we are aware that many in the footballing world feel like our run 4 years ago was a fluke, or that unfair refereeing played a role in us advancing, and we can understand their skepticism and frustration. However, now playing here in Germany, we are determined to show that we are for real, and that no matter how much some might have doubted us, we always believed in ourselves. There is no greater honor than representing our country, and to be able to do it here, in the World Stage, with no controversies, and with our team spirit intact, is the greatest feeling in the World. We look forward to keep representing South Korea in the biggest stage of them all.. Even if we might not be the most talented or the most recognized, I believe we showed our mettle and fighting spirit against 3 very tough opponents, and hopefully we will be able to continue with inspiration and a collective mentality.. Fighting!!

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Guess who's next in the Knockout Stage?? Stay tuned to the next edition to find out!!!!!!

Stay tuned to the next edition of Millossobek's World Cup Stories.
Comments are welcome!
​

 

[Holland]

The start is promising mate, qualifying behind England is an excellent result ............. let's see who you will face in the direct elimination, I'm curious

 

[*aLe]

Can South Korea Repeat Their 2002 World Cup Performance In European Soil?​

It depends on how much money they've got left to spend, I guess. 😒

Jokes apart, great performance and glad you managed to get through to the knockout stage. Will be waiting to see who you find next, provided that if it's Italy... I hope they give you a good and deserved beating after what you did to them in 2002.

 

[caballofoca]

Bacan brouu que estés jugando el Mundial Panzer, chévere. Vamos Corea, puro Sopa Red Power!

 

[mattmid]

I'm going to guess it's Brazil next in the knockout stages.

 

[The Moroccan]

Great performance, I knew you would notice Angola's physical mentality because this is how they "used to" play back then. They were nightmares in the 00's. Nonetheless, Robert Kovac was punished due to his mistake in the box and what a clinical finish by Lee Eul Yong, these are the chances you never miss even if you are one-legged. And the fact that they were able to contain England was a surprise to me, and I don't know what was behind Beckham scoring a free kick, maybe he's going through tough times with Victoria, I guess we'll never know....
Anyway, maybe these are early signs of what Koreans are capable of doing against other opponents.

I think I have guessed who's the next opponents. Good luck!

 

[slamsoze]

Great performance, I knew you would notice Angola's physical mentality because this is how they "used to" play back then. They were nightmares in the 00's. Nonetheless, Robert Kovac was punished due to his mistake in the box and what a clinical finish by Lee Eul Yong, these are the chances you never miss even if you are one-legged. And the fact that they were able to contain England was a surprise to me, and I don't know what was behind Beckham scoring a free kick, maybe he's going through tough times with Victoria, I guess we'll never know....
Anyway, maybe these are early signs of what Koreans are capable of doing against other opponents.

I think I have guessed who's the next opponents. Good luck!

One guy from Greece would say, Robert Kovac had placed a bet, "both teams to score"!

 

[The Moroccan]

One guy from Greece would say, Robert Kovac had placed a bet, "both teams to score"!

In a World Cup? No, he might have been bribed

 

[millossobek]

BRAZILIAN BLUES!
In a Hard Fought, Surprising Match, Brazil's Jogo Bonito Eliminates South Korea!

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The second round featured a lot of compelling matchups.. Germany against Serbia and Montenegro, France vs Portugal, Italy vs Switzerland, Argentina vs Japan (in another South America vs Asia matchup), England vs Sweden, Spain vs Ecuador, and the Czech Republic vs Netherlands! One of the many anticipated matchups were defending Champions Brazil vs South Korea! Brazil had breezed through their group, winning all 3 of the matches against Sweden, Australia, and the United States, and was in fine form and looking to repeat their 2002 performance, with their team full of stars. On the other hand, South Korea had a tough group, and was able to pass through in very hard-fought fashion, barely beating Angola, drawing against Croatia, and drawing against group leaders England! The last match of the group stage for the South Koreans was especially nerve-wracking, as England equalized and, given that Croatia were beating Angola (and ended up winning the match), the Koreans had to stave off elimination by playing tough defense at the end of the match and earning the second place finish by only 1 point! The stage was set, and so it was, Brazil vs South Korea!

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Despite South Korea's good run of form and surprising draw against England, most observers felt that Brazil would have an easy time against the Koreans. The Brazilians were looking dominant, and the difference in class and skill between the two teams meant that, in the eyes of most observers, this would be an easy match for the South American power. However, what ended up happening in the first half was nowhere short of surprising! Brazil came out lethargic, and were not playing their usual offensive carnival game.. In fact, if anything, South Korea was looking much more aggressive, creating a lot of chances in the first half! A run by Park Ji-Sung, a header by Chun-So Lee, the Koreans were closer to score than the Brazilians! The first half was in fact, dominated offensively by the Koreans! The Brazilian team was perhaps too relaxed. Ronaldinho could be seen laughing and carrying on, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos were kidding around, while South Korea were playing their heart out! Even though the first half ended 0-0, South Korea had twice the shots on goal than Brazil, and you could see this in the attitude of the players and the crowd! This was summarized by the World Cup commentators, which were noting the surprising start!

Commentator: "The Brazilians are lethargic! Someone tell them they are playing a knockout game in the World Cup! Where is the aggressiveness? It almost looks like they are uninterested in the match! South Korea on the other hand, believe they can win the game.... And another shot by South Korea goes wide!! The first half ends 0-0 and if this goes on, this could be embarrassing for the Brazilians!"

The second half started much of the same. South Korea were closing the Brazilians' passing lanes, were intercepting the ball, and going quick on the counter! The minutes rolled on, and South Korea was much closer to scoring than the Brazilians. And another chance by Park Ji-Sung is denied by the Brazilian goalkeeper, and yet another chance by the Koreans! Brazil was coasting, and it could prove fatal for them. However, in one of those twists of fate by the footballing Gods, a Free Kick by Brazil in minute 56.. Roberto Carlos with the cross, and Adriano heads the ball wayward.. Oh but it rebounds in a South Korean defender!!!! It's a goal!!!!!! What at first looked like a sure and easy save by Korean goalkeeper Woon-Jae Lee, is deflected. Oh no!!!! Brazil leads 1-0 and, even though the goal is awarded to Adriano, the deflection by the Korean defender makes it look more like an own goal!!! The Koreans were devastated.. Falling all over the pitch. They had dominated the first 56 minutes of the match, incredibly against the South American giants, only to be down 1-0 because of a deflection..




However, South Korea would not be denied! Captain Park Ji-Sung literally pulls his players from their bootstraps, and tells them. "Come on! We can still do this... Where is our spirit?? Korea Fighting!!!!" Brazil seems to relax even more. They are not playing like champions, amazingly, they are still too relaxed, kind of like a Sunday kick-around match more than the World Cup round of 16! And Korea keeps going, keeps pressing! Only two minutes later, in minute 58, amazing!!!!! Park Ji-Sung equalizes, accelerating past a fledging Ronaldo and Emerson, and scores a tenacious goal right past Dida in the right corner!! South Korea has equalized only two minutes after Brazil has scored!! Brazil 1 South Korea 1.



Commentator: "What a brilliant play by Park Ji-Sung!!! The Manchester United star races through two Brazilians and finds the net in a goal full of grit and heart!! And the Koreans come back!!!! After an unfortunate turn of events which saw them, undeservedly, losing the game to a lethargic and apathetic Brazil, a rebound goal, Korea could've given up.. But perhaps sensing that the Brazilians did not tighten the screws, the Koreans come back and now we are back at square one, they are amazingly, looking to win the game! Could this be the biggest upset in World Cup History??"




However, the match would take one more, decisive turn.. This equalizing goal seemed to finally wake up the Brazilians. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was beside himself, yelling and screaming at his players from the sidelines, and the Brazilians started attacking more and finally showing their quality and skill! But South Korea stayed strong! Brazil started to move the ball around, and started to show off their trademark "Jogo Bonito". The Koreans, however, kept their composure. They still knew that only 1 more goal would give them their biggest win as a nation, no lesser than against the Best Footballing Nation in the History of Football, Pentacampeao Brazil! So South Korea decided to play entirely on the counter, trying to push forward whenever they had the chance! The game kept going back and forth, with both sides creating chances, but with the balance tilting a bit more in favor of the Brazilians, until in minute 86, Emerson eludes several South Korean defenders with a lot of artistry, a perfect cross to Ronaldo who just misses the header, but out of nowhere, a streaking Ze Roberto who finishes the play beautifully! Brazil leads 2-1, and, different from their first goal, this was a classic Brazilian goal, manufactured through Jogo Bonito style.. The Koreans are once again crestfallen but they do not give up!! With only a minute to go in regulation, Park Ji-Sung once again, in a on one play against the keeper,,,, and what a play by Dida, saving the day for the Brazilians!! Final score, Brazil 2-South Korea 1 in a hard fought, surprising match in which the Brazilians were perhaps too relaxed from the start, and South Korea was really close to equalizing at the end, and looked like they could win during most of the match!! A more than respectable showing by the Koreans, they played perhaps the two most talented teams in the world (Brazil and England), and made great games out of both! Even the Koreans weren't able to advance further, any lingering doubts whether they legitimately belong in Football's greatest stage should be erased by now.. As not only the result matters, but also the story and the way the team played throughout the World Cup! Congratulations Brazil, congratulations South Korea, definitely a run to remember!!!!!



Park Ji Sung: "Even though this is a sad day for the team and for all South Korean football fans, I think we can safely say that we can walk out with our heads held high.. We played against two of the best teams in the world, and played them man to man during most of the match. I hope we've earned the respect of not only our fans, and our opponents but also the footballing world at large with this showing, and I hope that we can use this run to further build not only Korean Football, but Asian Football and its future!"

Spoiler: Who Ended Up Winning?

It's coming home it's coming home, it's coming! Football's Coming Home!

Stay tuned to the next edition of Millossobek's World Cup Stories.
Comments are welcome! ​