S. Korean squad pledges renewed efforts for World Cup ticket

INCHEON, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's national football squad vowed renewed efforts to secure a berth in the 2010 World Cup finals as they returned Friday from a regional qualifier that ended in a tie.

South Korea drew 1-1 with Iran on Wednesday and held on to the top ranking in
Group B with eight points. The tie left intact a Middle East "jinx" on the team,
which has not won an away game against Iran for 35 years.
"The athletes did a good job at the away match. It would have been better if we
won the game. But I'm satisfied with the result, obtaining one point," Coach Huh
Jung-moo said at Incheon International Airport upon arrival.
The players have gone back to their clubs and will be summoned again for an April
1 match against North Korea in Seoul. They also face three more matches against
Middle East teams in June.
South Korea seeks their seventh consecutive ticket to the world's biggest
football event. They lead their group, followed by North Korea, Iran, Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The squad drew 1-1 with North Korea in September last year, downed the United
Arab Emirates 4-1 in October and defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 in November.
Each team plays the other twice in the tournament, once home and once away.
In the other regional group, Australia stands at the top in competing against
Japan, Bahrain, Qatar and Uzbekistan.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the World Cup finals in
South Africa next year.
brk@yna.co.kr
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