2006 World Cup information
South Korea won its opening game of the 2006 World Cup against Togo. After the opening 45 minutes, Togo was up 1-0 after a goal from Mohamed Kader. Togo had Jean-Paul Abalo sent off by English referee Graham Poll 10 minutes into the second half as a result of receiving his second yellow card for a trip on Park Ji Sung, and Lee Chun-Soo put away the resulting free-kick to tie the game. South Korea made the most of its one-man advantage and substitute Ahn Jung-Hwan scored the team's second goal with a deflected strike from 20 yards. The final score of the game was 2-1 to South Korea. It was the team's first World Cup finals victory outside Korea.
South Korea's next opponent in the World Cup 2006 was 1998 World Cup winners France on 18 June, in Leipzig. The result was a 1-1 draw. France gained an early lead after 9 minutes, through Thierry Henry, but South Korea earned a late equalizer in the 82nd minute when Park Ji-Sung flicked the ball over French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez and defender William Gallas and into the net.
South Korea's final game in the group phase was against Switzerland on 23 June 2006. South Korea lost 0-2, and did not advance to the Round of 16, arriving third in the group. The game against Switzerland had some controversy, which involved Switzerland's second goal in the 77th minute when the offside flag had been raised prior to it. The referee, Horacio Elizondo, waived the call and allowed the goal because a South Korean player touched the ball therefore canceling out the offside. There were also two controversial hand balls when, both times, Swiss player Patrick Müller touched the ball inside the Swiss penalty area[citation needed].
source:wikipedia
