FRANCE 98 – Match no. 9: KOREA REPUBLIC – MEXICO (Group E) – Mixed Zone – Statement by Bum Kun CHA, trainer of the Korean team

“The score of 3-1 shows the difference between the two sides. We scored first with HA Seok Ju (17) and then he got sent off. So we had to play with ten against eleven and that’s the main reason for our defeat. We had a lot of injured players before the World Cup and they’re still not really back to full fitness.

I found it hard to accept the referee’s strict decision. Obviously, with one less player, organisation problems arose. I didn’t play Yong Soo CHOI (10) because even though he’s getting fitter he would have had problems organising and keeping up with play. When he plays we play well, but without him it’s very difficult to organise our attack. At 1-0 up, I tried not to push forward too much so we could intercept as many balls as possible in defence. I think Sang Yoon LEE (15) didn’t play his best. I’d like to have seen my players play with more composure, but being one man down meant they were under pressure and weren’t able to realise their attacking potential.

By losing our first match, we’ve put ourselves in an awkward position. The NETHERLANDS are our next opponents and they’re very strong. I’d like to get a draw against them by counter-attacking, and then pull out all the stops against BELGIUM.”