Live Bar April 14 news, the OFFICIAL FIFA platform launched the 2002 World Cup documentary "2002: This is an Asian Odyssey (2002: An Asian Odyssey)", then South Korean coach Hiddink revealed in an interview in the film that before the knockout match in South Korea and Italy, the South Korean president had called and promised that if he won this match, he would exempt players from military service.
In the 2002 World Cup between Japan and South Korea, South Korea defeated Poland, Portugal and drew with the United States, reaching the round of 16 of the World Cup for the first time in history with a record of 2 wins and 1 draw in the group stage.
In the knockout stage, South Korea won consecutive victories over Italy and Spain, and reached the top 4 in history, creating the team's current best record in the World Cup.
The then South Korean coach Hiddink revealed in a documentary interview that the day before the battle against Italy, he received a call from the then South Korean president Kim Dae-jung: "Before the game, I asked the president if he could be exempted from military service if he achieved good results, but he did not get a reply immediately. ”
"But the night before the round of 16, the president called me personally and said, 'If I win tomorrow in the match against Italy, I will be rewarded with exemption from military service'."
'I then thought the team had the news and the players were crying and saying they had to win the game.
During the match, South Korean star Ahn Jung-hwan, who scored the winning goal in extra time, recalled the match: "That goal changed my football life and I am very happy. ”
'Italy had a lot of world-class stars at the time, and to be honest we didn't expect to win, we just knew how to run hard in the game."
An Zhenhuan played for Perugia in Serie A at the time, because of this goal, the player was later expelled from the team, although Perugia club later retracted the decision, but An Zhenhuan refused to return to the team on the grounds of "attacking personality".
In 2002, the South Korean team miraculously reached the final four of the World Cup, and this group of players was also granted special approval by the Korean government for exemption from military service.
(Zoli)