For Korea's second World Cup 2006 match I went to Seoul's World Cup Stadium with Una. We had considered going downtown to City Hall, but it was clear from the scenes on TV that we wouldn't be getting within sight of the stage setup for the night's entertainment, nor would be be near any of the huge TV screens to watch the match.
However, on TV I saw that there were still plenty of seats left at the World Cup Stadium. We set off for a short ride in a taxi and arrived at bit after 1am. Since the universities are out for summer the stadium was packed with a rather young audiece--who else is going to show up for a 4am game on a Monday morning?
Before Korea's match, the Australia vs. Brazil match was being shown on the three enormous installed TV screens. The crowd was quite interested because the Australian team's current coach had led the Korean team to the 2002 World Cup. Further, he promised, and delivered, to defeat the Japanese team for Korea in the Australian team's first 2006 cup match.
I shot this video below at about 2am, still two hours before the Korean game started, yet the fans are already excited.
As 4am approached even more people showed up. Based on a stadium capacity of ~65,000, I'd say that there were atleast 50,000 fans in attendance. We stayed through the first half, but it started to get a bit cool and the sun began to rise, so we left. Not to mention that the Korean team had been behind 1-0 for most of that half which left the fans in the stadium rather quiet as their team played mostly defese.
We set off, luckily found a cab (albeit a "jumbo" cab which ended up costing $10 more to get home, but it was worth it!) and watched the rest of the game on my TV, a TV which looks a helluva lot better from 15ft. away than those TV's on the other side of the stadium. Eventually Korea managed in a goal against the tired French and tied the match at 1-1. Honestly, given the much higher ranking of the French team, a draw match is an amazing success for Korea!
The next game is Saturday at 4am, and that should have a much larger audience given the weekend. I predict a victory, which should be followed by lots of craziness from people who will be drinking from Friday night until 6am Saturday morning.
I just can't imagine anyone getting up in the middle of the night for anything in Canada, except maybe a royal wedding. I have to give you credit though, Max! That's serious dedication it takes to be up all night for the game. Or was it for the photo op?!
It's all about the company you keep. Una insisted that we get together for the game, and since I had Monday free to sleep while she had to work, I couldn't disagree.
Likewise, in 2002 a couple of the guys I was living with were really into watching the cup games. We also had some neighbors who were watching the games too. Since we had the 50" TV everyone came over to our place, including a bunch of friends. We'd party all night long sleep all day, just like Monday!
You're gonna be up for the Saturday game, right?
You have no idea how thrilled I am to see you getting into this. It's easy for you to with an entire nation doing so as well but this is a huge passion of mine and because of you being there and Je Sung Park playing for MUFC I've been following the South Korea team through qualification and into the world cup.
Never ever thought I would see you in something that remotely looks like a Soccer jersey. :)
T
NUTS I SAY! It must have been fun but seriously do you value sleep at all? I'm going to catch the 4am game Saturday because I have the day off...enjoy watching it!
Ugh, Korea lost to the Swiss.