New Location, But Favorites Are Familiar
Security is heavy, the ball is light, schools here are closed and pubs in England are open early as the world's largest sporting event comes to Asia for the first time.
France will begin its World Cup defense against a former colony, Senegal, here on Friday as soccer's global championship opens its monthlong tournament with 32 teams divided equally between the host countries, South Korea and Japan.
Billions of people are expected to watch the World Cup on television, with 1.5 billion expected to view the final match, on June 30 in Yokohama, Japan. The location of the tournament is new, but the favorites are familiar: France and Argentina, which is hoping that soccer can distract a nation despairing over a financial collapse. So severe is the economic crisis in Argentina that only 30 reporters of an expected Argentine contingent of 400 are here to cover the championship.
Brazil could capture its fifth World Cup if the three R's -- Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and the resuscitated Ronaldo -- can mesh in their attack to create the beautiful game. Italy is always a threat with its strangling defense, and Cameroon's Indomitable Lions are poised to advance farther than any African team that has come before.
A number of teams, however, have been hit by injuries, and many of the top players are tired after long club seasons in Europe. France, trying to become the first team in 40 years to repeat as champion, will be without its hobbled midfielder, Zinedine Zidane, widely considered the best player in the world, for at least Friday's game, and perhaps all three matches in group play.
Fatigue, and the relatively short period that national teams have had to prepare, could lead to a number of early-round upsets, predicted the American coach, Bruce Arena. He does not believe, for instance, that both Argentina and England will emerge from a group that also includes Sweden and Nigeria.
The United States will be the last team to open play, next Wednesday against skillful, and elegant, Portugal. First-round matches will also be played against South Korea on June 10 and Poland on June 14. The Americans will most likely need a draw and a victory to finish at least second in their group and advance to the Round of 16. In any case, the team appears far more capable and cohesive than the distressed side that finished last at the 1998 World Cup in France.
'There is no fear within this team,' the assistant coach Dave Sarachan said. 'They feel they can make some history here.'
The most intriguing question concerning the Americans -- who will start at goalkeeper? -- may have been answered today, when Kasey Keller missed practice with a sore left elbow. He sustained a bruise in a collision Wednesday with defender Carlos Llamosa. X-rays proved negative, team officials said. Michael Kammarman, a team spokesman, said that Keller was feeling significantly better and that 'we don't expect it to be an issue.'
However, Brad Friedel is in top form, having played brilliantly with Blackburn in the English Premier League and in subsequent World Cup tuneups. Arena had said he was considering playing both goalkeepers in the first round, and this latest injury might have made up his mind about who gets to start the opener. Playing Friedel would give Keller extra days to mend his sore elbow and would prevent Friedel from becoming frustrated with a lack of playing time, as he did during last summer's qualifying matches. Arena said he would make a decision Sunday, but would not announce it publicly.
All the goalkeepers in this tournament will have to contend with a lighter ball, manufactured by Adidas, that is designed to produce more speed and spectacular goals. It has already generated much criticism from those who will stand in the nets. The ball, made of gas-filled micro bladders and enhanced cushioning, is said to knuckle and create a difficult trajectory when kicked in the sweet spot.
'Terrible,' Keller called it. A 'ridiculous kiddies' bouncing ball,' is how Italy's Gianluigi Buffon described it.
When the World Cup opens Friday, the South Korean military will be on high alert in an effort to thwart any terrorist attacks at an event that draws the entire world's attention. Antiaircraft missiles will be deployed at the 10 stadiums being used here, along with fighter jets and helicopters, military officials have said. No-flight zones will be enforced during the matches.
Security measures, however, are not expected to dampen the enthusiasm of the spectators, particularly the South Korean fans, who are hoping for advancement after the national team played impressively in recent friendlies against England and France. The most enthusiastic Korean fans are known as the Red Devils and they can be spotted throughout Seoul wearing T-shirts that say 'Be the Reds' and 'Korea Team Fighting.' The South Korean team has never won a game in five previous World Cup appearances, and a victory in any match here is certain to set off jubilant celebrations.
In England, the pubs have been granted early-morning opening privileges so that the World Cup can be enjoyed with a stout pint or two. The British have been consumed for two months with the condition of the team captain, David Beckham, who is recovering from a broken bone in his left foot. He is now expected to play in the opener against Sweden. So engulfed was the country in his recovery, fans were asked to place their healing hands on a photograph of Beckham's foot that appeared on the cover of a tabloid newspaper.
'Thank God it wasn't a groin injury,' mused Terry Venables, the former national team coach.
Just as the tournament is set to open, the rainy season has arrived in this smoggy capital. Asked how his American team was preparing to play in rainy conditions, the curmudgeonly Arena said, 'We take a shower every day.'
SOCCER