The Wait Is Over: Let the Cup Begin

The 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany starts on June 10 at 1:00 a.m. Korea time, at Munich’s Allianz Arena with the opening match between host nation Germany and Costa Rica. In Group-G, the Korean national team, led by Dick Advocaat, faces Togo on June 13 in Frankfurt.

A total of 32 participating nations will compete within groups A through H; the two top teams from each group will go on to compete in matches that will decide the final 16. The final match will be held in Berlin.

It is expected that 3.2 million will visit the stadiums and watch the 64 games that unfold on the green soccer field. About 300 TV media outlets from 213 countries will air the event, with more than 30 billion watching the games on their TV sets.

While the terrorism and hooliganism remain to be the biggest threat to the event, the games will be held in 12 German cities that include Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Nuremburg, Stuttgart, Kaiserslautern, Frankfurt, Leipzig, and Hanover. Team Korea set its goal on making the final 16 in this World Cup. Advocaat says his team expects to come close to what Guus Hiddink and his squad achieved in 2002.

Won-Hong Lee bluesky@donga.com