First and first… Qatar World Cup pouring unprecedented records : Weekly Donga

Again, the number of cases unfolded. As the Korean national soccer team suffered a 2-3 defeat to Ghana on November 28, the calculations for advancing to the round of 16 became complicated (see table). Portugal defeated Uruguay and Ghana in succession to advance to the round of 16 as first place in Group H, and a fierce showdown between Korea, Uruguay and Ghana is expected for second place in Group H. The match against Portugal begins at 12:00 on the night of December 3rd. Ghana and Uruguay will also play at the same time.

An unprecedented incident occurred in the game against Ghana. Cho Kyu-seong was the first Korean player to score a ‘multi-goal’ in a single game in the World Cup finals. The atmosphere subsided as the first half ended 0-2, but Cho Kyu-sung scored a series of header goals and the atmosphere heated up. The number of Instagram followers of Cho Kyu-sung, which was 20,000 before the World Cup, exceeded 1.63 million as of December 1st.

Cho Kyu-seong’s Instagram followers increased to 1.63 million during the World Cup. [조규성 인스타그램]

Cho Kyu-seong became the first Korean player to score multiple goals in the World Cup finals against Ghana on November 28th. [뉴시스]

Another unique record came out in the game against Ghana. Paulo Bento, coach of the Korean national soccer team, received a red card from referee Anthony Taylor at the end of the game. It was the first Korean coach to leave a World Cup final match. In the game against Ghana, South Korea had a corner kick opportunity at the end of extra time, but referee Taylor blew the final whistle. Bento was ejected by referee Taylor after angry players and coaches protested vigorously. Coach Bento apologized at a press conference the day after the game, saying, “I’m sorry to the players,” and “I showed this kind of scene and appearance because I’m a human being.”

Paulo Bento, coach of the Korean national soccer team (right), received a red card for protesting against referee Anthony Taylor against Ghana on November 28. [뉴스1]

Referee Facundo Teyo against Portugal has a unique history of sending off 10 players in one match. [GETTYIMAGES]

In the game against Portugal, the referee can also be a variable. Facundo Teyo, who participates as a referee against Portugal, is notorious as a ‘red card bomber’. On November 7, he sent off 10 players in the Trofeo de Campeones final of the Argentine professional soccer cup competition when problems arose among the players with a radical ceremony.

The match between Cristiano Ronaldo and Son Heung-min will be held in Portugal. [GETTYIMAGES]

Outside the stadium, a fierce cheering battle unfolded as ever. The main feature observed in this World Cup is that the cheering culture is changing. Unlike the past, when large-scale gatherings such as Gwanghwamun Square were used to cheer, there was an aspect of minimizing group gatherings and holding cheering matches indoors. In the first match against Uruguay, 26,000 citizens cheered on the streets of the Gwanghwamun Plant, but only 2,500 people gathered in the match against Ghana. It is analyzed that the chilly winter weather and the atmosphere of avoiding group cheering due to the Itaewon disaster had an impact. Local governments also encouraged small-scale cheering, such as not setting a group cheering schedule unlike in previous years.

Citizens watched the game with their acquaintances indoors or gathered at the cinema to cheer for the national soccer team. CGV will exclusively broadcast the World Cup matches live in theaters until December 18th. If the Korean national team advances to the round of 16, the live broadcast schedule will be extended.

On November 28, when the Ghana match was held, fewer people than in previous years gathered to cheer on the streets of Gwanghwamun Square. [뉴시스]

Citizens gathered in movie theaters instead of on the streets to support the Korean national soccer team. [CGV 인스타그램]

In this World Cup in Qatar, there were a lot of unusual records. It is one of the first female referees to referee a World Cup final match. The main character is French Stephanie Frappard, who served as the referee for the final group E match.

Qatar, the host country, was disgraced. Despite reaching the final stage as the host country, it was the first time in the World Cup history of 92 years that all host countries were defeated and eliminated from the round of 16. With consecutive losses to Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands, Qatar became the first country to fail to advance to the round of 16. On the other hand, Australia is in a festive mood as it succeeded in advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in 16 years. Australia defeated Tunisia and Denmark at the Qatar World Cup to advance to the round of 16 for the first time as a member of the Asian Football Confederation.

Stephanie Frapar was the first female World Cup referee at the World Cup in Qatar. [스테파니 프라파르 인스타그램]

The Qatar national football team lost to the Netherlands on November 29th, and advances to the round of 16 were frustrated with a total defeat. [GETTYIMAGES]

Matthew Leckie of the Australian national football team scored the winning goal against Denmark on December 1st, making Australia advance to the round of 16 for the first time in Asia at the World Cup in Qatar. [GETTYIMAGES]

Weekly Donga No. 1367 (p6~9)