Materazzi wants to forget the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup “It’s not a pleasant memory, only Ronaldinho”
The 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup is still a bad memory for Italians. They still remember the painful 1-2 loss to South Korea in the round of 16, thanks to a golden goal from Lee Chung-hwan.
With Gianluigi Buffon in goal, a steel three-back of Christian Panucci, Giuliano and Paulo Maldini, and a central midfield of Gianluca Zambrotta and Coco, the Azzurri were able to stifle the South Koreans, but were unable to prevent a theatrical goal from Choi Sung-hwan just before the end of extra time.
Marco Materazzi and Fabio Cannavaro watched from the bench. After the tournament, the players showed their worst behavior by vandalizing the door of their accommodation. Ahn, who played for Perugia, was kicked out of the country, unable to return. 메이저사이트
It’s a long memory, but it’s one that sticks. Materazzi and Cannavaro were joined by Brazilian legend Ronaldinho at a press conference to promote the Legends Match organized by Lashing City Group Korea at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul, on Tuesday.
Materazzi fell on Zinedine Zidane’s head during the 2006 World Cup final against France in Germany when he wrestled him to the ground. Zidane was sent off. Materazzi has a personality.
He said, “(The 2002 World Cup) is not a pleasant memory for me. It will remain a good memory for Ronaldinho,” he laughed. He was referring to Brazil’s victory over Germany and Italy’s elimination. When asked if the outcome would have been different if he had played in the round of 16, he replied, “Of course. It would have been different,” he answered unequivocally.
“He was a very good player,” he said of his former teammate at Perugia. However, he scored a goal against us in the 2002 World Cup and won, so I don’t have a good memory of him,” he says, as if he doesn’t want to recall it.
Of course, it was all for publicity. “It’s for the purpose of promoting soccer, but I also want to show that I’m still alive and well,” he laughed.
Materazzi, who has been following Korean soccer, said, “A lot of Korean players are playing in Europe. It’s good to see them play,” he said, “I remember 21 years ago and they were really good. As the World Cup went on, they got better and better every time.”
Cannavaro played 184 games for Italian giants Inter Milan, the most in his career. Naturally, when asked how he saw Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), who played for Napoli, as a fellow central defender, he cut to the chase, saying, “I’m not from Napoli,” but added, “He showed a high level. He was in Napoli for one year, but what he showed is fantastic. I want to say congratulations to him”.
As for the player who stood out to him the most against South Korea, he correctly said “Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung”. It was the same as Cannavaro or Ronaldinho.