6:30 a.m.
Tuesday, ESPN, Ch. 23
"We are not scared of any team. We feel we can beat anyone if we play
like we did against Italy and Spain." – South Korean sweeper
Hong Myung-bo.
South Korea
How it got here: Beat Poland, 2-0, tied the United States, 1-1,
and beat Portugal, 1-0, to win Group D. Beat Italy, 2-1, in the second
round. Beat Spain on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie in the quarterfinals.
Difference makers: Is it luck or divinity? Coach Guus Hiddink's
spirited squad is unquestionably fit, technically proficient and being
driven by fabulous home support. But it has had more than its share of
good fortune, too. Now it bumps up against Germany, a team with an
additional day of rest. Goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae must be courageous in
cutting out those well-driven German crosses into the penalty area.
Forwards Hwang Sun-hong and Ahn Jung-hwan need to dig up a couple more
important goals.
Top gun: Captain Hong Myung-bo, who scored the winning penalty
kick to send Spain packing, is the veteran sweeper in his team's 3-5-2
lineup. He is playing in his fourth World Cup and looks as composed as
ever.
Germany
How it got here: Beat Saudi Arabia, 8-0, tied Ireland, 1-1, and
beat Cameroon, 2-0, to win Group E. Beat Paraguay, 1-0, in the second
round. Beat the United States, 1-0, in the quarterfinals.
Difference makers: Sebastian Kehl, 22, has expertly marshaled a
back line that has allowed one goal in six games. The team gets a lot
out of Christian Ziege on the left side. Germany still looks a little
methodical and could use more imagination from midfielder Michael
Ballack, who scored the game winner against Team USA. Miroslav Klose has
slowed a bit since early in the tournament but remains a dangerous
striker.
Top gun: Oliver Kahn and Turkey's Rustu Recber have been the best
goalkeepers in the tournament. The unflappable Kahn has it all: size,
smarts, courage, reflexes and strength.
6:30 a.m.
Wednesday, ESPN, Ch. 23
"There's no back-stabbing here. We are all real friends. This time I
can say that we're all friends." – Left back Roberto Carlos on
the current Brazilian squad.
Brazil
How it got here: Beat Turkey, 2-1, beat China, 4-0, and beat
Costa Rica, 5-2, to win Group C. Beat Belgium, 2-0, in the second round.
Beat England, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.
Difference makers: Explosive midfielder Ronaldinho is out because
of a questionable red card against England. Juninho and his expert
passing will have to take up some slack. Goalkeeper Marcos and right
back Cafu lead a defense that looks overly dependent on that marvelous
offense. Ronaldo has five goals to share the tournament lead, and
Roberto Carlos continues to drive attacks from the left.
Top gun: It was just a month ago that popular sentiment said
Rivaldo should not have been picked for Brazil's squad. He has answered
critics throughout the World Cup. His fifth goal of the tournament was a
splendid, curling strike against England. But he'll be marked Wednesday,
for he was the player whose faked injury led to the ejection of a
Turkish player early in the tournament.
Turkey
How it got here: Lost to Brazil, 2-1, tied Costa Rica, 1-1, and
beat China, 3-0, to finish in second place in Group E. Beat Japan, 1-0,
in the second round. Beat Senegal, 1-0, in overtime in the quarterfinals.
Difference makers: The Turks are experts at two-touch soccer.
Defenders Alpay Ozalan and Emre Asik start matters in the back, then
it's trap, pass, trap, pass up the field. The ball will eventually find
Umit Davala on the right or Hasan Sas, who floats between the middle and
the left. And it may go through industrious Yildiray Basturk in the
middle. Hakan Sukur, well-known for his Italian League exploits, looks
unfit and has yet to score in the tournament. He's being upstaged by
unsung Ilhan Mansiz, whose overtime beauty propelled Turkey into the
semifinals.
Top gun: No goalkeeper this side of Germany's Oliver Kahn has
commanded his penalty area like Turkey's strong, athletic and quick
Rustu Recber.
