John Duerden

Viewing all posts which authors have tagged ‘John Duerden’. You can also subscribe to this tag's feed.

December 1, 2008

K-League Prayers Answered

1
Just as anxious Korean mothers head to temples to pray for good test results for their children, football chiefs in South Korea have been doing something similar in the hope that the championship play-off final will be between arch-rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings and FC Seoul.

It came true on a chilly Sunday afternoon as FC Seoul defeated Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I 4-2 in the penultimate round to set up the 'dream final'. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 12:46 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: FC Seoul, John Duerden, Jung Jo-gook, Senol Gunes, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Tournaments, k-league

November 20, 2008

Korea Break Saudi Jinx In Style

2
It wasn't the prettiest and it wasn't without controversy but South Korea's 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in qualification for the 2010 World Cup in Riyadh was one of the team's best results in years and a seventh successive appearance at the World Cup looks a good deal closer.

It had been 19 long years since the Taeguk Warriors last defeated the Sons of the Desert in a competitive match but late goals from Lee Keun-ho, his fifth in three games for the national team, and Park Chu-young in the early hours of Thursday morning Korean Time, gave the visitors the three points. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 03:07 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Huh Jung-moo, John Duerden, Lee Keun-ho, Lee Young-pyo, Naif Hazizi, Nasser Al Johar, Park Chu-young, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Tournaments

November 17, 2008

Koreans Looking To Break Sad Saudi Streak

1
Football eyes have been fixed on the K-league in recent weeks but Wednesday's 2010 World Cup qualifier in Saudi Arabia has been casting a large shadow over the domestic scene for weeks. Wednesday's game in Riyadh is the first big test in South Korea's bid to qualify for South Africa.

Until now, the obstacles on that road have been provided by the likes of Turkmenistan, Jordan, North Korea and UAE. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 02:03 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: John Duerden, Ki Sung-yung, Lee Young-pyo, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Tournaments, park ji-sung

November 10, 2008

And Then There Were Six

3
The regular season of the K-League has come to an end; now six teams are standing and dusting themselves down in preparation for the championship play-off series.

Despite a mid-season dip that threatened to go the way of Seoul's KOSPI index and head into a plunge, Suwon Samsung Bluewings bounced back to finish in first – just. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 06:16 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Cha Bum-keun, FC Seoul, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, John Duerden, Pohang Steelers, Senol Gunes, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Tournaments, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i

November 4, 2008

One Lee Returns For Korea After Ban

0
It was a year ago when the news started to break. Reporters from Korean internet company Newsis traveled to Jakarta to visit a ‘room salon' and chat with the female staff. The story soon unfolded of how, during the 2007 Asian Cup held that July, four South Korean national team players visited the establishment on two occasions and drank until dawn - once before a vital game against Bahrain and then once after, following the shock 2-1 defeat. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 09:26 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Huh Jung-moo, John Duerden, Kim Sang-sik, Lee Dong-guk, Lee Keun-ho, Lee Woon-jae, South Korea, Tournaments, Woo Sung-young

October 28, 2008

One Rival Down, One To Go For FC Seoul

3
With winter on the horizon, the big games are coming thick and fast as the end of the regular K-League season also comes into view. It is a time when some teams are going all out in an attempt to grab what is on offer while others are more concerned with protecting what they have.

For the first time since April 2007, FC Seoul is the team with the most. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 02:37 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Cha Bum-keun, FC Seoul, John Duerden, Lee Chung-yung, Senol Gunes, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Tournaments, k-league

October 18, 2008

A Turning Point Or Just An Easy Game?

5
There was a moment during Wednesday's World Cup qualification match between South Korea and UAE in Seoul that may prove to be a turning point in the team's fortunes.

Korea dominated the match at Seoul World Cup Stadium, just like they had numerous times in the past. With 20 minutes of the match remaining, it was 2-0 and really should have been more. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 11:35 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: John Duerden, Ki Sung-yung, Lee Chung-yung, Lee Keun-ho, South Korea, Tournaments, UAE, park ji-sung

October 14, 2008

Korea All Set For UAE

6
A World Cup qualifier against UAE would not usually be a huge game but Wednesday's clash in Seoul promises to be a big, big night for South Korean football.

What should happen in such a situation, and what has usually happened in the past, is that the host enjoys a fairly comfortable victory and takes a step towards what would be a seventh successive World Cup. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 01:12 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: FC Seoul, Huh Jung-moo, John Duerden, Ki Sung-yung, Lee Chung-yung, Lee Keun-ho, South Korea, Tournaments, UAE

September 17, 2008

Suwon Splutter While Seongnam Soar

2
It has been a strange K-League season. The constant stopping and starting has robbed the competition of any momentum. A series of World Cup qualifiers in May and June necessitated a break of a month and by the time play started again in July, the Olympic torch was lit in Beijing and tools were downed once more. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 05:05 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Beijing 2008, John Duerden, Lee Chun-soo, Seo Dong-hyun, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Shin Young-rok, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Tournaments, World Cup Qualifiers, football history, k-league, park sung-hwa

September 13, 2008

Same Again In Shanghai

1
There was no Shanghai Surprise. The only surprise was that some thought it was going to be any different. It could have been worse though, that was the one consolation for the few South Korean fans who, late Wednesday evening, had sat through a typically turgid Korean Derby. 1-1 was the score between the near neighbors in their 2010 World Cup qualification match in China. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 02:54 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Gerrard, Hong Yong-jo, Hongkou Stadium, Huh Jung-moo, John Duerden, Ki Sung-yung, North Korea, South Korea, Tournaments, best player

September 8, 2008

Shanghai Surprise? Not Likely...

1
South Korea restarts its journey on the road to South Africa and the 2010 World Cup tonight in Shanghai. Pyongyang was supposed to be the location but the qualifier against North Korea has been moved to China as the communist authorities in the DPRK capital refused to fly the Taegukki or play the Aegukga. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 06:53 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Abu Dhabi, Hongkou Stadium, Huh Jung-moo, John Duerden, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Tournaments, derbies

September 1, 2008

Park Makes Monaco Move

10
The week before the transfer window closes is always a busy one. This year it slammed shut on the evening of September 1. Clubs had to buy players before then or they are doomed to wait until January before they can add to their rosters. It can be frantic.

That wasn't the case for South Korean players until last week – it had been quiet, too quiet. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 06:30 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: AS Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, English Premier League, FC Seoul, John Duerden, Manchester United, Park Chu-young, Tournaments, UEFA Champions League, Wigan Athletic, dramatic fashion, k-league

August 23, 2008

New Chance For Lee The Phantom Menace

4
Film fans of a certain age will always see the three Star Wars movies made in the seventies and eighties as the definitive trilogy and not the one which kicked off in 1999 with ‘The Phantom Menace.' There can be little debate about that.

Not so about South Korean star Lee Chun-soo who has been more of a phantom than a menace over the past year. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 03:43 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Feyenoord, John Duerden, Lee Chun-soo, South Korea, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Tournaments, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i

August 11, 2008

Italy Outclass Korea In China

6
Park Tae-hwan thrilled South Korea on Sunday with his swimming heroics in Beijing but later the same day, Park Sung-hwa was looking less happy than the teenage sensation.

For the coach of the Olympic soccer team there is not much consolation to be had after a 3-0 defeat against Italy but at least South Korea is faring no worse than hosts China and better than the already-eliminated Japan at the 2008 Beijing Olympics soccer tournament. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 04:23 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: 2008 Beijing Olympics, John Duerden, Park Chu-young, South Korea, Tournaments, park sung-hwa

July 22, 2008

Busy Korean Summer Ahead For Some

3
With the temperatures and humidity levels rising all over the Korean peninsula, the nation's players will be happy that the K-league is taking a five-week break. Recent games have seen most of the 22 on the pitch collapse on the turf in exhaustion as the referee blows his whistle to signal the end. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 04:49 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Beijing Olympics, Busan I'Park, Chunnam Dragons, Daegu FC, Daejeon Citizen, Gyeongnam FC, Jeju United, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, John Duerden, South Korea, Tournaments, hwang sun-hong, strikers

July 16, 2008

Mixed Summer Weather For Korea's Overseas Stars

0
Football is non-stop these days. No sooner did the European club season finish then the European championships started for 16 nations. Now just days after Spain lifted the continental trophy most clubs have started pre-season training and talk in the big leagues is who will go where before the new season gets underway. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 10:35 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Alex Ferguson, Christiano Ronaldo, English Premier League, Feyenoord, John Duerden, Lee Chun-soo, Lee Dong-guk, Lee Young-pyo, Real Madrid, Seol Ki-hyeon, Sir Alex Ferguson, Tournaments, juande ramos, old trafford, park ji-sung, tottenham hotspur

July 10, 2008

Suwon Look Complete At Halfway Stage

2
As the K-League reaches the halfway stage, there is one team that looks like 100% champions, one that is setting the bar higher every week. It is a statistic that improves by the week but has become so familiar that it almost ceases to impress. Suwon Samsung Bluewings have won the last eleven league matches. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 07:50 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Cha Bum-keun, Incheon United, John Duerden, Mato Neretljak, Seo Dong-hyun, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Tournaments, World Cup, croatian, k-league, midfield

June 27, 2008

Korea Ready For Next Stage?

2
Another weekend gone and one more match closer to the 2010 World Cup. June is almost over and a place in the final round of world cup qualification is assured. It is time to take stock of a busy period that has raised a number of questions.
The main issue is how the Taeguk Warriors will fare against stronger opposition when the action resumes in September. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 12:39 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: 2010 World Cup, Goalkeeping, Huh Jung-moo, John Duerden, Jong Tae-se, Lee Woon-jae, North Korea, South Korea, Tournaments, shanghai

June 24, 2008

Friendly But Dull Korean Derby In Seoul

4
North Korean striker Jong Tae-se was battling with a throng of reporters in the bowels of Seoul World Cup Stadium after the 0-0 World Cup qualification draw. He was obviously not enjoying himself. No sooner had he been presented with a bunch of CDs from South Korea's finest bands, he then had to field questions such as "Have you been to Lotte World? Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 09:23 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Hong Yong-jo, John Duerden, Jong Tae-se, Kang Min-soo, Lee Jung-soo, North Korea, Park Chu-young, Red Devils, Seoul World Cup Stadium, South Korea, Tournaments

June 21, 2008

Quick Euro Chat With Dick Advocaat

1
Few people are more qualified to comment of the eagerly-awaited Euro 2008 quarter-final between Holland and Russia than Dick Advocaat.

John Duerden caught up with the former Dutch boss and current coach of Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg.

You were at the Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup –do you miss not being involved? Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 01:54 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Dick Advocaat, Euro 2004, Euro 2008, Greece, Hiddink, Holland, John Duerden, Luca Toni, Netherlands, Tournaments, World Cup, Zenit, boss, midfield, munich, russia

June 18, 2008

Monsoon And North Koreans Hit Seoul

1
The Rainy Season arrived in Seoul on Wednesday, 24 hours before the North Koreans were due to touch down. Skies above the peninsula were more threatening than a Dutch counter-attack.

The ‘Sunshine Policy' of recent South Korean governments in regards to the communist North Korea had its critics who claimed that all the warmth was flowing one-way only. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 02:37 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Huh Jung-moo, John Duerden, Jong Tae-se, Manchester United, North Korea, Seoul World Cup Stadium, South Korea, Tournaments, West Bromich Albion, park ji-sung

June 2, 2008

Sloppy Korea Making Hard Work Of Qualification

2
"I couldn't understand it" said South Korean coach Huh Jung-moo last Saturday night.

He wasn't alone. Around 55,000 people in Seoul World Cup Stadium were also scratching their heads and shouting their disapproval after watching the national team somehow allow Jordan to come back and draw 2-2 in a qualification match for the 2010 World Cup. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 03:51 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Huh Jung-moo, John Duerden, Park Chu-young, Seoul World Cup Stadium, South Korea, Tournaments, jordan, park ji-sung

May 27, 2008

Park Ji-Sung Ready For Jordan

0
The build-up for South Korea's summer series of qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup started the minute Park Ji-sung arrived at Incheon International Airport last Saturday, dressed in the words of some reports, 'like a model' in a pink jacket and white shirt.

All attention had been centered on Park's non-appearance in the UEFA Champions League final on May 21 when his team Manchester United defeated Chelsea. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 04:14 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: FC Seoul, John Duerden, South Korea, Tournaments, World Cup 2010, jordan, park ji-sung

May 15, 2008

Governor Getting Gangwon Into Gear

2
For as long as anyone can remember, Gangwon Province has been a great place to visit. Millions of cars head east from Seoul every summer for the beaches and the mountains; millions more do the same in the winter for the skiing. Autumn isn't bad either when Seorak Mountain comes into its own in a kaleidoscope of color. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 11:56 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Gangwon, John Duerden, Kim Jin-son, Tournaments, k-league

May 13, 2008

Dragons' Fire Is Lukewarm

0
And so it came to pass that South Korean team Chunnam Dragons were playing Melbourne Victory of Australia to preserve their faint hopes of reaching the last eight of the Asian Champions League.



Melbourne had been even worse than the Dragons in the competition but the A-League outfit at least had the excuse that it was their first time. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 02:54 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: AFC Champions League, Chunnam Dragons, John Duerden, Melbourne Victory, Park Hang-seo, Tournaments, k-league

April 28, 2008

Interview: FC Seoul's Kiki Musampa

2
In terms of European football, Kiki Musampa may not have seen all that there is to see, but the dreadlocked Dutchman has treaded the boards in many of the continent's big leagues. Starting out at Amsterdam icons Ajax, just as that team lifted the Champions League trophy in 1995, the attacking midfielder then moved to Bordeaux in 1997, not long before that the club became French champions. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 08:53 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: FC Seoul, John Duerden, Kiki Musampa, Tournaments, k-league

April 21, 2008

Mixed Bag For Korea's Exports To Europe

2
The line between success and failure is a fine one, especially in the English Premier League, generally regarded as the world's top football competition. In the case of South Korean striker Lee Dong-guk, that line was about as wide as a goalpost.

The Lion King moved to Middlesbrough in January 2007. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 08:33 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: John Duerden, Lee Dong-guk, Lee Young-pyo, Seol Ki-hyeon, Tournaments, park ji-sung

April 15, 2008

Interview: China International Li Weifeng

1
Former Chinese captain Li Weifeng has been a well-known figure in Asian football for a number of years. He is soon set to notch over 100 caps for his nation and, as the new Chinese Super League season gets into its stride, is hoping to lead Shanghai Shenhua to a first title since 2003 and China qualify to the 2010 World Cup. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 07:36 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: China, Chinese Super League, John Duerden, Li Weifeng, Shanghai Shenhua, Tournaments

April 14, 2008

Seoul Still Sing Suwon Blues

1
"This is like deja vu all over again", said baseball legend Yogi Berra once upon a time. A quick glance at the top of the current K-league table certainly brings a host of memories flooding back for football fans around the nation.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings are in first place after winning four and drawing one of the five games so far. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 12:19 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Cho Jae-jin, FC Seoul, Incheon United, John Duerden, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Shin Young-rok, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Tournaments

April 10, 2008

Seoul And Suwon Get Ready For The Big One

0
Sunday sees the biggest regular fixture of the season – the meeting between FC Seoul and Suwon Samsung Bluewings – and if any extra spice was needed then the fact that the two teams occupy the top two spots in the K-League is more than enough.

The corresponding 2007 match at Seoul World Cup Stadium, almost exactly a year ago, saw the K-league record attendance smashed as 55,000 people saw the Bluewings win 1-0 – a new record could be set this Sunday. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 12:58 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: FC Seoul, John Duerden, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Tournaments, k-league

April 8, 2008

Shanghai Get Off To Winning Start

1
It was the first game of the season and for Shanghai Shenhua it was a pretty good start. A comfortable 2-0 win against Shenzhen Shangyangin put the 2003 champions on the right track from the off.

With the Chinese Super League expanded to 16 teams in 2008, there are another 29 games remaining for the club. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 03:45 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Hamilton Ricard, Hongkou Stadium, John Duerden, Li Weifeng, Shanghai Shenhua, Tournaments

April 6, 2008

Interview: Shanghai Shenhua Boss Wu Jingui

2
With the Chinese season just kicking off, hopes are high among all the major contenders that this will be their year. This is certainly true of Shanghai Shenhua, one of the powerhouses of football in the Middle Kingdom..

The team ended a turbulent 2007 in fourth place, not a bad achievement for a season that started with a controversial merger with Shanghai United. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 08:35 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Chinese Super League, John Duerden, Shanghai Shenhua, Tournaments, Wu Jingui

March 10, 2008

Interview: Melbourne Victory Manager Ernie Merrick

3


Melbourne Victory take their first ever steps on the Asian stage on March 12 when they host South Korean team Chunnam Dragons.

It is over a year since the team won the A-League but because of timing and deadlines, Melbourne have had to wait until now to make their debut.

Coach Ernie Merrick had time for a quick chat before the Chunnam match. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 09:41 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Chonburi, Chunnam Dragons, Ernie Merrick, Gamba Osaka, John Duerden, Melbourne Victory, Tournaments

March 6, 2008

K-League 2008 Season Preview

2
1. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (last season 2)
Solid Suwon will be there or thereabouts. The defence is not getting any younger but still contains Lee Woon-jae in goal and the inspirational Mato Neretjlak at centre-back. The midfield boasts Lee Kwan-woo and Baek Ji-hoon but no longer South Korea captain Kim Nam-il. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 02:21 PM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: Busan I'Park, FC Seoul, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, John Duerden, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Tournaments, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i, k-league

March 3, 2008

Seoul Boy Becks

3

He came, he saw, he danced and drove his one direct free-kick into the wall. Overall, David Beckham's trip to Seoul with LA Galaxy was a success though not quite a complete triumph.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is, of course, big news in South Korea. However, not enough to fill more than half of Seoul's 65,000 capacity World Cup Stadium when the MLS took on FC Seoul in an exhibition match on March 1. Click to continue reading...
Soccerphile World Cup Blog @ 02:44 AM EST | Blog Profile | Post Detail
Tags: David Beckham, FC Seoul, John Duerden, LA Galaxy, Senol Gunes, Tournaments
 1  2   ›  »