Soccer: Apparent harmony mask for enduring rivalry and pride

MORI - Japan have an added reason for wanting to beat Russia in Yokohama tomorrow night - to avoid being overshadowed by their co-hosts, South Korea.

Japan drew 2-2 with Belgium in their group H opener on Tuesday to earn their first World Cup point, only to have their limelight stolen by South Korea, who beat Poland 2-0 later the same day to create history of their own.

The joint hosts, playing in their sixth cup finals, finally recorded a win at the 15th attempt, sparking incredible scenes in Busan.

Japan exorcised the ghosts of France in 1998, when they lost all three games in their World Cup debut, but they will want to beat group leaders Russia to put the pressure back on South Korea, who play the United States on Monday.

While Japan and South Korea might be co-hosting the first Asian World Cup, the rivalry between the two teams is one of the worst-kept secrets of the tournament.

Japan Football Association officials would never publicly admit as much, but they will be desperate to avoid the nightmare scenario of a first-round exit while South Korea progress to the knockout stage.

Japan coach Philippe Troussier admitted as much on the eve of the Belgium game when asked if he felt extra pressure to do better than South Korea.

"For me personally, no. But I can understand why Japan would feel that way, given the history and the relationship between the two countries," said the Frenchman.

"It is like we are fighting two World Cups, one against the teams in group H and one against South Korea."

Japan's 35-year colonisation of Korea from 1910 to the end of the World War 2 left deep scars on its neighbour that have barely healed in the intervening half-century.

The two countries have gone to pains to present a united front in the build-up to the World Cup, pushing away continuing political differences and agreeing on a number of high-level visits to ensure the finals go smoothly.

"The World Cup is a chance given by God to the two countries. It has strengthened interest between the countries tremendously," said Kim Jong-moon, director of the Korean Cultural Service in Japan.

On the pitch, however, little has changed and Japan know that defeat against Russia, combined with a South Korean win in Taegu, would make it a very blue Monday.

South Korea would almost certainly clinch a place in the second round by beating the United States. Japan would need to beat Tunisia in their final group match next Friday to have any chance of progressing.

In tomorrow night's early game, Mexico can nail a second-round place with a win over Ecuador in Miyagi.

After their 1-0 win over Croatia, courtesy of a Cuauhtemoc Blanco penalty, in their opening match, victory, combined with an Italian win over Croatia, would seal the two qualifiers from group G.

- REUTERS

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