18/06/2025
June 18: NIGHTMARE DAY FOR ITALIANS AGAINST KOREANS
This day in football history seems to be a day of Nightmare for Italian national team, the Azurri against the Koreans.
In the 1966 world cup in England, North Korea defeated Italy in what was the shock of the tournament, and one of the shocks of world cup tournaments. The 1-0 win was enough to take the Koreans to the quarter final at the expense of the Azurri.
In 2002 world cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, the Azurri was again a victim of the Koreans, but this time, the South. In the round of 16, South Korea defeated Italy 2-1 in a controversial circumstance. The winning goal was an extra time golden goal scored by Ahn Jung-hwan, a Perugia player at the time.
The next day, his contract was cancelled by Perugia Chairman stating, " 'I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian football'.
South Korea went on to defeat Spain in the quarter final, but was defeated by Germany in the semi final and by Turkey in the 3rd place match.
The lesson here is that Italians should do well to avoid Koreans on June 18th.