South Korea and Australia have never been confronted each other in the World Cup finals but always been rivals in the vehement qualifying procedures.
South Korea’s nation team known as ‘Taegeuk Jeonsa’ have a proud qualifying record; meanwhile, the Australia national football team, nicknamed the Socceroos, has represented Australia at the FIFA World Cup on four occasions: in 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014 and the 2018 World Cup.
As co-hosts in 2002, South Korea pulled off some incredible results.
They beat Poland (2-0) and Portugal (1-0) to emerge as Group D champions. Even better was to follow. Facing Italy in the round of 16, they came from behind, thanks to Seol Ki-hyeon’s 88th-minute equaliser and then a Ahn Jung-hwan extra-time winner, to reach the quarter finals.
There they faced Spain and Hong Myung-bo was the hero in the penalty shootout, slotting home the deciding spot kick past Iker Casillas. But their luck ran out in the semifinal against Germany and then the third-place playoff against Turkey. Nothing they did before or have done since has come even remotely close to those feats.
In Australia's first appearance, representing OFC, a team made up entirely of amateurs secured a scoreless draw against Chile, though eventually departed from the 1974 tournament without a goal to show from their inaugural appearance.
Australia made up for lost time at Germany 2006 and qualified for the Round of 16 before narrowly falling to eventual champions Italy.
The German theme continued at South Africa 2010 although this time Australia, now representing the AFC, suffered a 4-0 loss against the European giants in a scoreline which ultimately scuppered their progress.
A ten-man 1–1 draw against Ghana and a 2–1 win against Serbia saw Australia eliminated on goal difference, three goals off the Africans. Australia were to lose all three games in a tough group at Brazil 2014.
