Soccer: Exhilaration in the isolation of Auckland

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Wook Han was so nervous his beloved Korea would be ousted from the World Cup on Saturday night he took to smoking - chain smoking.

"I have been in New Zealand since 1989, but when Korea won it burst my heart," says the Aucklander, still unable to sit still in his Milford home.

Across the city, Nevzat Eren cannot speak. He shouted his voice raw on Saturday night as Turkey made history to make the semifinals.

Two men, two teams, one sport and now one, searing hope.

Three weeks ago the world minnows were not even in the running.

They were the easy-beats for the soccer superpowers.

Now only two of those powers, Brazil and Germany, remain. And so do the minnows.

Turkey had not qualified for the tournament since 1954. South Korea had not reached the sudden-death play-offs in five previous attempts.

On a night when many New Zealanders were watching the All Blacks play Ireland, a passionate minority was captivated by events thousands of kilometres away.

From the first cup game, Wook Han thought there was a slight chance South Korea might make the final 16. The momentum and excitement had been building since South Korea beat Poland 2-0.

Now the buzz among the nearly 18,000 South Koreans living in New Zealand, and in South Korea itself, has reached a state of frenzy.

When Korea finally slotted home the winner against Spain in a penalty shoot-out to win a final-four place, Koreans everywhere erupted.

Hundreds spilled on to the streets of Auckland, honking horns and draped in their country's flag. In South Korea, three people died amid the celebrations.

Wook Han watched the game at Alexandra Park with around 3000 other South Koreans.

"The atmosphere was tense. Everyone kept shouting, they never shut their mouths.

"I am usually only a social smoker, but I smoked a lot that night - I was so tense," the travel company owner says.

Since the win, Wook Han has received countless calls from home.

He believes Korea have done well because of their home advantage, but that can also be a drawback.

"You get butterflies in your stomach when you perform in front of your family.

"As long as they keep their heads cool, they can do it."

Nevzat Eren celebrated Turkey's win over Senegal with 300 other Turks until 5am - nothing, he says, compared with what is happening in Istanbul. There they are still celebrating.

And if Turkey win the cup, the restaurant manager believes the party will last for months.

"It is wonderful. Turkey needed it. We have economic problems and the people needed this excitement."

Despite their underdog status, Mr Eren had high hopes for his team from the first game.

"They have 72 million people behind them, and they are an excellent team."

Mr Eren believes they have a very good chance of beating Brazil in the semifinals. The teams met in pool play. Brazil won 2-1. But that was due to poor refereeing, he says.

If this extraordinary World Cup continues its topsy-turvy form, then Korea and Turkey could find themselves playing for the World Cup crown. All Turkey have to do is outplay Brazil and South Korea beat Germany.

Wook Han and Nevzat Eren can hardly sleep, eat, even work, at the prospect.

nzherald.co.nz/fifaworldcup

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