Day 8- Stuttgart		Match 23	Group C
	KOREA	vs.	AUSTRIA

Anyone notice that they kinda look alike in their icons? Like twins with completely opposite personalities.

It's no surprise that Korea's aggressive early. It is a surprise that the aggression is coming on defense.

Austria cautiously moving forward, but Korea's on him hard! Marking him heavily. Austria passes and Korea intercepts.

Yes, Korea marking Austria, with two men whenever possible. Austria has no room to maneuver and struggles to generate an offense early.

It's a risky strategy, and Austria occasionally finds a hole, but Korea seems to pull it off beautifully. Offensively, he's right in the mix as well.

	Korea at midfield, not wasting time with this offensive. Long cross to the side, struck immediately into the box! Has a man who heads it! IT'S IN! Korea strikes early with a clockwork goal into the near post!
	I wanna see the replay to confirm this, but from about forty yards out to the goal line, that ball did not touch the ground. The cross into the box was handled in mid-air. Great set-up, great delivery and Austria was just frozen in the goal.

9' - GOAL (KOR) - Korea 1, Austria 0

Despite the early lead, Korea's aggressive defense becomes the story as it generates turnovers and fuels his offense.

	Austria into the box, no! Korea bombs it deep across midfield! Crosses into the box himself! Austria's back to head it away. Weak header goes to Korea! Takes the shot! No, it's over the bar!
	Korea is really on fire in the first fifteen minutes! I don't know if he can keep this up the whole game, but at the rate he's going, he won't need to.
	If anyone can keep up this intensity all game, it's Korea.

Austria seems to be in a fix here. Korea's marking and double-teaming should leave other Austrian players unchecked, but Austria can't find them in time. Not only that, but when a ball gets loose, Korea always seems to be able to get there first, especially in his defending half.

When Austria's on defense, he uses a zone-oriented strategy, making sure sections of the pitch are guarded sufficiently and not being fooled by Korea's quick passing. While Korea's intensity is working for him on defense, Austria is relying on his discipline.

After all, with all that intensity, eventually he'd make a mistake.

	Austria passing it up quickly, passes into the box but Korea squeezes it out of there. Clearance is deflected off Austria!! Quick shot! GOAL! Austria ties it on a lucky deflection and a good bounce!
	Lucky is right, but Korea got hasty in that clearance. We've seen it time and time again in this tournament where teams try to get it out of there without making sure the road's cleared. Austria didn't try to jump in front of it like England did in the last game, but it's a big goal nonetheless.

22' - GOAL (AUT) - Korea 1, Austria 1

Korea responds with an offensive blitz of his own. Austria holds up on defense, but concedes a pair of corner kicks.

	Korea earns another one here! Not wasting any time trying to retake the lead. Kick's away, another very high cross! Austria chests it down. Tries to clear, he whiffs it! Korea sneaks in! SCORES! Korea back in front in a jiffy!
	In the chaos of the set piece, a big mistake for Austria on defense. Had control, had room to clear it and he just missed it. That's now three corner kick goals allowed by Austria in this tournament. There was some English magic in the first two, but just an uncharacteristic goof on this one.

23' - GOAL (KOR) - Korea 2, Austria 1

Once again, the defenses take charge and settle things down. Austria remains focused despite the setback and holds off Korea's attack. Korea meanwhile keeps his attack up when playing defense. Mostly deterred, Austria is slowly wearing him down.

	Austria dribbling around, trying to get some room. Korea's on him hard!
	Really gunning for him, trying to prevent that cross.
	Austria lets one fly into the box. Not a great one, but he gets a head on it! Towards goal! Off the crossbar! Korea gets it out of there.

Lucky that Austria got the cross off to begin with, but Korea takes it as a warning sign. His spirit seems to grow a little and he tries to step things up on offense.

Austria remains in position and is ready for the challenge, but the added pressure forces him to mark a little bit as well. Tackling a little harder, Austria draws more fouls. So does Korea on the other end as he does his best to prevent Austria from finding openings. For a few minutes, things get a little hacky, but Sealand sticks to verbal warnings rather than whipping out cards left and right.

	Korea gets it back, clears deep but right to Austria at midfield. Austria moving forward quickly... and Korea slides in and takes him out. A very hard tackle there.
	We've gotta see a card for that one. Kid's starting to lose control of this game.
	Sealand does produce a card. A big red one.
	It's a straight red! Korea's sent off! He loses a man in the 35th minute!
	Oh, that's... I dunno, that's a bit much. A yellow absolutely, but to let all that slide and give this a straight red? Not feeling the love there.
	It was a very dangerous tackle. Maybe a touch harsh, but it could have gone either way. Korea not happy with the official's decision.
	He shouldn't be! This is awful! He's got to play the rest of the game a man down in a game that could eliminate him.
	Aw, come on! You've been letting everything else slide! You're giving me a red for that?
	I saw the cleats come up. I can't excuse that!
	Something tells me Sealand's not going to be scheduled to ref Korea's next match.
	I should hope not. He plays England.

Anyway, despite the protests, the game continues. The way Korea has been double-teaming Austria, the lack of a player severely limits his ability to play defense. Austria jumps on this.

	Austria kicks it towards the box, but Korea gets it out of there. Loose ball... Austria gets it!
	Starting to see that man advantage come into play. Korea had been getting those all game until now.
	Austria crosses it in. Korea knocks it down, but can't clear it! Austria slides in! SCORES! Austria takes his advantage and equalizes in a hurry!
	Yep, this could be trouble, all right. You can see Korea's just not as effective on defense when he's not at full strength. Still probably could have been dealt with it better, but Korea's back is to the wall now.

39' - GOAL (AUT) - Korea 2, Austria 2

Both sides stay intense until the halftime whistle, each earning a yellow for good measure. Korea forces a couple close calls, but the score remains tied at halftime.

	Very even match at halftime, but how long can Korea last down a man?
	I'm worried for him. I really am. His style was so aggressive and I don't know if he has the stamina to keep it up, especially down a player.
	Does he continue to double-team the way he had or will he have to play more single coverage now?
	I think he can still double-team the ball-carrier, but he has less room for error. If Austria is able to run his offense, Korea will have holes all over the place.
	Worth pointing out this is the second straight game where Korea's seen a red card. Think he should play for the draw or keep gunning for the win?
	Hard to say. He really needs a win to stay alive in the group, and a defensive approach has never really been his style. I'd like to see him take a few calculated risks here and there.
	Well, let's get back out for the second half.

Surprisingly, Korea charges out of the locker room and is all offense to start things out.

	Korea barreling forward! Past the Austrian defender for a cross! Into the box! Takes a shot! Keeper got a piece. It's a corner.
	Man, and we were afraid he'd abandon his offense? This guy's crazy. Down a man to start the half and he's totally stacking.
	One point just isn't enough for him, I suppose. There's the corner kick... finds a head, but the keeper finds it. Can't hold it! Ball drops in front of Korea! Open shot- SCORES!
	What a start! What a start for Korea! Just abandons all fear and guns it and it pays off beautifully! Scores in the first minute of the second half!
	And yet another corner kick goal allowed by Austria.
	Whatever, great job, Korea! Now you better quit that and play some damn defense.

46' - GOAL (KOR) - Korea 3, Austria 2

Korea's a little nuts, but he's not that crazy. Mission completed and recharged, he steps back to face whatever counter-attack Austria has.

Stunned by the sudden goal, Austria's halftime plans were thrown out the window. He tries to be a little more aggressive, but Korea has no trouble stopping the slightly hesitant Austrian attack.

While he isn't nearly as gung-ho, Korea doesn't abandon his offense completely. He generates a few chances as well, so it isn't a stall tactic. He still wants to score just as much as he wants to deny Austria.

Still, the mismatch prevents Korea from doing a whole lot. He does fine keeping things even, but can't gain a clear advantage over an Austria team that is starting to regroup.

	Just a lot of muddling around in midfield here. I suppose it works to Korea's advantage. Thirty minutes left though. Still a lot of time.
	Austria gets it back now, shoots it straight forward. Has someone clear! Wide open breakaway for Austria! The shot! Keeper dives and just gets a piece of it! Defense gets there to clear it in time.
	Yeah... way too much time left.

Austria is starting to move the ball much better, but Korea's still firm in his defense. Still, Austria's beginning to get more possession and trying more things.

	Austria holding it at midfield. Korea letting him, trying to keep everyone in front covered. Dribbles forward and now someone's up to mark him but he passes into the box! Gets off a quick shot! Off the post! Gets up there and he puts it back in! Equalizer for Austria!
	Yep, you're starting to see it now. Korea's starting to tire a bit, letting Austria have just a little more room to work with. It wasn't a lot, pretty good coverage in the box actually, but Korea let Austria's gears turn a little too long and he came up with a beauty of a goal.

69' - GOAL (AUT) - Korea 3, Austria 3

Austria continues to dominate the possession battle now and Korea's legs are starting to get heavier. He doesn't act like there's a problem, but Austria gets more and more shots in and only some heroic saves in goal prevent him from taking the lead.

Thanks to a couple fresh subs, Korea is able to hold Austria off. He still tries to mark as much as he can, but he's at least able to keep the burden off his goalie.

	Into the box, but Korea clears it. Shoots it out, but Austria takes it back. Quick pass to the side and a quicker cross back into the box! Austria heads it! Keeper dives, off his fingers and IN! GOAL! AUSTRIA TAKES THE LEAD!
	You can blame attrition on that one. Austria kept on wearing down Korea and finally broke him. Just a systematic approach to it. Goal was pretty nice though. Looked a lot Korea's first goal, don't you think?
	Oi, you're right. Ball touched ground a bit more, but took a very similar route to goal. A bitter capper all the same. How does Korea recover from this?

77' - GOAL (AUT) - Austria 4, Korea 3

At first, he doesn't. Austria continues to press forward while he has the momentum, taking a page from Norway's book and not being satisfied with a one goal lead. Korea is clearly wearing down and is lucky not to allow anything further.

Finally, with time running out, Korea throws all caution to the wind and just blitzes.

	Here's some movement now for Korea. Driving hard, passing between his strikers. Up top, gets a cross off! Header! Tipped over the bar!
	Korea is on his emergency reserves now, playing like his life depended on it. His life in this tournament certainly does.

Austria tries to keep it and drive forward, but somehow Korea is able to get it back and continue striking. Austria's defense mops up some of it, and some of it forces the keeper to act, but there is no stopping Korea.

	Another chance down the side! Austria tries to guard him but Korea gets off the cross! Has a man in the box! The header! No, it's wide left!
	Oh, that was his chance right there! He had the keeper beat, but it just trails off the mark. How he keeps getting back up after all this is remarkable.

Remarkable, perhaps, but not enough.

	Ball goes out. Throw-in for Austria. Collects it, kicks it to midfield and there's the whistle! It's all over! Austria with a man advantage, still needs more late magic but secures three points!
	And a heart-breaking loss for Korea. Everything working against him and he still came close to tying it at the end. But two games, no points and zero chance of advancing to the Round of 16. Korea becomes the first team eliminated from the tournament.

Korea's face-down on the pitch, completely drained and trying not to show his tears to the crowd. His section of fans, pretty respectable considering how close they are to Austria's borders, are just as inconsolable.

Austria looks back and almost feels sorry for him. But Hungary's glomping him too hard for him to respond.

Day 8- Stuttgart		Match 23	Group C
	KOREA	3:4 FT	AUSTRIA
9' 23' 46'	Lee Lee Lee	Referee SLD	Haas Vastic Vastic Ivanschitz	22' 39' 69' 77'

Don't ask me if that's the same Lee that scored all three goals. There's a lot of Lees playing for Korea Republic in this game.

After he's given time to face the music, Korea has to face Vietnam. He's trying to be chipper, but can't pull it off.

	It was an inspiring effort, Korea, but a tough loss knocks you out of the tournament.
	I don't like it. As much as I want to dismiss all of this and say it was a bad call or say that I got a tough draw or say this whole tournament wasn't such a big deal to me anyway... it really hurts. I really wanted to win and was looking forward to topping all these challenges.
	The red card did change the game in a major way and you didn't seem to agree with the call. How did that impact your play?
	It was a bad call, but I came out in the second half determined to get past it. I had it going for a long time, but just lost it in the end. Mr. Austria played a great game.
	Despite being eliminated from advancing, at least you do have one match left.
	Yep, and I'll show everybody what my spirit's capable of. I am going to put all this behind me and beat Mr. England!
	Bold claim, but it should be one to watch. Thanks, Korea.
	Thanks, Vietnam. And you're right, that red card really changed the game. It was a little spotty, I didn't like it, and I think it cost Korea his tournament. But interesting that he mentioned his draw as well.
	Oi, I'm with you there. Korea got an unlucky draw, no doubt. But that's the tournament for you. Besides, I didn't think anyone expected Austria to be this formidable.
	No. We knew he was all right, but Austria's faced the two seeded teams in Group C and has four points. All he needs now is a draw against Norway, who's suddenly looking a little suspect, and he's through.
	Sounds like a cue to take a look at the tables:

And here they are:

Let's wrap this up.

	Amazing that as good as Norway looked in his first game, he's now on the outside looking in. He'll need a win against Austria to advance. England needs a win or draw against Korea, who's just playing for pride.
	But he's got enough of that to be dangerous. England definitely needs to stay on his game.
	Still remarkable that of all the teams so far, nobody has punched a ticket to the Round of 16 and Korea, fourth place finisher in 2002, is the first going home.
	Well, he could have a lot of company tomorrow. If things play out right, four teams could move on and four teams could be sent home.
	Oi, Group D could be settled completely and it'll be up to Latvia to keep the drama alive. A loss to Turkey in the arvo match will knock out both him and Lithuania.
	Group E could be just as clean as France and Denmark seek their second wins against Hong Kong and Finland.
	'Til then, this is Australia and Cuba saying see ya next time!

Sorry for the lack of pictures in the Spain-Lithuania match. Camera had a premature incineration. You're not missing much, since you probably got intimately familiar with Spain's kits watching the real World Cup. Lithuania was decked out in Christmas tree green, cementing their status as having the ugliest kits in the tournament, quite a feat considering Sweden and Ukraine's penchant for yellow.

I'm on staff with Geek.Kon (now with "voice of America" Eric Vale!) and that's been occupying a lot of my time lately. I'll try to get one or two more episodes up before the con Labor Day weekend. Thankfully, only three more days before we start everyone's final games. Four matches a day, but because each group plays simultaneously, I only really need to write two of them. We'll need more field reporters though...

To Be Continued!

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