SEOUL, 12 June 2003 — Javier Saviola struck just before halftime to give Argentina a 1-0 victory over South Korea in a hard-fought friendly international yesterday.

South Korea, semi-finalists in the World Cup they co-hosted last year, failed again to capitalize on periods of pressure despite enjoying most of the possession in the first half.

They packed the midfield and played their trademark pressing game, but as in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Uruguay they could not find the final touch in front of goal.

Argentina always looked dangerous on the break and scored a controversial goal against the run of play in the 44th minute.

Inter Milan defender and captain Javier Zanetti broke free on the right and slotted a pinpoint pass to baby-faced Barcelona striker Saviola who stroked the ball home from close range.

The Korean players immediately protested that there had been an offside but the goal stood.

Saviola also scored in Argentina’s comprehensive 4-1 defeat of Japan on Sunday.

The game opened up in the second half. Right back Facundo Quiroga latched onto a miss-hit and in a great position forced a block from Korean goalkeeper Lee Won-jae. A string of Korean substitutions at or around halftime saw two of South Korea’s European-based players Cha Doo-ri and Song Chong-gug replaced in a bid to restore the hold the Koreans had enjoyed over midfield in the first half.

But despite coming close on a number of occasions the South Koreans failed to get on the end of some reasonable chances and a lovely back-heel from Santiago Solari in the 60th minute nearly set Saviola free again.

The two sides had met once before, when Diego Maradona’s Argentina beat South Korea 3-1 in their opening match of the 1986 World Cup finals that they went on to win.

Struggling Japan Held to Goalless Draw by Paraguay

In Saitama, Japan were held to a goalless draw by Paraguay in the Kirin Cup yesterday as they continued to struggle before the Confederations Cup later this month.

Japan have won just once in the seven games under new coach Zico, who had warned his squad they must beat Paraguay.

Striker Yoshito Okubo did head past goalkeeper Ricardo Tavarelli in the 76th minute at Saitama Stadium but was ruled to have been offside.

Brazilian-born Alex, playing in an experimental left-back position for Japan, almost forged the opening in the 52nd minute, producing an exquisite turn inside the box only for his shot to flash just wide of the post.

Five minutes later, Paraguay midfielder Carlos Bonet came close with a clever chip from 25 meters after spotting goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki off his line.

Japan travel to France next week for the June 18-29 Confederations Cup, where they are drawn alongside the hosts, Colombia and New Zealand in Group A.

Blatter Says He Will

Oppose Bigger World Cup

In Berlin, FIFA President Sepp Blatter will oppose a South American proposal to expand the World Cup finals from 32 to 36 teams. “I will fight to make sure that we stay with 32 teams,” Blatter told yesterday’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) daily.

“I want to avoid internal fighting but the South Americans have to understand. In the decision between 32 and 36 teams, the credibility of the world’s biggest football festival is at stake and we want to preserve that credibility. It’s as simple as that.”

Brazil and Argentina are leading a South American campaign to add four teams to the next finals in 2006 in Germany to make amends for losing a place following a trade-off last December.

South American federation CONMEBOL has a plan under which a mini-playoff round would be introduced in the middle of the tournament.

That proposal has failed to impress Blatter, who had said before that he would rather stick to the 32-team format. German organizers of the 2006 finals agree with him.