DAEJEON, South Korea, 21 June — A 21-year-old university student, still playing amateur football, is poised to be South Korea’s secret weapon against Spain in the World Cup quarterfinals tomorrow.
Cha Du-ri, the son of Cha Bum-kun, South Korea’s most successful player and most hard done by coach, will be unleashed by coach Guus Hiddink if he needs more striking power up front.
The Korea University player was one of five strikers on the park against Italy here on Tuesday as South Korea pressed forward for an equalizer late in the match.
The equalizer was delivered by Anderlecht’s Seol Ki-hyeon and Cha came close to scoring a fairytale winner. His athletic overhead kick in the dying minutes flew straight into the hands of a grateful Gianluigi Buffon who was perfectly placed to save the effort.
“I played with five strikers and I was confident they would deliver,” said Hiddink. “Cha did well when he came on and nearly scored.”
Cha has perfect breeding to succeed at the highest level. His father made his name with the national team — he played against Italy in the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico — and German clubs where he won two UEFA Cup medals in the 1980s.
His high standing in Korean football saw him handed the reins of the national team for the 1998 World Cup in France but the campaign went badly wrong.
A loss to Mexico in the opening game, when Korea were reduced to 10 men after taking the lead, and a 5-0 whipping at the hands of Holland — coached by current Korea team guru Hiddink — saw Cha being unceremoniously dumped from the job before the final group game against Belgium.
It was a huge loss of face for Cha and with his wife making several uncomplimentary statements about his sacking, the hero’s value went to near zero.
