Sports

Hong confident South Korea can advance at World Cup, will take the game up to Belgium

Associated Press
Published | Updated

South Korea national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo answers reporter's question during a press conference the day before the group H World Cup soccer match between South Korea and Belgium at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (The Associated Press)

South Korea national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo listens to reporter's question during a press conference the day before the group H World Cup soccer match between South Korea and Belgium at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (The Associated Press)

South Korea's coach says part of the beauty of football is that the best team doesn't always win, and that's what he is hoping for against heavily favored Belgium.

The team is last in Group H with one point and has only the slightest of chances of advancing to the next round. South Korea has to win big against group leader Belgium, which has already qualified, and needs the result of the Algeria-Russia game to go its way too.

Hong Myung-Bo said while his team has been given little chance by critics, "in the case of football, it doesn't necessarily mean that the strongest team will always win."

Hong, who helped South Korea reach the 2002 semifinals, is guiding the last Asian team still in with a chance in Brazil.