The International Friendly between Mexico and South Korea has all the ingredients to be one heck of a soccer game. Both clubs have come up leaps and bounds over the years to now contain some of the most technically gifted players in the world. Both countries have been a regular feature of the past few World Cups so they know how to play big games. The game will not only be watched by fans in both countries but also by thousands who are lucky enough to get their hands on the International Friendly tickets for this clash. With all that the game promises to have in store for soccer fans, no one can really blame them for being this much excited.
Mexico
The Mexicans have risen through the ranks very quickly. From being on the sixty second position at one point in the year 1996, they have now made the jump to capture twenty first spot on the FIFA rankings. Mexico has a long and illustrious history of producing naturally gifted players who have gone on to play for the biggest clubs in Europe. They made their first World Cup appearance in 1930 and have since gone on to make thirteen more appearances in the tournament.
They have also taken part in twenty CONCACAF Gold Cups on their way to winning it on a whopping nine occasions. As far as the Copa America goes, Mexico’s football teams over the years have taken part in it eight times. Then comes the prestigious Confederations Cup, the tournament they have appeared in six times on their way to winning it once.
South Korea
Facing the Mexicans in the International Friendly at the Alamodome will be the Asian powerhouse South Korea. They have come up leaps and bounds in the last few years to become one of the most respected names from their continent. Their first appearance in the World Cup came in the year 1954. The South Koreans have in total taken part in nine World Cups.
They have also competed in the prestigious Asian Cup twelve times and have gone on to win it twice. Their CONCACAF Gold Cup and Confederations Cup appearances stand at two and one respectively. South Korea have made it to the World Cup eight years in the running which makes them the most successful of all soccer teams from Asia. They went all the way to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup and ended up capturing the fourth spot.
Mexico versus South Korea
Mexico and South Korea have squared off against each other eleven times before. Mexico has an edge in the head-to-head record with five wins to South Korea’s four. Two games have ended in draws. A total of thirty five goals have been scored by both teams in these games with the team from North America hitting the net twenty times compared to the South Koreans getting on the score sheet on fifteen occasions.
The record is pretty close and there is not a lot to choose from between these two fast rising soccer nations. It will be a really interesting contest, one that will tell both teams a lot about where they stand in terms of their World Cup dreams.