Match Number 25 HOL - KOR Quotes

"We came against a very efficient team and this match was particularly difficult for us. The NETHERLANDS team (Group E) has some great individual players. If they continue to play like this, they could win the title.

We want to win a match in this first round. We'll have to beat BELGIUM (Group E), 25 June at the Parc des Princes. For this match, I intend to bring in some new players.

For the first match against MEXICO, 13 June in Lyon, we were the weaker team.

Today, we let five goals through. At the third goal I would have liked to build up morale. It's for this reason I gave priority to the attack. My team played the game as was planned, but the NETHERLANDS team were invincible.

For 2002, we are the joint-organisers for the next World Cup with Japan. I will line up a more impressive team."

 

"I'm delighted because of the result, although in the first 25 minutes, we didn't make the pace we are used to, partly because of the field. That's no big excuse, but we like to have the field a little bit wet so we can play a higher pace and there was a little bit of tension before making the first goal… but we knew, playing like this, sooner or later we would score a goal. It was a game of the first goal, and after that, you can wait and you know that you'll score some more.

It's always good not to depend on one player who can make a goal. I was very happy that the first goal was made by Philip COCU (11), he had my full confidence.

Our next match, with MEXICO, will be totally different, and in different circumstances, because we'll be playing in the afternoon, when it will be rather hot. I think the game will be more complicated than this one, because I consider MEXICO as a very experienced team."

Yong Soo CHOI (10), Captain:

"We did our best, but the NETHERLANDS (Group E) team were very strong. The two goals in the 1^st Half proved fatal to the teams morale. We will just do our best for the next match against BELGIUM (Group E)."

Jong Soo KO (14):

"We had a difficult match against a well organised NETHERLANDS team. I really appreciated the atmosphere in the stadium. MARSEILLE reminds me of my home town which is also a port. As we haven't won any matches in this World Cup, we'll do our best to win our next match."

Dong Gook LEE (21):

"The NETHERLANDS (Group E) team is very strong, and they destabilised us by scoring two goals in the 1^st Half."

Dong Gook LEE comments on his first team selection: "I wasn't worried or under pressure but when I came on the pitch, my team was losing. I did my best to make life difficult for the other side."

 

Frank DE BOER(4), captain:

"The midfield with JONK (6) and DAVIDS (16) worked really well. DAVIDS recovered a lot of balls. There were a few difficult moments in front of the NETHERLANDS goal, but the defence played well and it's normal, in any football match, that the opposition has some opportunities."

Dennis BERGKAMP(8):

"Once the first goal was scored, everything went very smoothly. We've never scored so many goals without letting any by. We have, thanks to a very good team, the quality, some good manœuvres and some beautiful goals. We are totally satisfied with the result."

Marc OVERMARS(14):

"It was a good match with a lot of opportunities. Quite a few balls came down the left side, but this doesn't bother me at all on nights like tonight when I'm in top form, I like to be in demand."

Jaap STAM(3):

"It's very important to have someone like Dennis BERGKAMP (8) in the team. There's a wide choice of players in the team, such as Pierre VAN HOOIJDONK (17) who came on and scored shortly after. We knew we had the right strengths to win this extremely important match and we achieved this in great style. I watched a few minutes of BELGIUM-MEXICO (Group E) match. The latter equalised with two goals, proving that we shouldn't underestimate them."