South Korea Goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae Wants To Start Year Of The Tiger With Win Against Japan

Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 by Goal.com

Old Spider Hands wants the win...

South Korea’s veteran goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae wants to start the Year of the Tiger on a good note with a win against Japan on Sunday.

The Taeguk Warriors were shocked last Wednesday to lose 3-0 to China in the second round of the East Asian Championships.

It was the first time in history that China had defeated their eastern neighbour and coming less than four months before the start of the 2010 World Cup, it unleashed a storm of criticism in South Korea.

Sunday brings a match with bitter rivals Japan in Tokyo which gives Korea an early opportunity to bounce back and the 36 year-old hero of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups is hopeful that his team can do just that.

New Year’s Day is a big holiday in South Korea and millions will be watching on television.

“Every game is important but many people will be watching this and we are preparing well in order to get a good result,” Lee told reporters in the Japanese capital.

“We are trying our best to give the Korean people a good present on New Year’s Day.

“We trained hard but we failed against China. After three days the pain has not disappeared,” Lee added.

South Korea face Argentina, Greece and Nigeria in South Africa.