Mexico vs. Korea Republic Olympic Soccer:

Score, Highlights, Twitter Reaction  

By Timothy Rapp (Featured Columnist) on July 26, 2012  

Mexico and South Korea may have ended their opening Olympic game knotted in a 0-0 tie, but the game certainly wasn't lacking for intrigue.

The Koreans were relentless, pressing Mexico high up the pitch and dominating the early play. But Mexico played solid defense of its own and started developing some creativity in the attack when star player Giovani Dos Santos finally made an appearance in the second half.
South Korea probably deserved the win, but give Mexico credit for keeping them off the score sheet. Let's take a look back at this exciting match.

Highlights

Twitter Reactions

Grantwahl@GrantWahl
Like what South Korea coach Hong Myung-Bo (ex-LA Galaxy) has done with his team, which is outplaying Mexico so far. Still 0-0.

FOX SoccerTrax@FOXSoccerTrax
FT Mexico 0 South Korea 0 ... Mexico has to be happy with a point on a day when they were outplayed.

Tom Marshall@mexicoworldcup
Mex fail to shine and impress only in brief sparks. Positive is the def looked solid. Onwards and upwards, hpeflly. Mexico 0-0 Corea del Sur.

Tom Marshall@mexicoworldcup
Thought Chaton Enriquez was excellent when he came on. Raul Jimenez dangerous. Overage players Oribe and Salcido have to take bull by horns.

What Each Team Must Do Moving Forward

For South Korea, it's pretty simple—they need to finish their chances.

The team's energy and pressing attack stymied the Mexican side for most of the game (though it helped that Mexico showed a complete lack of creativity moving forward without Dos Santos on the pitch). But the South Koreans simply couldn't find the back of the net, and surely they will leave this match disappointed that despite dominating they only managed a draw.

For Mexico, Dos Santos must start. Before his insertion into the game, Mexico looked like a team simply passing the ball back and forth rather than one with a plan of attack going forward. Mexico has plenty of talent with Marco Fabián, Oribe Peralta and Carlos Salcido, but Dos Santos makes this team go.

This is the toughest task for either side in the group, so I expect both countries will advance. But each will leave this game with disappointment, South Korea for not securing three points and Mexico for playing below expectations.

Here’s some background on Men’s Football at the London Olympics, via wikipedia:

Overview

The men’s football tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics is to be held in London and five other cities in Great Britain from 26 July to 11 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to enter their men’s U-23 teams in regional qualifying competitions, from which 15 teams, plus the hosts Great Britain reached the final tournament. Men’s teams are allowed to augment their squads with three players over the age of 23. It is the first major FIFA affiliated men’s tournament to be held within the United Kingdom since the 1966 FIFA World Cup and will be the first men’s Olympic football tournament to feature a team representing Great Britain since the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

Team Requirements

For the men’s tournament, each nation submitted a squad of 18 players, 15 of whom had to be born on or after 1 January 1989, and three of whom could be overage players. A minimum of two goalkeepers (plus one optional alternate goalkeeper) had to be included in the squad.

Draw

The draw for the tournament took place on 24 April 2012. Great Britain, Mexico, Brazil and Spain were seeded for the draw and placed into groups A–D, respectively. The remaining teams were drawn from four pots with teams from the same region kept apart.

Groups

Group A: Great Britain, Senegal, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay

Group B: Mexico, Korea, Gabon, Switzerland

Group C: Brazil, Egypt, Belarus, New Zealand

Group D: Spain, Japan, Honduras, Morocco