Russia vs South Korea: 'Nameless' Opponents Face Off in FIFA World Cup
Russia and South Korea lock horns in a Group H clash of FIFA World Cup and members of both sides say they are not familiar with the names of each other.
Nameless no more! File photo of South Korea's Koo Ja-Cheol (L) and Russia's Alexander Kerzhakov.
© AFP
Both Russia and South Korea freely admitted on Monday that they had no idea as to the identity of the players they were about to face in Tuesday's World Cup Group H clash in Cuiaba.
Russia's coach, Fabio Capello, when asked if it wasn't an insult that his team couldn't name any Koreans, shrugged: "It's not important to know names of players, what is important is to know their characteristics."
The Korean captain, Koo-Ja-Chael, was equally candid when challenged later if he could list any of the Russian side.
"No, I don't know their names, but I know their numbers," the Mainz 05 midfielder replied.
Korea's coach, Hong Myung-Bo, was asked at the post-match press conference whether he regarded the Russians' admission as an insult, smiled: "Actually it's not easy for Korean players to be memorised by foreigners."