South Korea vs. Turkey

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Saturday, 4 a.m. PDT, at Daegu, South Korea TV: Ch. 34. Delayed: Ch. 46, 10 a.m.; Ch. 7, 3 p.m.; Galavision, 7:30 p.m How they got here: South Korea (3-1-2) lost, 1-0, to Germany in the semifinals; Turkey (3-2-1) lost, 1-0, to Brazil in the semifinals South Korea update: This is the farewell game for Dutch Coach Guus Hiddink, who along with his team next week will be awarded the Cheongryong (Blue Dragon) award, the country’s highest sporting honor, for reaching the semifinals. Hiddink steps down as South Korea’s coach and is expected to join PSV Eindhoven of the Dutch league. He wants to go out a winner, if only to repay the millions of South Korea’s fans for their support Turkey update: In one of the more memorable lines delivered during the World Cup, Turkey Coach Senol Gunes said he is looking forward to the 2006 tournament because “here we were guests, but in Germany we will be one of the hosts.” Turkey, which has hundreds of thousands of migrant workers in Germany, has reason to be optimistic. Its performance at Korea/Japan ’02 surpassed all expectations, with players such as forwards Hasan Sas and Ilhan Mansiz, midfielders Emre Belozoglu and Umit Davala and goalkeeper Rustu Recber in particular catching the eye. “After this, the whole world will be looking at Turkish football and Turkish people differently,” Sas predicted Sidelined: South Korea forward Hwang Sun-Hong (thigh) and defender Choi Jin-Cheul (ankle) are injured and doubtful starters. Turkey’s Sas is suspended after getting a second yellow card against Brazil Outlook: The teams played to a 0-0 tie in a friendly in March. “It will be a fun match,” Turkey’s Mansiz said. “We know their strengths and weaknesses.” Both teams will attack at speed, and Recber’s goalkeeping could prove the difference. Prediction: Turkey, 2-1

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