Asian nations should strengthen soccer links - Korea

Co-hosts South Korea want to intensify soccer links with Japan and China to raise Asia's skill levels and make use of the 20 World Cup stadiums.

South Korea stunned the game's traditional powers by beating Portugal, Italy and Spain and they could finish third if they beat Turkey in tomorrow's play-off. Co-hosts Japan advanced to the round of 16 in their second World Cup finals.

Korean President Kim Dae-jung said this week closer soccer ties between Asian countries should be considered. "There is an idea for greater soccer exchanges between China, Japan and South Korea as well as with North Korea," Kim told cabinet ministers. "There should be further discussions to energise this idea. We should make plans to utilise the 10 new stadiums built for the World Cup," Kim was quoted as saying on the presidential Blue House website.

Like Japan, South Korea prepared 10 stadiums, seven of them designed specifically for football, and many cities including Seoul remain in search of a club side to use them after the Cup.

Asia also wants a greater role in future World Cup finals after two of their four teams proved their worth in 2002.

Peter Velappan, head of the Asian soccer confederation, has called for five Asian berths in the 2006 finals in Germany and believes China is likely to become a major power despite a disappointing World Cup debut.

"In the next 10 years, we should expect China will be in the top 10 (in the world)," said Velappan. "There is no reason why not." Velappan has proposed introducing an Asian league, featuring six teams from China, Japan and South Korea, after the 2006 World Cup to raise playing standards.