It's half time and so far it's been Asia's World Cup.
Host countries South Korea and Japan both qualified for the second round in impressive style yesterday, against Portugal and Tunisia respectively.
If they had not gone through, it would have been the first time time a host country had not made it into the second round, so face has been saved all around.
Before this tournament neither country had won even a single World Cup game.
South Korea had done well to qualify for five tournaments but its record was ten losses and four draws.
It has now matched the giant-killing act of neighbor North Korea in 1966, which was the first Asian side to win a World Cup game and beat Italy in England.
Asian champions Japan lost all three matches at its World Cup debut in France in 1998.
Appearing in only its second World Cup finals, Japan topped Group H and though the doubters will say home advantage helped, it has been a magnificent achievement to make it into the second round in only its second World Cup.
As predicted by the Taipei Times, World Cup debutante China lost all three of its matches, failing to find the net and registering nine goals against.
It's coach, Bora Milutinovic told the Taipei Times before its game against Turkey the finals were a "learning process" for China and said there was no shame in its performance.
"All the players have tried their best and they will get better. They have done everything asked for them, but inexperience shows."
Saudi Arabia also fell badly, recording three losses, with 12 goals against and none for.
Asian Football Confederation General Secretary Dato Velappen said in an interview yesterday with the Korea Herald that China would need to reasess its league structure and try to develop a more competitive domestic league.
In contrast, Philippe Troussier of Japan, has emphasized the need for players to experience European league football. It was clear that lessons had been learnt, with Hideotoshi Nakata of Italy's Roma starring for Japan.
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
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The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38