Could South Korea have won the 2002 World Cup?

Or at the least made it to the finals? They surprisingly made it all the way to the semi-finals but were defeated by Germany, there has been allegations that they were fixing their games until Germany was able to beat them. If they were able to somehow get past Germany would they be able to beat Brazil in the final?
 
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They were hugely lucky (being kind to them and the famously non-corrupt FIFA) to make it as far as they did. I can't see them beating probably the best two sides in the world at the time without the kind of massively obvious corruption that even FIFA couldn't ignore.
 
Personally, I think the U.S. had a better chance at making it to the Final than South Korea. Though South Korea did have the benefit of the "referees".
Sure, why not? All it takes is for Germany, Brazil, etc. to make a large failure.

That, and the referees' "refereeing". ;)
 
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PsihoKekec

Banned
It would take really massive intervention by referees. FIFA simply can't afford to do that to Germany.
 

Yuelang

Banned
What if Turkey is the one who end up winning 2002 world cup though... South Korea defeat Germany and Turkey defeat Brazil... both meet in final (with people badmouthing South Korea), yet finally the Turks get their victory?
 
It would take really massive intervention by referees. FIFA simply can't afford to do that to Germany.

Money talk as it was seen during the match agaisnt Italy...where Moreno to be at least honest will have to wear the South Korean uniform.

If the Koreans throw so much money that they win the World Cup the scandal will be so great that even the real life unholy child of Ferengi and Neimodians that's the FIFA will be forced to do something...or the competition will lose a lot of appeal and merchandising and media rights will be greatly diminished.
 
The 2002 Germany-South Korea semifinal was just about as one-sided as 1-0 matches can be. The only real hope for the Koreans getting past Germany would be to survive 120 minutes to penalties, and even then Oliver Kahn, with his run of form in that tournament, would make the Germans clear favorites.

If, on the other hand, the United States had managed to take their first-half chances against Germany in the quarterfinals, that's a matchup the South Koreans can definitely win.
 
What everyone else said: if it wasn't Germany but some lesser confederation, perhaps it would have been possible to keep riding that combination of luck and refereeing.
 
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