Senegal hails historic win

Senegal

Le Soleil

France
In a piece entitled "The lament of the disliked libero", Le Monde's correspondent in Seoul asks for not all the blame for France's humiliating opening to be placed at the feet of Frank Lebouef. The Olympique de Marseille defender missed a crucial tackle on Senegal's El Hadji Diouf, allowing the cross for the winning goal ("lucky" according to their man in the Korean Republic). However, Le Monde asks, what about the initial error of Youri Djorkaeff, and where were Lilian Thuram or Marcel Desailly? "It is Franck Leboeuf who will take the blame for the others, as usual," their man says. Leboeuf himself is quoted as saying: "Nobody is entitled to make that error. But though I always speak highly of my team-mates, I seldom hear much in the other direction. It is a motivation. When people want to make you die, your determination is multiplied by ten."
Read more at Le Monde

The Korean Republic
Foreign journalists are tipping co-hosts the Korean Republic to reach the second round, according to the Korea Herald. Recent friendly results have boosted the hopes of Guus Hiddink's side, who face Poland, Portugal and the United States in Group D. AP Lisbon correspondent Barry Hatton, in Korea to follow Portugal, said: "The Korean team has improved a lot recently. There is a lot of desire and spirit, and supporters are behind the team." American FOX Sports International writer Nick Webster believes that Hiddink's side are better than the US, declaring: "Korean players are in good shape because they have trained together for the last five months, while other teams did not have much time for group training." However, a dream cup win for Korea is ruled out by both journalists, Hatton tipping France and Webster going for Argentina.
Read more at The Korea Herald

Japan
The Asahi Shimbum is generous in its praise for the opening ceremony staged by Japan's Korean co-hosts, suggesting it could speak a new era of friendship between the two nations, and even world peace. They write: "The 17th World Cup erupted into life on Friday night with a carnival of blazing color, infectious humor and irrepressibly high spirits. With a beginning like this, it is hard to imagine the tournament being anything but a triumphant success. Hearing the mostly Korean crowd cheer Japan's national anthem, Kimigayo, before kick-off, and watching the leaders of Japan and the Republic of Korea clasp their hands together in a rousing cheer, it might be justified in hoping that this will be the start of something more important and longer-lasting than a football competition." If that was not enough, the Asahi Shimbum conclude: "For those 64,000 people caught up in the eye of that global storm, in the stadium in Seoul, it did not seem far-fetched to imagine the whole world laying down weapons to watch football for four weeks."
Read more at Asahi Shimbum