He went on to make 94 appearances and score 30 goals for the national team, including a prolific spell in 1985 when he netted seven times in just 12 matches. His finest moment came at the 1986 World Cup, however, where he scored a memorable goal against defending champions Italy. However, when those chances did come about, he made the most of them.Īt just 18 years of age, Choi finished as the top scorer of the AFC Asian Cup with seven goals, becoming the youngest player to top the scoring charts in the competition's history. Having spent the vast majority of his club career in his native country, Choi Soon-ho did not have many opportunities to flourish on the world stage. His performances in that tournament were so impressive that he was a nominee for the 2002 Ballon d'Or.ĩ. Seol was a key player in his country's remarkable run to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup, scoring the equalising goal against Italy that set Korea on their way to arguably the greatest moment in their sporting history. During his time in Belgium he won a league title and memorably scored a hat-trick within the space of 12 minutes in the Super Cup. "It's created also opportunities for people outside of the region, so people have visited Dunedin for example and you know headed on to Central Otago and then it's had benefits for businesses not just in the city of Dunedin but also businesses outside in other areas of the region, so it's been great.Before his move to Wolves, the attacker earned himself a unique place in football history when he became the first South Korean to score in the Champions League, doing so with Anderlecht. The event was helping more than just the city hosting it, he said. "I would say it's definitely boosted some industries by probably 50 to 60 percent over that period." Matches have also been warmly welcomed in Hamilton and Dunedin which hosted a combined 11 games.īusiness South chief executive Mike Collins said it had helped businesses. "What we noticed on the streets of Wellington were so many different accents, so what I'm hoping for is that people are going back to their home countries, new countries that don't necessarily think of us straight away and just tell the story of what a fantastic country and of course the best city being Wellington." Photo: / Masanori UdagawaĪrcus said he hoped the international visitors would spread the good word. "Any games that were on around the weekends were fantastic but it certainly is welcome after really being at the pointy end of Covid for two years."įootball fans arrive before the FIFA Women's World Cup Group G - Sweden v Italy at Wellington Regional Stadium. Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Simon Arcus said the games had been great for the capital. Wellington will host its final match tomorrow, a quarterfinal between the Netherlands and Spain. "The other thing is that the attractions and the accommodation spend is both up in recent weeks, about 2019 spending, so that's a positive thing too." Some sectors are also seeing figures surpassing pre-Covid numbers. The tournament has been filling the tills of some businesses, with international spending in the city centre up 17 percent in the last two weeks, Beck said. I think it's been wonderful to see these young kids you know really getting behind the teams and so excited and the families going to games, I think that's been fantastic." "The spirit that you've actually seen around the country for these games is actually phenomenal. Not only has it been a historic tournament for football fans, but Auckland Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said it had brought a buzz across the country. USA fans before their team's encounter with the Netherlands in Wellington.
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