The Korea Times

Korean opponents win final friendlies before World Cup

Two of Korea's opponents in the group stage at the FIFA World Cup have both won their final tuneup matches. Czechia, whom Korea will face to begin Group A action next week, defeated Guatemala 3-1 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, on Thursday (local time). Patrik Schick, Tomas Chory and Denis Visinsky were the goal scorers for Czechia, who sit 16 spots below Korea in the FIFA rankings at No. 41. Czechia had earlier beat Kosovo 2-1 on Sunday. Schick scored off a counter break for Czechia in the 11th minute. William Fajardo netted the equalizer for Guatemala in the 40th minute, but then Chory's header in the 72nd minute put the Czechs ahead for good. Visinsky's 79th-minute marker rounded out the scoring. Korea also won their final two friendlies before the World Cup, beating Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 and then El Salvador 1-0. Their match against Czechia will kick off at 8 p.m. next Thursday (local time) at Estadio Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico, or 11 a.m. next Friday (Korean time). Also on Thursday, Mexico, one of the tournament's three co-host countries and the top-ran