President praises national team's advance to World Cup finals

SEOUL, June 7 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said Sunday he is proud of
South Korea's national soccer team which has secured a berth to next year's World
Cup finals for seven times in a row.

South Korea beat the United Arab Emirates 2-0 in an Asian qualifier in Dubai
early Sunday (Seoul time). The victory sealed South Korea's advance to the 2010
World Cup in South Africa.
"I congratulate the team on behalf of all our citizens," Lee said in a message
addressed to the team which arrived at Incheon International Airport earlier
Sunday, noting that South Korea is the first Asian country to qualify for the
32-nation finals for the seventh straight time.
"The country's seventh straight appearance at the World Cup is the first in
Asia and only sixth in the world, and I offer my thanks to the national team
and on how proud I am of the team for giving our people such infinite amount of
joy and pride," he said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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