The player who congratulated me after losing in Korea 20 years ago, was Bento [World Cup Pick]

"All we can do is congratulate Korea. It was a strong team."

Portugal was defeated by South Korea in the Korea-Japan World Cup 20 years ago, and their advance to the round of 16 was frustrated.

These words of a Portuguese player, who was left alone on the pitch after a bitter loss to answer an interview, are being re-examined 20 years later.

The interviewee is Bento, a 33-year-old player.

The 'Paul Bento 2002 Korea Match Interview' video, which recently drew attention on social media, shows Bento responding to an interview right after Portugal lost 1-0 to Korea in the 3rd round of the Korea-Japan World Cup Group D on June 14, 2002.

The Portuguese reporter in the video opened the interview by saying, "I want to encourage Bento. He stayed alone and responded to the interview."

"It's done. Now it's time to think about how we played at the World Cup," said Bento, who had just played full-time as a defensive midfielder in the match.

He congratulated Korea on their progress to the round of 16, saying, "All we can do is congratulate Korea and the United States. Overall, it was a stronger team than us."

Portugal, who was ranked 5th in the FIFA rankings at the time, could have advanced to the round of 16 just by drawing against Korea, but suffered a high defeat due to Korea's last-minute come-from-behind victory.

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In the interview, Bento said, "Now we just have to prepare for Euro 2004. That's the best we can do" and went to the locker room.

In response, the Portuguese reporter concluded, "It was not an easy word for us who were immersed in pain. Portugal's dream of the Korea-Japan World Cup ended here."

Netizens are praising Bento's character and personality from 20 years ago, who remained alone on the ground immediately after defeat, congratulated the opponent, and responded to an interview with future-oriented content.

Bento, who retired from the Portuguese national team at the end of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup Korea vs. Portugal match, returned in 2018 as a coach leading Korea, which he had last faced in 16 years, and kept his own tenacity and football philosophy for 4 years despite many criticisms. I put it on the World Cup round of 16 stage for the first time in 12 years.

Coach Bento leaves Korea after the World Cup in Qatar, saying,

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