June 4, 2002	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 22,1423

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SAITAMA (Japan), June 3: Neither World Cup hosts Japan nor South Korea have won a single finals game between them in a total of six attempts but history suggests their luck will change in 2002 starting on Tuesday.

On 11 occasions in the previous 16 World Cup tournaments, the hosts have achieved either their best or equal-best performances and six won the event.

Ironically, Brazil, who have won a record four times on foreign soil, failed to win in front of their own fans in 1950.

The Koreans, who face Poland in Pusan for their group D opener, bring only a record of failure from previous World Cups to this campaign

They have qualified for five finals (four draws, 10 defeats) while Japan only made it through once, in 1998, and drew a blank (three defeats).

They kick off their campaign against Belgium in group H a few hours after the Koreans.