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.

How home nations have fared in the World Cup finals they hosted:

Year Host Nation Performance

1930 Uruguay winners

1934 Italy winners

1938 France quarterfinals

1950 Brazil runners-up

1954 Switzerland quarterfinals

1958 Sweden runners-up

1962 Chile semifinals

(third)

1966 England winners

1970 Mexico quarterfinals

1974 W. Germany winners

1978 Argentina winners

1982 Spain second phase

(FIFA ranked 12th)

1986 Mexico quarterfinals

1990 Italy semifinals

(third)

1994 United States second round

1998 France winners.

—Reuters