The Seoul Tournament:
　Is the World Championship not for Asia? And, is the World Cup only for professionals?　These are　the　principal　questions arising from the Seoul Tournament, which was held in Korea between　10th and 20th October― the　preliminary competition of Group 15-1 for the World Cup.
　Three nations participated　in the competition, and　Australia, the　only semi-professional side of the three emerged the winner, thus going on the meet Rhodesia in the second round. It is already clear from this that　no Asian　team　will　appear　in Mexico　next　May.　The winner　of　the Australia-Rhodesia　contest　is　scheduled　to meet Israel to decide which nation qualifies for Mexico. However, not one of the three is an Asian country. The Australian team is composed of　European immigrants, while Rhodesia　is　an　African　country. Israel, although　affiliated to the　Asian　Football Confederation, is not considered to　be an Asian　country,　because　its　people are white.
　Although the outcome could　hardly be considered fair to Asian amateur footballers, as a competition,　the　tournament　was undoubtedly a success. All the games were attractive　and　hard,　without　excessive problems. Theoretically, the teams　were more or less evenly matched. While the Australians, who　are　in　any case semi-professional,　had　a　physical　advantage combined with superior speed and marksmanship, the Koreans　were　well trained, and exceptional in their fitness and fighting spirit,　and the Japanese　although　handicapped by the absence of their　ace　striker Kunishige　Kamamoto, who has　been　ill since last June,　were good tactically.
　Games　were　played　on alternate　days on　the “double round　robin” system　at the Seoul Municipal Stadium. In the second phase　of the　tournament, the　Australians were forced　to two　consecutive draws by Korea and Japan　respectivly, despite the fact　that　they　did　not　adopt　defensive tactics―a point which only goes to confirm that basically, the three teams were evenly matched.　
　In the first game against Australia, Japan adopted the wrong tactics,　and lost by 3-1(1-1) -a　defeat　from　which　it　did　not recover―and,　in the two matches between Korea　and　Australia, the　decisive　goals came from corner kicks,　headed in　by the taller Australians.
　As far as the organisation of the tournament　was　concerned,　there　were　the inevitable criticsms.　However, the holding of the tournament　cannot but　benefit the future　of　Korean　　football.　Certain local　journalists　criticised　the　attitude of　ultra-patriotic　spectators, whose　vocal support　as　undoubtedly　directed　by committee　officials. Also, the　Australian and　Japanese　coaches　complained　about the quality of training fields. But in general, the　enthusiasm　of　the　Korean　football following, together with　the great public interest generated by the　tournament, can do nothing but benefit the development of football in that country.

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