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S. Korean practice disrupted by heavy downpour

June 13, 2014
Spectators sit under pouring rain as they watch the group A World Cup soccer match between Mexico and Cameroon in the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Spectators sit under pouring rain as they watch the group A World Cup soccer match between Mexico and Cameroon in the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

By Yoo Jee-ho

FOZ DO IGUACU, Brazil (Yonhap) — The third day of South Korea’s training at its World Cup base camp here in Foz do Iguacu was disrupted Friday by a heavy downpour with thunder and lightning.

Head coach Hong Myung-bo opened only the first 15 minutes of his team’s practice to the media at Pedro Basso Stadium. When the session began in earnest, however, rain began to come down hard on the 23-man squad.

South Korea had two days of sunny skies with warm temperatures here in southern Brazil before Friday. More rain is in the forecast for Saturday, when Hong is scheduled to hold practice behind closed doors.

South Korea has drawn Russia, Algeria and Belgium in Group H, and the first match will be against Russia in Cuiaba, north of Foz do Iguacu, on Tuesday.

Before arriving in Brazil, South Korea trained for about two weeks in Miami, where weather had failed to cooperate. Periods of heavy rain along with threats of lightning kept players indoors on several occasions.

South Korea will depart for Cuiaba on Sunday, two days before facing Russia in the city known for its tropical climate.

The temperature in Cuiaba during South Korea’s stay next week is expected to stay around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).