FRANCE LACKING PASSION TALENTED SQUAD FAILS TO MUSTER VICTORY FRANCE 1, SOUTH KOREA 1.

Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer

LEIPZIG, Germany -- France's drought was going to end. It possesses far too much talent, especially in attack, to fail to score game after game after game.

After four successive World Cup shutouts, Les Bleus did finally find the net.

Thierry Henry's early strike sent them ahead of South Korea at Zentralstadion, and other chances, good chances, soon followed.

That should have been that.

Instead, with the Red Devils fans -- all in red, all in great voice -- providing a deafening soundtrack, Park Ji Sung took control of Group G with a lucky touch and the most fortuitous of bounces.

His goal in the 81st minute lifted the Koreans to a 1-1 draw that felt like victory and extended France's World Cup winless streak to five matches, every one its played since the 3-0 romp over Brazil in the 1998 final at Stade de France.

There are few sides in this or any World Cup the quality of the French, who count on the unmatched Henry up front, retiring legend Zinedine Zidane pulling the strings just behind, Patrick Vieira cleaning up the midfield messes, smooth Lilian Thuram anchoring the backline -- and now youngster Frank Ribery.

But something is missing, ever since Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps retired from the team following the triumphs in 1998 and at the 2000 European Championship.

When France ruled the soccer world, it possessed tremendous heart.

For all of Zidane's and Henry's skills, all their artistry, their game is appreciated more than loved -- in contrast, say, to Brazilian star Ronaldinho's -- and the passion missing from their game, from France's game, threatens to derail its title try before it really gets going.

South Korea, for the strides it has made, lacks France's quality -- its coach, Dick Advocaat, readily admitted it -- but it has so much heart, so much passion, and that meant everything Sunday.

The result leaves the group's second-round qualifiers uncertain.

South Korea, with four points, leads the group, but Switzerland could surge ahead with a victory today over Togo. All will be determined Friday, when France-Togo and South Korea-Switzerland conclude the tournament's group stage.

South Korea started slowly, as in its 2-1 triumph over Togo five days earlier, but that had more to do with France than anything it was doing. Led by midfielder Florent Malouda, Les Bleus kept constant pressure on the Koreans. They took a ninth-minute lead when Henry finished off Sylvain Wiltord's feed following an incisive pass from Claude Makelele, then appeared to add a second in the 31st, with Vieira heading in Zidane's corner kick.

Except Mexican referee Benito Archundia, fooled as goalkeeper Lee Woon Jae -- a good two or three feet inside his net -- parried the ball back onto the field, didn't reward Vieira. France didn't protest and the decision would later prove haunting.

``I feel as my players do -- I'm disappointed, of course,'' France coach Raymond Domenech said when it was over. ``(It was frustrating) to not be able to turn the game around and score a second goal ... but, of course, we scored a second goal, but the referee did not recognize that.''

Proclaimed Henry: ``If you look at the picture, the ball entered the goal. Referees rapidly give yellow cards, but they can't make the right decision (on something so important).''

France seemed to be playing at about three-quarter speed, at best, from that point; still in command but in no hurry to add to the advantage. Then Advocaat brought on Ahn Jung Hwan, who had come off the bench to score the winner against Togo. It was again an inspired choice. Ahn and Park quickly turned the game on its head. The Koreans followed foray by foray, and France could do little but clear the ball and await the next thrust.

A quick sequence from midfield pulled the Red Devils even. Right back Lee Young Pyo played a ball ahead to Ahn, who sent it to Seol Ki Hyeon. He beat Eric Abidal on the right wing and crossed to the far post, and Cho Jae Jim headed it back into the goalmouth.

Park got a touch on the ball, deflecting it over Barthez and over William Gallas, who chased it as it bounced slowly inside the right post.

Henry had another chance -- goalkeeper Lee stopped him 1-on-1 in the 85th minute -- but France's frustration was spilling over. Zidane pushed aside one player to feed Henry for the chance, then knocked down another after the save.

Archundia had no choice but to show Zidane a yellow card, his second of the tournament, forcing the legend to miss the match against Togo. If France fails to advance Zidane's career is over.

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South Korea's Park Ji Sung (7) and Ahn Jung-Hwan celebrate after Park scores the equalizer in the 81st minute to deny France the victory Sunday.

Eckehard Schulz/Getty Images