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| photo courtesy of the Korea Football Association |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Football Association |
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| 사진=Yonhap News |
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"It's an experience that money can't do. That's how we have to grow again."
South Korean soccer has made a new history. For the first time in a FIFA competition, he won the 'top seed of his own power.' Chung Jung-yong, managing director of Gimcheon, and Kim Eun-joong, head coach of Suwon FC, who helped Korea's new history, cheered for another history to be born with real advice.
South Korea's U-20 national team, led by head coach Lee Chang-won, will play in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile in September. Expectations are high. This tournament is full of overseas players, including Kim Tae-won (Portimonens), born in 2005, Yang Min-hyuk (Tottenham), and Yoon Do-young (Daejeon Hana Citizen, Brighton), born in 2006. Many players play in the K League, including Shin Min-ha (Gangwon FC), Kim Gyeol (Gimpo FC), and Baek Ga-on (Busan I'Park).
The draw isn't bad either. As a result of the draw held last month, Ukraine (2 ports, September 27), Paraguay (4 ports, September 30) and Panama (3 ports, October 3) will compete in Group B. What should be noted is Korea's location. This time, Korea is proudly in the 'Port 1'. He has reached Port 1 as a host country such as the 2017 U-20 World Cup, but it is the first time on his own. An official from the Korea Football Association "It is the first time in Korean men's and women's soccer that he has made the Port 1 on his own. The port will be determined according to the result of the total performance of the past five competitions. The more recent the competition, the higher the extra points. The winner of each continental tournament will be given an additional five points.
South Korea has made a series of positive performances at the recent U-20 World Cup. He finished second at the 2019 Polish Games, which was led by head coach Chung Jung-yong. Korean men's soccer team stepped on the podium for the first time in a FIFA competition. At the 2023 Argentina tournament led by head coach Kim Eun-joong, he advanced to the semifinals. South Korea has shown its power to reach the semifinals for two consecutive tournaments (the 2021 tournament was canceled due to COVID-19). In the 2017 tournament in South Korea, head coach Shin Tae-yong led the round of 16. He failed to advance to the finals at the 2015 New Zealand Games and reached the quarterfinals at the 2013 Turkiye Games. 'Lee Chang-won-ho' enjoyed the joy of 'top seed' on the strength that Korean soccer has honed so far.
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Football Association |
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| 사진=Yonhap News |
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| 사진=Yonhap News |
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Coach Kim Eun-joong, who helped the history of Korean soccer, said, "If it is \'Port 1', there is an advantage in the group formation. First of all, performance and physical strength seem to be the most important part right now. The more players (in his team) play, the better. This is because it is not easy to increase the physical strength of the game. There are still three months left until the World Cup. If I prepare well, I think I'll get good results even when I go to Chile." Coach Chung Jung-yong also said, `Players' physical strength is important. We still have three months left, so we can prepare well.'
Both coaches also raised concerns about 'recruitment of players'. Coach Kim said, `In our time, we didn't have much time to prepare, such as changing the host country. Even the overseas players were able to pick up the team at the last minute. These days, there are parts that are not easy to get." At that time, he tried to transfer Lee Hyun-joo (Bayern Munich), but failed to achieve his goal. Coach Chung also had the experience of not being able to recruit Jung Woo-young (then Bayern Munich).
'Lee Chang-won' will participate in an international friendly match in Cairo, Egypt, until the 10th. Norway (1:00 a.m. on the 7th) and Brazil (7:30 p.m. on the 10th) will clash in succession. Coach Kim and coach Chung said, `It's a good experience to go to the World Cup. It's a good thing to let the experience last as long as possible. Money can't do that. That's how you grow again."
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
