"I've been waiting for this moment for 20 years. I don't want anyone to touch the trophy.(laughs)"
On the 16th, Ji So-yeon cheered as she lifted the trophy for the first time in 20 years.
On October 30, 2006, Ji So-yeon, who won the youngest Taegeuk mark at the age of 15, was the first trophy in 19 years on the women's team. Ji So-yeon, who led the under-20 World Cup third place in 2010, led each team, including England Chelsea and Japan's Kobe Ainak, without fail to win the title, but she did not reach the national team. In the 2022 Asian Cup final, he was runner-up with a 2-3 come-from-behind loss to China, and he had to swallow his anger by collecting only bronze medals three times in a row at the Asian Games.
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| Photo =Korea Football Association |
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| Photo =Korea Football Association |
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| 출처=KFA |
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There were many days when I was disappointed, wasted, and shed tears. There were many days when I was frustrated in front of a wall of disjointed domestic women's soccer, which was completely different from the daily life I encountered in the English and American leagues. But I never gave up. For 20 years, I clenched my teeth and ran with all my might. The door to victory, which seemed unlikely to open, finally opened. After China and Japan overturned expectations and drew 0-0, South Korea won 2-0 against Taiwan, bringing South Korea a gift-like victory in 20 years.
Ji So-yeon, the first winner in 20 years, stood in the first row with Kim Hye-ri and lifted the trophy herself. 'Captain' Lee Geum-min willingly gave up the opportunity to receive the trophy to her sisters. After Ji So-yeon and Kim Hye-ri, who were on the podium together at the '2020 World Cup in 2010, Lee Geum-min and Jang Seul-ki in the second row raised the trophy once again, and their juniors alternately raised the trophy and cheered. Lee Geum-min "So-yeon rarely asks for a favor, but she asks for it in the locker room. Of course, I did it because I know how long my sisters have been waiting for this moment and how they feel better than anyone else."
Ji So-yeon laughed, saying, `Maybe no one could touch the trophy.' "I waited 20 years for this moment. I said first that I don't want anyone to touch the trophy (laughs)." "It took too long to win. It took me 20 years and I'm so happy. Those times were not in vain and I struggled with myself for continuing to endure It's a moment I want to tell you. I think I've tried my best to win at home," he said with a smile.
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| Ji So-yeon breaking through |
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Lee Mi-yeon, director of the Korea Football Association (Munkyung Sangmu), who said she was tearful at the achievements of her juniors, commented in a word that `the tournament was worth Ji So-yeon's name.' Ji So-yeon took over the ball that would flow out of the box and fired a powerful cannonball shot near the end of the second half's extra time, when she was losing the first game, 1-2 against China. The shot was drawn into the net in a picturesque trajectory. The team was saved with a sharp equalizer that blew the heat at once, a wonder goal proving why Ji So-yeon was.
After a 1-1 draw with Japan, her toes also shone in the match against Taiwan, which is 'If We Win, We Win.'" In the 25th minute of the second half, Kang Chae-rim's penalty chance, and the desperate match that will determine the direction of her victory in 20 years 'Veteran Kang Heart' she stood in front of the goal without fear. A low and fast shot shook the net. Ji So-yeon's 74th goal in 169 A matches in Ji So-yeon's 'Living Legends', in which every game and every goal is history, became the winning goal for the first time in 20 years.
She was a leader in a scene where no matter how veteran I was, I had no choice but to feel burdened. Ji So-yeon "Honestly, I was very nervous, too. I didn't want to kick either. I asked if there was anyone confident, but no one answered.", he said, explaining the reason why he stepped out as a kicker. "Everyone hesitated, so I thought I should kick it. I was willing to give up my kicker position if someone wanted to kick with positivity. I kicked this time, but I hope there will be a free kicker or a penalty kicker in the futureHe aspired to the growth and struggle of his juniors.
As desperate as he needed to win, Ji So-yeon volunteered to play a villain in and out of the ground as well. "It was so frustrating in the first half. In the halftime locker room 'If you do this, you won't win. I must get my act together,' he said angrily. Young friends who saw him so angry for the first time must have been surprised." The juniors answered the desperate cries of the world class senior, who had a chance to win for the first time in 20 years, with a fighting spirit to take another step, and finally completed the winning mission.
On this day, Ji So-yeon "We need to blame ourselves for Jeong Da-bin's missed chances several times."Then "It's going to be very disappointing and hard. But he is still a 20-year-old young player and a process. If I make up for my shortcomings, I will be a good player," he said, giving warm encouragement. Until the call-up in November, both veteran and young players should do their best in their respective teams. Only when each individual is strong can the national team be strong. Let's meet in November with more growth and maturity, he encouraged. I don't mean to be content with one win. She is dreaming of the best moment in women's soccer with her young juniors at the Asian Cup in Australia in January next year and the Women's World Cup in Brazil in 2027.
The first victory ceremony in 20 years and the first East Asian Cup championship by beating North Korea and China in 2005 with Yoo Young-sil, coach of Seoul City Hall, Song Joo-hee, coach of KHNP, and Lee Mi-yeon, director of the Korea Football Association (Mun Kyung Sangmu), were all moved by the scene where they were happy about their achievements. It was a heart-wrenching moment when the past, present and future of Korean women's soccer became one with winning history.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
