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| Jens Kastrov made his starting debut in the national team's No. 23 jersey against Mexico on the 10th. He played 45 minutes on the day and left a strong impact. AFP Yonhap News |
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You can see what type of player Jens Kastroff (23, Borussia Mönchengladbach), who left a strong impact on the debut stage of the Korean national soccer A team, is.
Castrov started as a central midfielder in an A-match friendly match against Mexico at Geodyspark in Nashville, Tennessee on the 10th (Korea time) and actively played on the ground for 45 minutes before being replaced by Kim Jin-kyu (Jeonbuk) at halftime.
Castrov, who made his national team debut by playing as a substitute in the second half of a short time against the U.S., was his second A match and first start, but it was impressive to see him naturally melt into the team as if he had already worked with existing players several times. Born to a Korean mother and a German father, and raised in Germany, Kastrov was selected for the A-match list in September after changing his affiliation from the German Football Association to the Korean Football Association in August. He is the first member of the mixed-race national team who was born abroad.
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| Kastroff dribbles away from a tackle after intercepting a ball from Mexican midfielder Marcel Ruiz in the 10th minute of the first half against Mexico. AP Yonhap News |
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Castrov showed a wide range of activities for 45 minutes, regardless of the opponent's camp, our camp, and the left and right, energizing coach Hong Myung-bo as he expected. He recorded a team-high five recoveries, six tackle attempts and three blockings during the first half.
In the second minute of the first half, he stole the ball of Mexican fullback Matteo Chavez in the final third, bringing tension to the Mexican defense. In the 10th minute, Mexico midfielder Marcel Luiz did not miss a ball control miss near the half-line and stole the ball and launched a quick counterattack. The ball was delivered into the box through Lee Kang-in and Kim Moon-hwan, and Bae Jun-ho's shot slightly off the post and unfortunately failed to score.
In the 20th minute, Lee Kang-in sensibly used the outfront to poke a space pass, and Oh Hyun-kyu, who caught the ball, faced a one-on-one situation with the opposing goalkeeper. Although Oh Hyun-kyu's shot missed and ended in nothing, it was also Castrov who blocked the ball and connected it to Lee Kang-in in this scene that caught Mexico off guard.
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| Kastroff is seriously engaged in shooting training at the team's training ground. Photo courtesy = Korea Football Association |
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Like Claude Makerele, who served as an active player in the Real Madrid and French national teams to connect the pass to Zinedine Zidane, Castrov connected most of the balls, consciously or unconsciously, to Lee Kang-in, the playmaker. Kastrov's pressure has nourished the generation of good chances.
During the first half, Castrov had a war of words with Mexican coach Javier Aguirre. It is not an easy scene for existing Korean players. Kastroff "I try to concentrate on the game as much as I can and pour everything out. I was in a situation where I was fouled, but (Director Aguirre)'It's nothing, what are you doing? I just reacted by saying, 'Get up' It wasn't an emotional situation, it was something that could happen during the game."
Kastrov made headlines by singing the national anthem before the game. He said "The moment the national anthem came out, I remembered what I learned at home, so I sang along naturally" Presumably, he received early education for the Korean national anthem from his Korean mother. It is said that Kastrov's mother shed tears while watching Kastrov's debut on TV against the U.S. Castrov said "My family was happy, and I was honored to make my national team debut as well."
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| Kastroff carried out the task of 'taking the ball away and connecting it to Lee Kang-in'. Photo courtesy = Korea Football Association |
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Through this two consecutive games, Kastroff clearly impressed Hong, who is considering the final entry of the World Cup, and soccer fans who were looking forward to the emergence of a new person. "I could have run a little longer today, but it's a shame," Kastroff said. "There was a little mistake today, but I have to correct it. "My goal is to be selected in the A match next month." He did not hide his desire to re-attach the national team.
Hong Myung-bo, who beat the U.S. 2-0 in an away match in the U.S. and tied Mexico 2-2, is scheduled to face Brazil and Paraguay in October.
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| Showing a hug with fellow midfielder Baek Seung-ho in the match against the U.S. on the 7th. AFP Yonhap News |
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
