Korean soccer is continuing its brisk pace as it aims to win the Asian Games for the third time in a row.
The U-24 national soccer team, led by coach Hwang Seon-hong, defeated Bahrain 3-0 in the final match of Group E of the men’s soccer group stage of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held at Jinhua Sports Center Stadium in China on the 24th. Korea, which defeated Kuwait and Thailand 9-0 and 4-0, respectively, passed the group stage with an overwhelming record of 16 goals and 3 consecutive wins without conceding any goals. In particular, in the game against Bahrain, Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) appeared for the first time. It was put into action three days after entering the field on the 21st.
He didn’t overdo it. Lee Kang-in, who started as a midfielder in charge of the center of the second line of attack, was replaced in the 35th minute of the first half. Even though it was a short period of time, the impact was sufficient. Given his free-roll role, he not only held his own, but roamed every nook and cranny of his opponent’s camp.
The bold forward pass, soft touch on the ball, and clever pressure were also impressive. He proved himself as a star at a big European club. The chemistry with his colleagues was also dazzling. The scene where he created a decisive goal opportunity with a non-stop pass to Jung Woo-young (Stuttgart) was a highlight.
Lee Kang-in’s condition was the biggest issue of ‘Hwang Seon-hong-ho’. Having recently recovered from a hamstring injury, he has had quite a bit of absence from practice. Concentrating on his rehabilitation, all he did was play 10 extra minutes in the first match at home in the UEFA Champions League group stage against Dortmund (Germany) on the 20th. He was also called up to the U-24 national team for the first time. Director Hwang hoped to join early, but conditions did not allow it.메이저사이트
Everything was for naught. Lee Kang-in, who ran longer than the originally planned 30 minutes, showed off his health. In ‘Hwangseonhongho’, Lee Kang-in is recognized by everyone as the best weapon. The round of 16 match against Kyrgyzstan, which will be held at the same venue on the 27th, will be a one-off match. Losing means elimination. The most burdensome journey begins.
Korea has not had a crisis yet. But you can’t let down your guard. The tournament stage is different. I remember that at the Jakarta-Palembang tournament five years ago, Kim Hak-beom played a bloody overtime match in the quarterfinals against Uzbekistan. If you fail to score early or give up the first goal, everything goes wrong. As time passes, you may be chased.
With the addition of Lee Kang-in, the power of ‘Hwang Seon-hong-ho’ has become even stronger. With ample attack options, more diverse combinations are possible. “There is still a lot of room for improvement. Everyone is of one mind. We need to come together as a team and help each other. Lee Kang-in’s will is that “team performance, not individual performance, is important.”