Chapter 179 – There Is No Number of Cases (1)
179
Korea, which played a friendly match against a domestic professional league team before leaving, left for Salzburg, Austria, a stopover on June 1st.
『Taegeuk Warriors who promise victory!』
『”This time it’s different!!” Coach Oh Ji-je who is confident of advancing to the round of 16』
『(Photo) 26 Taegeuk Warriors and Hong Min-jun』
After advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the first World Cup in the 2010s, Korean soccer has suffered a long period of stagnation.
The recession that began in the 2010s continued into the 2020s, and the people’s expectations, which had been falling day by day, returned again with the appearance of Bae Chan-sik and outstanding players named Yu Man-gi, who appeared after a long time.
The appearance of two players active in the EPL since Son Hong-min, who led the last golden age of Korean soccer, was enough to bring back the expectations of Korean soccer fans who were tired of disappointment.
However, even the EPL duo Bae Chan-sik and Yu Man-ki, who rose to the national team ace with high expectations from the whole nation, could not break the World Cup slump.
The Korean national team continued to be sluggish in 2020, repeatedly kneeling in the group stage.
Around the time when the national team was overcome with self-deprecating disappointment that group play was their original skill, the Olympic team, which had been ridiculed as the “Valley generation”, Achieved a runner-up finish.
It was from then.
The people’s expectations for the national team have returned.
The people’s anticipation for Hong Min-jun and Yoon Hyuk, the two main players of the Olympic runner-up, was great.
In particular, the background of being a college leaguer brought a national consensus, and the growth story of a player who came up from the bottom rather than a good player from the beginning was known through documentaries or personal broadcasts, making the whole nation impressed.
That is why the national interest in the 2034 World Cup in Italy was enormous enough to surprise the KFA.
The national team has lived up to those expectations admirably.
The national team, which arrived in Salzburg, Austria on June 1st, started with an evaluation match against Honduras on the following 4th and even won a closed evaluation match against Ghana on the 8th, raising expectations.
The match against Honduras was relayed because it was an open evaluation match, but the match against Ghana was held privately and only the result could be known, but the people were delighted with the news they heard knowingly.
It was on June 9th, 5 days before the World Cup, that the national team entered Italy, where the World Cup will be held after two rounds of evaluation.
It was the opening of the world football festival World Cup.
* * *
『World Cup Group E Power Analysis』
“The opening of the 2034 World Cup in Italy is just around the corner.
Since 2010, Korea has repeatedly had to kneel in the group stage.
Will he be able to fulfill his wish of advancing to the round of 16 in this World Cup?
In that sense, let’s take the time to analyze the power of Group E, which belongs to Korea.
Korea and Group E are Argentina in Port 1, Switzerland in Port 2, Nigeria in Port 3, and South Korea in Port 4.
What is the prediction for Group E, which is a mix of Asia and Europe, South America and Africa?
Experts evaluate Argentina in the first place, Switzerland and Nigeria in the second place, and Korea in the first place.
Argentina advances to first place, and Switzerland and Nigeria compete for second place.
Experts picked South Korea as the most important variable in the competition for second place. Realistically, it was difficult to advance to the round of 16, but it was expected that a fierce counterattack led by several quality players, including Hong Min-jun, would sprinkle red pepper powder.
Then, what about Korea’s relative history?
Korea has advanced to the World Cup finals 12 times until the last tournament, and has played a total of 40 matches.
The combined record was 8 wins, 12 draws and 22 losses, showing a win rate of less than 20%.
He scored 38 goals and conceded 79 goals, twice that amount.
By continent, they faced European teams 26 times, recording 6 wins, 7 draws and 13 losses, recording a win rate of 21.7%, while winning only once against South American teams (2 draws and 4 losses) and North and Central America teams (1 draw and 3 losses). There is no
The match against the African team is a little better, showing 1 win, 2 draws and 1 loss.
Considering this, the region that the Korean team has the most difficulty with is the Americas, which includes North and Central America as well as South America.
On the other hand, they are recording a unique record of victories against soccer powerhouses such as Italy and Portugal, as well as Germany, the ‘Tank Corps’ and Spain, the ‘Invincible Armada’, as well as against African teams.
Considering that Korea is realistically aiming for second place in the group, it can be said that it is rather a good thing that Argentina, which is expected to be ranked first in the group, is a South American team that Korea has traditionally struggled with.
The match against Switzerland and Nigeria, which will compete for second place, is 1 draw and 1 loss.
Switzerland, the only European team in Group E, met in 2006 and lost after an offside controversy.
However, considering the tight performance at the time, it is a relatively ‘worthy’ opponent.
Pot 3’s ‘Super Eagles’ Nigeria had a draw in the group stage in 2010.
It is an opponent that cannot be careless as much as a strong player in African tradition, but soccer officials evaluate it as a worthy opponent.
Will Korea be able to achieve its goal of advancing to the round of 16 at the 2034 World Cup in Italy?”
-Please… Please let me go to the round of 16 this time!!
— AhhahaCalculate the number of King Woohaha
—King God, General Emperor, Neo Armstrong, Min-Jun will do it for you.
—But this time, he really has the ability to be a king… EPL duo Bae Chan-sik, Yoo Man-ki and Hong Min-joon and Yoon-hyeok combination? AhhahaI can afford the round of 16haha
—Are you guys being fooled like that?
— No remodeling lol
—Japan also succeeds in advancing to the round of 16. Which country fails every time?
—Asia’s tigers.
—Ahhh, FC Korea is really losing energy. This time, please go to the round of 16.
It was a time when Korea was heating up ahead of the World Cup.
The national team, which entered Italy, was undergoing final checks at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi in Verona, Veneto, where the first match was to be held.
It is the home stadium of Hellas Verona F.C., Which travels between Serie A and Serie B, and was a historic stadium where the Korean national team played the first match against Belgium in the 1990 Italy World Cup.
“This is where Korea played their first game in the 1990 World Cup in Italy.”
After the promised training time, I was packing my belongings for the next team, but the coach suddenly called the team together and started talking about the old days.
“At the time, Korea had an overwhelming record in the Asian qualifiers, recording 9 wins, 2 draws, and 30 goals and only 1 goal, but lost 0:2 against Belgium in the first match of the World Cup. The group we belong to is Group E. Then in the 1990 World Cup in Italy? We were also in Group E then.”
It was a strange thing.
Korea, who played their first match at this stadium in Group E of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, is about to play their first match at this stadium in Group E of the 2034 World Cup in Italy.
“We’ve done well so far. We’ve done much better than I thought. In the Asian qualifiers, we ended the difficult Iran Azadi expedition with a huge victory, and also achieved an overwhelming victory in the friendly match to prepare for the World Cup. It’s like an overwhelming victory in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Just like Korea, where we entered.”
The next practice teams waiting for their turn appear on the ground.
World Cup Group E 1st match, the Argentine team to face Korea.
“Even though our seniors lost the first game, I believe we will be different. In the World Cup and on the world stage, we are always the underdog. But if the weak lose, is that football? Look.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Hong Min-jun.
Hong Min-jun, who was watching the Argentine national team with a blank face, looked around in surprise, and laughter flowed from all over the place.
“Who would have thought that Frankfurt, which had just been promoted from the second division, would win the Europa League by beating a prominent team. It has been 54 years. Are you there?”
“There is not!”
“We’ll win and advance!!”
“Because I’m going to the round of 16~ I’m going to go to Mars~!”
“Who’s playing with me.”
“…Sorry.”
Senior Pyo-shik Oh quickly lowered his head.
The Argentine team, who was stretching, glanced at this side, and a person who looked like a coaching staff beckoned.
Judging by the hand gestures, it seems that he wants to leave quickly.
At that gesture, the director stood cross-legged, nodded his head with an impudent face, and continued talking casually.
“Fuck, it’s an unpleasant hand gesture. Hey, it’s annoying because it’s annoying. Hiddink did that. Cutting off training time is all psychological warfare.”
After giving a serious speech, everyone burst into laughter at the unexpected coming out of the bully.
Well, the anecdote that the Dutch national team, which used the training ground before the Korean team during the World Cup, did not get out of the way even after a while is famous.
Hiddink, who was brazenly proud of the Korean team’s request to get out of the way, ate an hour out of the two-hour training session and then disappeared.
And well, I met Korea in the game and presented a 0:5 loss.
After that, he took over as coach of the Korean national team, and that was Coach Hiddink, who created the miracle of 2002.
“But do we have to be so mean? Do we have to go this far against them?”
It was around the time the Argentine coach started getting annoyed that the coach spoke again.
“Psychological warfare is only done when you’re not confident of winning. If you’re sure of winning, you don’t need psychological warfare, right?”
“You’re right!”
“Okay. Let’s pack up quickly. …It’s not because I’m scared, kids. You know?”
“…”
June 14, 2034.
The World Cup Group E Korea vs Argentina match has begun.