2024-03-24 06:57:36
Korea, Thailand and North and Central America World Cup 2nd qualifier 4th round ‘return match’ on the 26th
Lee Kang-in, interested in whether to start or not… Joo Min-gyu scores his A-match debut goal once more
The Korean national soccer team, ahead of its return match once morest Thailand, is hoping for a victory thanks to the fantastic chemistry between Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Lee Jae-seong (Mainz), who are the same age and born in 1992.
The Korean national team, temporarily led by coach Hwang Seon-hong, will play an away match once morest Thailand in the 4th game of Group C of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asian region second qualifying round at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand at 9:30 pm (Korean time) on the 26th.
Korea scored the first goal in the third home game once morest Thailand held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 21st, but gave up an equalizer and drew 1-1.
A victory was desperately needed as the game was played in a situation where fans’ trust had fallen due to a physical clash between Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) and Son Heung-min that occurred within the national team ahead of the Asian Cup semifinals last February, but the disappointment was even greater as it ended in a draw.
Although it ended in a draw, Son Heung-min’s first goal, assisted by fellow player Lee Jae-sung, was a great consolation to the fans who filled the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Putting their disappointments aside, the ‘Hwangseonhongho’ Taegeuk Warriors, who went on a trip to Thailand on the 22nd, began their first local adaptation training on the evening of the 23rd and began preparing for a victory in the return match once morest Thailand.
Until the third match of Group C of the World Cup 2nd qualifying round, Korea recorded 2 wins and 1 draw (7 points, +8 goal difference), followed by Thailand (4 points, +1 goal difference) and China (4 points, -2 goal difference). , taking the lead over Singapore (1 point, -7 goal difference).
If Korea wins this trip to Thailand, it will accumulate 10 points and cross the ‘9th ridge’ to advance to the final qualifying round.
Then, if they earn just 1 point in the remaining two games scheduled once morest Singapore and China in June, they will secure at least second place in the group and advance to the final qualifying round.
However, if they are caught by Thailand, Korea will not be able to let go of tension until the final match of the second preliminary round.
◇ ‘Fantastic chemistry born in 1992, once once more!’
Among the 23 Taegeuk Warriors who participated in the international match in March, four were born in 1992, including ‘Captain’ Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-seong, Kwon Gyeong-won (Suwon FC), and Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk). They are 31 to 32 years old and are virtually the main players of the national team.
Following those born in 1992, there are three people born in 1996 (Hwang In-beom, Kim Min-jae, Jo Yu-min) and 1999 (Jung Woo-young, Song Min-gyu, Hong Hyun-seok).
In the third match of the second preliminary round once morest Thailand, the performance of those born in ’92 stood out.
In the 42nd minute of the first half, the national team, which was blocked by Thailand’s dense defense and had difficulty finding a way to attack, scored with Son Heung-min’s left foot from the left corner of the goal area on a cutback passed by Lee Jae-sung from the left corner of the penalty area.
In particular, Lee Jae-seong, who started as an attacking midfielder, played devotedly throughout the pitch until he was replaced by Cho Kyu-seong (Midtjylland) in the 29th minute of the second half.
Looking at the heat map of the match once morest Thailand, Lee Jae-sung left his mark not only in the front line, but also in the midfield, flanks, and back.
Son Heung-min, who received help from Lee Jae-seong, scored his 45th goal in his 124th international match, continuing his position as the third highest scorer in the Korean national team’s all-time international matches, following Cha Bum-geun (58 goals) and Hwang Seon-hong (50 goals).
Son Heung-min, who has reduced the scoring gap in international matches with Coach Hwang, who is currently temporarily leading the national team, to 5 goals, is expected to succeed in ‘surpassing Hwang Seon-hong’ within this year.
Son Heung-min, who scored a goal in the third game once morest Thailand, is determined to narrow the gap by scoring multiple goals in the ‘return match’ of the fourth game.
Coach Hwang also met with reporters locally on the 23rd and said, “Son Heung-min must quickly break my record. He is, by extension, the player who should have the best record in Korea. “I think he will continue to do well,” he said, expressing his strong faith.
◇ Lee Kang-in challenges ‘starter and attack points’… Will Joo Min-gyu be able to score his debut goal in the A match?
Another topic of discussion for the national team on their trip to Thailand is ‘Lee Kang-in’s revival.’ Lee Kang-in, who had caused great disappointment to fans due to his clash with Son Heung-min, bowed his head in apology to the fans ahead of national team training on the 20th, saying, “I will become a more exemplary person.”
Lee Kang-in, who started the third game once morest Thailand on the bench, replaced Jung Woo-young in the 19th minute of the second half, but as he was unable to score the expected attack points, attention is focused on his starting appearance and scoring ability in this return match.
In addition, fans are also paying attention to whether Joo Min-gyu (Ulsan), who wore the Taegeuk symbol as a ‘late starter’, will start for the second consecutive game.
Joo Min-gyu, who made his international debut as the oldest ever (33 years, 343 days) through the match once morest Thailand on the 21st, is desperately hoping to score his international debut goal in this return match as he only recorded one shot.
Union
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