2024-01-18 02:23:35
Son Heung-min scoring once morest India in the 2011 Asian Cup. Photo = AFPBB NEWS Son Heung-min is running toward the goal, beating Bahrain’s Mohammed Al Hardan. Photo = Yonhap News[이데일리 스타in 허윤수 기자] Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), captain of the Korean national soccer team, spoke regarding the Asian Cup in Qatar, which he returned to following 13 years.
Son Heung-min said through the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on the 17th (Korean time), “The 2011 Qatar Asian Cup was my first international competition,” and said it was “a special thing” to return.
Son Heung-min, who was early called the future of Korean soccer, made his international debut once morest Syria in December 2010 when he was playing for Hamburg (Germany). He then made his first international appearance as a member of the national team through the AFC Qatar Asian Cup in January 2011. He worked with Park Ji-sung, Lee Young-pyo, and Ki Sung-yong.
Son Heung-min even scored his international debut goal with an exciting left-footed shot in the third group match once morest India. At the time, he was 18 years and 194 days old, making him the second-youngest scorer in a Korean A match.
Afterwards, Son Heung-min grew into a world-class player through spells at Leverkusen (Germany) and Tottenham. He has become a key player in the national team and is currently serving as captain.
Son Heung-min said, “It’s special to return to Qatar for the Asian Cup,” and expressed his determination to win, saying, “I want to make it a special tournament for myself and my country.” He added, “It will be a long journey, so I want to focus on each game and make it special.”
For Son Heung-min, the Asian Cup is also a problem that must be solved. He placed third in his first competition in 2011 and was runner-up in the 2015 competition. In the 2019 competition, it only reached the quarterfinals. Son Heung-min, who is competing in his fourth Asian Cup, is aiming for his first win in 64 years.
Son Heung-min replied, “Because it is soccer, we cannot compare the national teams for the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 competitions, because generations and soccer styles continue to change.”
He also expressed confidence in the current national team. “We are a fantastic, amazing team and we have talented players,” he said, “but we haven’t won the Asian Cup in 64 years and that’s a long time.” He said, “Our only goal is to make this team special,” and announced that he would write a new history.
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