◀ Anchor ▶
Going into the tournament, we didn’t have high expectations for this team.
We didn’t have a clear star player like Lee Kang-in from the last tournament, and we had very few captains.
However, our players came together as one and showed tremendous performance, defeating the top teams one after the other and creating an uplifting rebellion.
Kim Soo-geun is a reporter.
◀ Report ▶
Lee Seung-woo showed off his spectacular dribbling.
Lee Kang-in was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
In the past two editions of the tournament, the national team had a big star leading the way.
But this time, the national team is different.
There are no recognizable stars, and very few players play for the national team.
So there was less interest in the lead-up to the tournament.
I felt sorry for those players.
[Kim Eun-joong/U-20 National Team coach].
“I had no expectations, I had a lot of concerns, and I didn’t know much about our players, so I was upset about that part as well, but I’m grateful to the players for believing in me and the coaching staff.”
The players responded to their coach’s tears with a surprise drenching.
However, their play was tremendous.
Lee Young-joon, who has only played 54 minutes in the K League this year, stunned the world with a stunning header to knock out France in the first leg, and then with a fantastic trapping and volley in the round of 16.
[Lee Young-joon/U-20 National Team]
“I think the team is coming together and believing that we can make it this far and that we can go even higher.”
College player Choi Seok-hyun’s performance was also a drama.
A penalty kick foul in the group stage…
He was even sent off, which could have been disheartening.
Instead, he made up for his mistake by scoring two consecutive goals in the round of 16 and quarterfinals to help his team reach the quarterfinals.
[Choi Seok-hyun/U-20 National Team]
“I can’t describe how I feel, it’s so good, there’s no secret, Seungwon put me up so well…”
And the player Choi praised, Lee Seung-won, hasn’t even made his professional debut yet, but he’s already the tournament’s top assist leader with four assists from set pieces alone.
Playing one more step with silence rather than flamboyance…
Even when he stumbles and gets hit in the face…
Players who get up and give it their all for their team 메이저놀이터.
A team that is already so good that they don’t forget about their teammates who went home first due to injury and rejoice with them in that jersey.
The confidence that they can go even higher is also growing.
I’m Kim Soo-geun from MBC News.