It was a planned “outside” created by thorough “preparation.”
The U-20 national team, led by head coach Kim Eun-joong, won 2-1 with consecutive goals by Lee Seung-won (Gangwon FC) and Lee Young-joon (Kimcheon Sangmu) in the first Group Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) U-20 World Cup. This is the first time that South Korea has defeated France at the U-20 World Cup. Lost 2-4 in 1997 and 1-3 in 2011.
Kim Eun-joong won a ticket to the World Cup finals by reaching the semifinals at the last U-20 Asian Cup. In the U-20 World Cup, 24 teams will be divided into six groups of four teams, and the tournament will continue by selecting the round of 16 with 12 teams in the first and second place in each group and 4 teams in the third place in the group. Kim Eun-joong, who defeated France, who was considered the strongest in Group F in the first match, occupied an advantageous position to advance to the round of 16, the first goal. Kim Eun-joong was in a group with France, Honduras and Gambia in the tournament.스포츠토토
Kim Eun-joong put all his energy into the first game. Head coach Kim quickly set up a base camp in Brazil after the host country was changed from Indonesia to Argentina. He left the country on the 7th and adjusted to climate and time difference in Brazil for 10 days. He also raised his condition. Most of the Kim Eun-joong players were unable to play, so their physical strength in the game was drastically reduced. In particular, he prepared a customized tactic against France. Head coach Kim expressed his intention to focus on the first game. He also played two practice matches there. They all won.
France was obviously not an easy opponent. He advanced to the semifinals at the UEFA U-19 Championship and scored 12 goals in four matches in the same tournament. France reached the top of the 2013 tournament and is a traditional powerhouse that has consistently performed well. Head coach Kim said, “France is a team with good personal skills and physical strength. “We will prepare for this with systematic cooperative defense and rapid transition to offense and defense,” he said.
Kim pulled out a 4-1-4-1 card. Originally marked 3–4-3 on the FIFA site, he played as a unique four-back. Lee Young-joon stands on the front line, and Kim Yong-hak (Portimonense) on the left and right Kang Sung-jin (FC Seoul) is located. “Ace” Bae Joon-ho (Daejeon Hana Citizen), who has minor muscle injuries, was excluded from the starting lineup, and professional defensive midfielder Lee Chan-wook (Gyeongnam FC) was put in instead. He formed a midfield with Lee Seung-won and Kang Sang-yoon (Jeonbuk Hyundai). Bae Seo-joon (Daejeon), Kim Ji-soo (Seongnam FC), Choi Seok-hyun (Dankook University), and Park Chang-woo (Jeonbuk) formed four backs. Kim Joon-hong (Kim Cheon) kept the goal unchanged.
Kim Eun-joong faced off with a counterattack strategy after the defense. Odobert-Jouju-Birginius focused on preventing fast and skilled opponent Three-Top. Kim’s solution was central. It was almost impossible to stop Virginius, a French shareholder with superior skills, one-on-one. Instead, Kim blocked the center tightly. Always had a numerical advantage in the center. Lee Chan-wook, who can even play the center back, has come down deep into the defensive area. Focusing on Kim Ji-soo, who receives a love call from Brentford, he blocked his opponent without being shaken by many crosses from his opponent. On this day, France attempted as many as 45 crosses, but only 10 of them were successful. There was hardly anything connected to a valid shot. France’s destructive power was halved when the sides were blocked.
During the attack, he made a quick counterattack. The first goal also came from a counterattack. It was a very concise and high-quality counterattack scene. Kim Eun-jung, who blocked the opponent’s corner kick in the 22nd minute of the first half, Kang Sung-jin handed the ball to Kim Yong-hak. Kim Yong-hak gave up the ball to Lee Seung-won, who was penetrating after breaking through from the left side. Lee Seung-won scored his first goal of the tournament with a calm right-footed finish. South Korea has consistently suffered from poor defense with quick pressure. Even though he curled up, he attempted bold forward pressure if necessary, creating an opportunity. It wasn’t just a counterattack. The set piece preparation was also good. In the 19th minute of the second half, Lee Young-joon scored the winning goal with a sensational header from Lee Seung-won’s free kick. It was a score made with a prepared pattern.
Coach Kim’s mercenary skills also stood out. He changed players one beat faster. When the players were exhausted, they quickly put in new players to maintain their existing strategy. In the 25th minute of the second half, the referee gave up a penalty kick goal and maintained the atmosphere with an appropriate replacement. Of course, the players’ concentration and determination were good. The defensive organization was consistently unshakable and blocked the opponent’s offensive with its whole body. Goalkeeper Kim Joon-hong collided with the opponent’s striker in the process of giving up a penalty kick, causing a strain on his body, but he showed a good defense until the end.
Kim Eun-joong’s share was 30-57 and shooting 9-23, but he caught the most important result with perfect preparation and clear concept. Head coach Kim said, “We prepared well against France, the favorite to win.” He prepared a counter attack while defending well. Our defenders didn’t lose points with concentration until the end. “The players followed me well,” he said with a smile. Captain Lee Seung-won, who scored “one goal-1 assist,” also said, “I think we showed the fast transition to offense and defense that we prepared.” Kim Eun-joong, who announced his fresh start by catching France, said, “South Korea will play its second group match against Honduras at 6 p.m. on the 26th. If they win here, they will confirm their advance to the round of 16.