Korea received a good grouping in the 2023 FIFA U-20 (Under 20) World Cup group stage in Argentina.
The Korean U-20 soccer team led by coach Kim Eun-joong was included in Group F along with France, Gambia and Honduras in the 2023 U-20 World Cup group draw held in Zurich, Switzerland on the 21st (Korean time).
Korea, which won runner-up with Lee Kang-in (Mallorca) at the 2019 tournament held in Poland, was assigned to pot 2 in the pot organization based on the results of the previous five tournaments.
Since the three South American teams Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador were in pot 2, Korea had a 67% chance of being in a group with Argentina or Uruguay in pot 1 according to the continental distribution principle.
Korea avoided Argentina, the host country, and Uruguay, which is adjacent to it, and joined France in a group.
France is a strong team that won the tournament in 2013, with a huge lead over Korea with 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss.
However, it is a fortunate result for Kim Eun-joong to avoid the fierce cheering of Argentinian and Uruguay fans.
Korea faced France twice in the U-20 World Cup in 1997 (2-4) and 2011 (1-3), losing both by two goals.
Honduras and Gambia are countries where Korea is recording two wins and one win, respectively, without a draw or defeat in their opponents.
Both Honduras and Gambia are formidable opponents who have performed well in the continental U-20 competitions.
Honduras reached the semifinals at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship. 토토사이트
Gambia finished runners-up in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) U-20 Nations Cup.
The U-20 World Cup will be held from May 20th to June 11th.
It was originally planned to be held in Indonesia.
However, as anti-Israel public opinion intensified in the Islamic country, FIFA last month revoked Indonesia’s right to host this year’s U-20 World Cup.
Coach Kim said, “All the teams that have advanced to the World Cup are not easy opponents, so I think I need to prepare well from now on.” “The first goal is to advance to the round of 16. It will be a battle of preparation and atmosphere,” he said.
Kim Eun-joong will train at the Paju National Training Center (NFC) from the 24th to the 26th.
At the beginning of next month, about two weeks before the tournament, they will be convened again to make final preparations.
Coach Kim said, “We don’t have much time, and when we convene for a short meeting next week (due to the circumstances of our team), we are in a state where we cannot call all the players.”