◀ Anchor ▶
It’s finally tomorrow.
The Under-20 World Cup team will face Italy for a place in the final.
Just a month ago, expectations weren’t high, and the pressure was on our players, especially since they were runners-up in this tournament four years ago.먹튀검증
But we made it to the final four on merit, not on name value, without losing a single game.
Now we just need to overcome one more hurdle and we will be able to challenge for the title again.
Reporter Kim Soo-geun first reported.
◀ Report ▶
Exactly one month ago.
The atmosphere was very different from now.
We were both nervous and excited, but finishing as runners-up in the last tournament weighed heavily on us.
[Kim Eun-joong/U-20 national football team coach (last month)]
“Actually, it’s a runner-up result, because this is the kind of performance that we can do once in a few decades.”
Even their first opponent was France, ranked second in the Fifa rankings.
But the drama that the national team prepared for was intense from the start.
Everyone had a hard time, and they were pushed throughout the match.
We won through counterattacks and set pieces.
Through the first match against Honduras, where we didn’t give up after conceding two goals and eventually drew, the team passed the group stage with unwavering organisation despite changing seven players.
[Hwang In-Taek/U-20 National Football Team]
“We will not be complacent and prepare well so that we can continue to go to the quarter-finals and semi-finals.”
With each match, the players grew stronger.
They believed in each other and were full of confidence.
We got past the round of 16 with some fantastic goals and individual performances.
And in the quarter-finals, they even beat Nigeria in extra time with a one-shot winner.
The only unbeaten team in the tournament.
The team confidently reached the quarter-finals.
[Kim Eun-joong/U-20 National Football Team Head Coach]
“It was a difficult game, and I want to thank our players, all 21 of them, for overcoming it.”
With skill, not name value.
With organisation instead of glamour.
Korean football is making new history.