“Our goal was to go high in the tournament.” The squad was full of confidence, as revealed by Kim Joong-ho (Gimcheon Sangmu).
Only we didn’t realize they were the golden generation, not the valley generation, until the lid was lifted on the FIFA U-20 World Cup. As usual, there was no superstar ace, but everyone was a gem ready to shine.
It’s no wonder they weren’t expected much. There were players like Kim Yong-hak (Portimonense) and Lee Ji-han (Freiburg) playing in Europe, but they were nowhere near the spotlight that Lee Seung-woo and Lee Kang-in had previously received. Even players who were considered promising in the K League were struggling to get playing time, with the exception of Bae Joon-ho (Daejeon Hana Citizens) and Kang Sung-jin (FC Seoul).
Kim Eun-joong-ho was a virtual unknown, but he was more than capable of doing his job. He excelled in realizing the drawings on the field against the world’s strongest teams. Kim Eun-joong’s flawless execution of physical soccer, which required 11 players to work together instead of just one, was driven by his outstanding individual skills.
He was convinced that he would surprise the world. Before the U-20 World Cup, Lee Young-joon (Gimcheon Sangmu) said, 메이저사이트 “Our goal is to win the championship.” “I don’t feel any pressure about my performance four years ago,” he said, referring to Jeong’s runner-up finish at the previous tournament. Personally, I want to go to the top four,” he said confidently.
The pair are back on the starting line, having recreated the myth of the final four with their entertaining performances on the world stage. Whereas before they were competing against their own age group, now they will be competing without sanctuary against older brothers who have proven their mettle or juniors who have shown early signs of potential. There are no guarantees that success at the U-20 World Cup will translate to the professional level.
“If you look at the last U-20 World Cup, Lee Kang-in is the only one who has made it to the national team,” said Jürgen Klinsmann, head coach of the A team, a reality that cannot be taken lightly. The road ahead is even tougher, so he advised Lee to focus on progress rather than excitement.
Chung Mong-kyu, president of the Korean Football Association, said, “The age of 20 to 23 is the most important time. I hope you will go back to your teams and show the skills you showed in this tournament.” Coach Kim Eun-joong also said, “The tournament is over, but it’s just beginning. He has proven his ability, so I think he can be competitive with his team.” All of the soccer players wanted to see Kim Eun-joong and his teammates advance to the Olympic team and the A team in the future.
It may not be here yet. It’s only now being realized that most of these players have been on the elite path from youth to age-group national teams. There are things you don’t get to experience in the pros. It may have started when she struggled to get a spot on her team before a tournament.
But the confidence they gained from the U-20 World Cup was a huge boost for them as they faced a tougher challenge. A fourth-place finish was enough to inspire even greater ambitions.
Lee Seung-won (Gangwon FC), who won the Bronze Ball with three goals and four assists, was cautious about comparing himself to Lee Kang-in (Mallorca), who won the Golden Ball four years ago, but said, “I will follow Kang-in.” Bae Joon-ho, who wore the No. 10 shirt and showed off his ace talent, said, “Nothing has been decided, but I’m aiming higher,” when asked about going to Europe.
Kim Eun-joong-ho, who has made his ambitions known, is up for the challenge. As the youngest players to return to their home teams and start their careers, their common goal is survival.