The U-20 national soccer team,스포츠토토 led by head coach Kim Eun-joong, beat “strong” France in the first match of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup to mark a new beginning of great history.
The U-20 team won a thrilling 2-1 victory in the first Group F match against France at Mendoza Stadium in Argentina on the 23rd (Korea Standard Time), thanks to goalkeeper Kim Joon-hong’s good defense show and captains Lee Seung-won (Gangwon FC) and Lee Young-joon (Kimcheon). As a result, South Korea won three points in the first round for the first time in six years since the 2017 domestic tournament, drawing close to entering the tournament. South Korea, tied for first place with Gambia, will play its second game against Honduras on the 26th.
● Pilseung Formula = Counterattack & Set Piece
South Korea finished second in the Polish tournament four years ago, but there was little expectation of beating 2013 champion France. They lost 2–4 in Malaysia in 1997 and 1–3 in Colombia in 2011.
South Korea was thoroughly prepared. I thought there was a chance of winning if I held out well. France’s offensive, which increased its ball possession to 57 percent, was great. But he didn’t miss the chance. After blocking the midfield and blocking dangerous areas, the opportunity came.
Lee Seung-won, who caught a pass from Kim Yong-hak (Portimonense) in the 22nd minute of the first half, opened the goal with a right-footed shot while looking at goalkeeper Jun Jin. In the 19th minute of the second half, the set piece of the “must-win formula” went through. With the help of Lee Seung-won, Lee Young-joon made a wedge with an exquisite header goal. Head coach Kim was satisfied, saying, “We prepared a strategy to counterattack while strengthening defense.”
Photo courtesy of the Korea Football Association
● Super Goli didn’t collapse due to dubious judgment
Korea played a difficult game. He was pushed back in all aspects, including 23-9, 71-28 in the final third, 136-90 in the line break, and 585-263.
There were also dubious judgments. Goalkeeper Kim Joon-hong (GK) and Malamin Epekelle rushed together toward France’s fast cross in the 25th minute of the second half, but all of them collided without touching the ball. However, the referee declared a yellow card and a penalty kick (PK) only to Kim Joon-hong, leading to a loss. Even the French media pointed out, “It’s not right.”
But it didn’t shake. After overcoming his own goal crisis with quick reflexes in the 5th minute of the second half, he threw his whole body to block his opponent’s surprise shot in the 42nd minute of the second half after losing a PK point. Kim Joon-hong, also known as the son of Incheon United GK coach Kim Yi-seop, is a special goalkeeper who joined Jeonbuk Hyundai in 2021 and played four K League 1 games for two years.