"Everyone said it was difficult, but we did" 女 U-20 coach Park Yoon-jung, who quietly led the team to the round of 16
Sep 08, 2024
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Park Yoon-jung's under-20 women's soccer team expressed their feelings after reaching the round of 16 for the first time in 10 years after beating Germany 'Kangho' at the 2024 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.
The women's U-20 team made a dramatic advance to the round of 16 with a 1-0 victory over Germany in the third Group D match of the tournament held at Metropolitano de Techo Stadium in Bogota, Colombia on the 8th (Korea time). From the beginning, he continued his persistent offensive tactics to seek Germany's back space, and after Park Soo-jung scored the first goal in the 22nd minute of the first half, his team's fighting spirit secured a 1-0 victory until the 8th minute of extra time in the second half. After losing 0-1 to Nigeria in the first round, South Korea, which tied Venezuela 0-0 in the second round, caught Germany on the same day and ranked third in the group (4 points, 1 point, 1 run, 0 goal difference), and got a dramatic ticket to the round of 16 based on the principle that the top four of the six teams ranked first and second in the group and third in the group reached the round of 16. Cameroon, ranked third in Group A, and Canada, ranked third in Group B, confirmed their advance to the round of 16, while Paraguay, ranked third in Group C, lost to the U.S. 0-7 after the Korea-Germany match and remained at one point, confirming their advance to the round of 16 regardless of the results of the remaining games.
Coach Park Yoon-jung delivered his feelings about going to the round of 16 through KFA. "You would have expected it to be difficult to advance to the round of 16, but we emphasized to the players that we must beat Germany and advance to the round of 16." I'm glad that the players themselves brought the result." This is good news at a time when there is not much good news for women's soccer, and when asked what the advance to the round of 16 after passing the group stage for the first time in 10 years means for Korean women's soccer, head coach Park replied, `I hope it will be an opportunity for Korean women's soccer to develop so that it can continue to advance to the group stage for the first time in 10 years as well as expectations and hopes that we can play Korean women's soccer.'
Ahead of the round of 16, Park said, "(Brazil or Colombia) is more likely to face Colombia. "It will be a burden for the players as Colombia is home, but we will make sure that we can bring good results so that we can overcome it as well." To the players ahead of the round of 16 "As the first game may be the last tournament, I hope you will continue to move forward with more earnestness and with the mindset that you can do enough." delivered the message.
-After winning the match against Germany, he was confirmed to advance to the round of 16 after the results of the U.S.-Paraguay match. How do you feel?
▶You might have expected that it would be difficult to advance to the round of 16, but we emphasized to the players that we have to beat Germany unconditionally and advance to the round of 16, and I'm glad that the players brought the results themselves.
-This is good news at a time when there is not much good news for women's soccer these days, so what does this advance to the round of 16 after 10 years of passing the group stage mean for Korean women's soccer?
▶ Thanks to the FIFA wild card rule (four out of six teams in third place), they will advance to the round of 16. In addition to the expectation and hope that we can play Korean women's soccer, I hope it will be an opportunity for Korean women's soccer to develop so that it can continue to advance to the group stage for the first time in 10 years.
-How should I prepare for the round of 16?
▶We have to wait until tomorrow, but I expect Colombia to have a higher probability between Colombia and Brazil. As Colombia is home, it will be burdensome for the players, but we will also make sure that we can bring good results so that we can overcome it.
-What do you want to emphasize to the players ahead of the round of 16?
Unlike the ▶ qualifying round, the first game will be the last game, so I hope you continue to move forward with a more desperate mind and a willingness to do enough.
sky4us@sportschosun.com
