The spear and shield, responsible for the present and future of Korean soccer, saved ‘Klinsmann’ from crisis.
The national soccer team, led by coach Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany), won 4-0 in a friendly match against Tunisia held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 13th. Klinsmann, who kept his long-awaited promise of hot ‘offensive soccer’ and reported his first win at home, even achieved his first consecutive win following the game against Saudi Arabia (1-0 win) held in Newcastle, England last month. A third straight win seems possible as they play their second A match in October against Vietnam, who are one level below them, at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 17th.
‘Golden Boy’ Lee Kang-in (22, Paris Saint-Germain) and ‘Korean Monster’ Kim Min-jae (27, Bayern Munich), who served as temporary captain, were especially dazzling.
Lee Kang-in, who played virtually full-time until he was replaced by Moon Seon-min (31, Jeonbuk Hyundai) in the 45th minute of the second half, was the center of the national team’s attack that day. As a shadow striker close to a free role (a role that is not limited to a specific position), he actively moved between the second-line center and the flanks, injecting energy into the team. Every time the European big leaguer, who was playing in his 15th international match, made a move, Tunisia responded by rushing in with two or three players, and cracks gradually appeared in the five backs that seemed solid. Then his instinct as a problem solver also flashed. The second half was a ‘one-man show’ with emphasis placed on the sides rather than the center. Lee Kang-in scored his A-match debut goal with a left-footed free kick 10 minutes into the second half, and two minutes later he completed his multiple goals with an exquisite turning shot in the middle of the opponent’s goal.
His activity did not stop. He also contributed to the opponent’s own goal that made the score 3-0 in the 22nd minute of the second half. When Lee Kang-in, a set-piece kicker, launched a sharp right-footed corner kick, Kim Min-jae, who participated in the attack, jumped up and attempted a header, which hit a Tunisian defender and resulted in a goal.스포츠토토
Before the game, “(Lee Kang-in) is competing for the starting position in his team. I’m always thirsty for playing time. The choice of Coach Klinsmann, who promised moderation by saying, “The national team will help,” resulted in the best result. “With the national team, I always want to do my best to help them win. Lee Kang-in, who said, “I will always try to play close to victory,” also posted on his social media, “It was an unforgettable night.” “I am grateful to my teammates and fans who were with me,” he said.
Kim Min-jae also took flight. He took over as temporary captain in place of Son Heung-min (31, Tottenham), who suffered a groin injury, and boasted of his overwhelming movement. The central defender, who took over the German Bundesliga this season following last season’s Italian Serie A (Naples), was superior in all aspects, including accurate positioning and clearing, physical fighting with excellent physical ability, and fighting for air superiority.
His participation in the attack was also impressive. Despite being in a disadvantageous position during the set piece competition, he not only induced an own goal with an accurate header, but also became the starting point of the build-up with his bold forward movement and sharp ball distribution. Kim Min-jae, who put 120% into Coach Klinsmann’s message that “you won’t be anxious if you have a good defensive organization even when attacking,” said, “I didn’t feel any pressure (from being the captain’s armband). He actively communicates and pays attention to defensive balance. He was happy, saying, “It’s better to keep a clean sheet than to contribute a goal.”