Correspondent Kang Dong-hoon = Korea U-20 soccer team head coach Kim Eun-joong (43), after playing the previous two practice games, said, “Actually, there were many things that were disappointing. I think I worked with my heart. I think I wasn’t chosen because I didn’t get that kind of feeling of being ‘alive’ on the playground.”
On the 1st, coach Kim met with reporters at the Paju National Training Center (NFC) while digesting the last convocation training schedule held in Korea ahead of the announcement of the final roster for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.
A total of 25 Kim Eun-joong-ho were summoned this time. Three overseas players, including Kim Yong-hak (19, Portimonense), Lee Ji-han (20, Freiburg), and Jo Jin-ho (18, Fenerbahce), were named, Kang Sang-yoon (18, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) and Lee Seung-jun (18, FC Seoul), K-League players such as Lee Yeong-jun (19, Kim Cheon Sang-mu) were also summoned. However, some players who are highly likely to be selected for the final entry are still not allowed to participate in this training according to the convocation rules.
Two practice matches are scheduled during this call-up period. On the 3rd, they will face Bucheon FC 1995, followed by Sungkyunkwan University on the 5th. After that, we plan to start the work of selecting the final entry (21 people). The final entry will be announced on the afternoon of the 5th after the end of training. The team leaves on the 7th.
Coach Kim said, “There are a lot of players who haven’t come yet to call it the last training. We summoned as many players as we could. We held two practice games. Since the players are not playing a lot in their team, we will try to maximize their performance (through practice games).” ㅋㅋㅋ벳
Kim Eun-joong was convened for three days from the 24th to the 26th of last month. At the time, he played practice matches against Incheon United and Incheon National University. In response to the question of what kind of income he earned at the time and to explain the list for this call, coach Kim said, “It was the last test training to fill in the missing positions. In fact, there were many disappointments. Out of many players, only two or three were eager I think I was training or playing. The rest of the players didn’t show that, so I didn’t select them.”
He said, “I always talk to the players about their skills, but I want them to show a feeling of being ‘alive’ on the playground. There are players who were not selected because they did not give that feeling,” he said. It was always limited. So I’ve seen a lot of how players always prepare when they return to their team and how they try to make up for what they lack in the next call. How faithfully and diligently this player prepared to go to the competition seems to be the most important,” he added.
Lastly, coach Kim said, “Now, 8-90% of the final entries have been decided. However, it is clear that players who are not ready can not go. Because this tournament is so important, those players who are well prepared and have a clear sense of goal in the future. “I have some worries about midfield and wing forward resources. I hope that these worries will turn into happy worries. I hope that all players are well prepared, so it will be difficult for them to choose.”
“When I was first convened, what I told the players was football, which constantly pressures the opponent based on quick turnaround and strong stamina. However, what I am concerned about is that the players are not able to play a lot in their team, so the game’s stamina is very low. He said, “My mission is to raise it to the closest possible range in a short period of time. If I prepare well, I think it will be worth trying to meet any team.”