Korean soccer, which is challenging Asia’s top spot in 64 years, has accepted an easy grouping.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held the 2023 Asian Cup draw at 8:00 pm on the 11th at the Katara Opera House in Doha, Qatar. Park Ji-seong, director of Jeonbuk Hyundai, who is a legend of Korean football, attended the grouping and participated in the draw. Korea is in Group E along with Malaysia, Jordan and Bahrain. The Asian Cup was scheduled to be held in China this year, but China gave up the hosting rights due to Corona 19, and it will be held in Qatar next year. The Qatar Asian Cup will be held at 8 stadiums in 5 cities, including Doha, from January 12 to February 10, 2024.
Korea is recognized as the best in Asia, but it has nothing special to do with the Asian Cup. After winning the first championship in 1956 and the second in 1960, he failed to reach the top. The runner-up in the 2015 competition was their best result since 먹튀검증 then. Korea, which gained momentum by advancing to the round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, is determined to resolve its 64-year-old resentment at the Asian Cup. With Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Kim Min-jae (Napoli), and Lee Kang-in (Mallorca) among the best players recognized in Europe, this is the best opportunity. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who took over the helm after Paulo Bento, emphasized ‘winning the Asian Cup’ at his inauguration ceremony.
Attention was focused on the grouping, which would be the first step. Korea, ranked 27th in the FIFA rankings, the third highest among participating countries in this tournament, was assigned to pot 1 along with hosts Qatar, Japan, Iran, Australia and Saudi Arabia. With the draw proceeded in the order of Pots 4, 3 and 2, the fate of the last Pot 1 nation was decided in the hands of Qatar’s 2019 champion, Hassan Al-Haidos. Rep., who was named fifth, was placed in Group E, where Malaysia, Jordan and Bahrain already took place.
It’s a nice composition. It was paired with Jordan (84th in FIFA rankings), who was evaluated as the most challenging opponent among Pot 2, the most challenging opponent. Korea has never lost against Jordan with a record of 3 wins and 2 draws. Jordan reached the round of 16 in the last Asian Cup. Iraqi coach Adnan Hamad is currently in charge. Bahrain in Port 3 is also an acceptable opponent. Korea has an absolute advantage with 11 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss against Bahrain (ranked 85th in FIFA rankings) 16 times. The last confrontation was the round of 16 of the 2019 Asian Cup, at which time Hwang Hee-chan and Kim Jin-soo’s goal resulted in a 2-1 victory. Currently, Portuguese coach Helio Sousa is leading the team. In Pot 4, Malaysia (ranked 138th in the FIFA rankings) came in. Coincidentally, Malaysia is led by coach Kim Pan-gon, who was the head of the National Team Strengthening Committee. The Korean Derby has been held. Malaysia has been showing rapid growth since the appointment of manager Kim, but the power gap with Korea is large. Director Kim said, “I want to avoid becoming a Hanzo with Korea,” but he was placed in an ironic fate. Their previous record against Malaysia is 26 wins, 12 draws and 8 losses.
Indonesia, led by Shin Tae-yong, was in Group D along with Japan, Iraq and Vietnam. Korean soccer’s ‘old enemy’ Japan faced off. We will have a return match with Vietnam, which we faced in the semifinals of the Suzuki Cup. Vietnam is led by manager Philip Troussier, who previously served as Japan manager, after manager Park Hang-seo stepped down. Group B, which Australia belongs to, deserves to be called the ‘group of death’, while Qatar, the host country, and Iran and Saudi Arabia, the ‘powerhouses of the Middle East,’ were evaluated as being in a good group.
In the Asian Cup, 24 teams were divided into 6 groups of 4 teams to play the group stage, and then 12 teams in 1st and 2nd places in each group, plus the top 4 teams among the 6 teams in 3rd place, advance to the tournament. cover the win As Korea is likely to be ranked 1st in Group D, it will play 2nd place in Group D and the Round of 16. In terms of objective military power alone, Iraq seems to be strong.
Coach Klinsman, who left Korea on the 7th, watched the group draw ceremony directly on the spot with advisor Cha Du-ri. After the group drawing was completed, the host of the event asked Klinsman, the only coach from 24 countries, how he felt about the group drawing. It was a part where we could see the status of director Klinsman, who boasts a splendid career. Coach Klinsman said, “It’s an honor to be part of Asian football. Thank you for warmly welcoming me.” Regarding the Asian Cup, he said, “It will be a fantastic tournament. The World Cup has already been held here, and it was a great and beautiful tournament. It will be fun.”
Coach Klinsmann responded that he was “satisfied” about the draw. He said, “Of course, there is no easy group. All the opposing teams are good teams. We have to prepare well. We need to study the Malaysian side in particular. Their coach is Korean. It is clear that we are in a good group for our goal.” smiled On the 12th, the day after the event, coach Klinsman goes on field trips to the stadiums and training grounds, and starts conceiving a ‘blueprint’ for the first championship in 64 years since the 1960 tournament. Before the Asian Cup is held, an evaluation match is also being planned in Qatar. Coach Klinsman said, “Through the World Cup, Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina, and Japan defeated Germany and Spain. The level of Asian teams has improved considerably. We will do our best to prepare.” Klinsmannho, who made his debut against Colombia and Uruguay in March, defeated Peru and Uruguay in June. We challenge for the first win against El Salvador.