Korean football ended their tournament journey by losing 1-4 in the round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar against Brazil held on the 6th (Korean time). There were some regrets, but progressing to the round of 16 of the World Cup for the first time in 12 years is a valuable achievement that should never be disparaged.
And one more thing, two promising players who will lead Korean football in the future have put up a splendid showcase.
Cho Kyu-seong (24, Jeonbuk) made his World Cup debut as a substitute after Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos) in the match against Uruguay. And he has since started in all three matches, including two group stage games and the round of 16. It was significant in many ways that Hwang Eui-jo, who has long been the undisputed star player of the national team after the appointment of coach Paulo Bento, entered the World Cup finals and won the initial competition.
It was against Ghana in the second round of the group stage that Cho Kyu-sung made his presence clear. In this match, which was his first World Cup start, Cho Kyu-seong scored twice with his headers in the 13th and 16th minutes of the second half when the score trailed at 0 -2, bringing the game back to square one. It was the first time ever for a Korean player to score more goals in a World Cup final. He has since started in matches against Portugal and Brazil, and with his physique strong in him, hasn’t lost a bit in physical confrontations with opposing defenders.
Although he scored 17 goals in K-League 1 this season and became the top scorer, many people didn’t fully believe in Cho Kyu-sung’s ability. Rather, he was said to be a player who stood out the most. However, Cho Kyu-seong has proved to be an excellent player not only in looks but also in the ability of him with his outstanding performance in this World Cup. His Instagram follower count, which surpassed 1.3 million immediately after the match against Ghana, is now over 2.67 million.
For Lee Kang-in (21, Mallorca), this World Cup has become an unforgettable tournament. In fact, expectations and worries coexisted in the eyes of fans watching Lee Kang-in ahead of this tournament. After the Korea-Japan match in March last year, Bento’s coach didn’t give Lee Kang-in a chance to the extent that he could express it as heartless. In ratings matches leading up to Costa Rica and Cameroon last September, they didn’t even stand a chance for a minute. At that time, there was a scene where fans chanted Lee Kang-in’s name towards Lee Kang-in, who was sitting on the bench.
Though he dramatically joined the final entry, it was expected that he would not get a chance to play considering the situation in the meantime, but Bento shattered expectations and nominated Kang-in Lee as the “wild card”, making him more important than the planned . In the 29th minute of the second half against Uruguay, Lee Kang-in, who replaced Seoul’s Na Sang-ho, used his passing and kicking skills to revitalize exhausted Korea from lack of stamina. And in the match against Ghana, he was substituted in the 12th minute of the second half and assisted Cho Kyu-sung’s first goal with a picturesque cross in the first minute. In the match against Portugal he didn’t show a great performance even though he started, but in the match against Brazil he was again substituted in the second half and showed a remarkable performance by breaking through against the Brazilian players.
Those who look to the future more than the present said they felt and learned a lot during this World Cup. After the match against Brazil, Kyu-Sung Cho said: “After meeting players from Europe and South America, I think my desire to go and grow and play against them has grown once again. (During the World Cup) I thought there would be a big wall, but it wasn’t. Now, wherever I go, I feel like I can grow more.” Lee Kang-in also said, “I don’t know how many more World Cups I will go to, but rather than the World Cup, I will try to become a better player and a player who gets better every day.” We need to improve in all areas.” The two legacies of Korean football, born from the World Cup in Qatar, dream of a bigger future.
