The 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games Group E first match between Korea and Kuwait held at the Jinhua Sports Center Stadium in Hangzhou, China on the 19th.
Although it was not a Chinese game, the stadium rang out in support of China. These were the voices of some Chinese spectators who visited the stadium.
It wasn’t long before it was revealed who they were focusing their efforts on in this game without any Chinese players.
Some of them shouted, “Jjayo Kuwait!”
The Chinese fans’ encouragement continued to grow as Kuwait prepared for set pieces and attacked. When Kuwait missed a crucial scoring opportunity,스포츠토토 I let out an exclamation of regret.
Korea, which is attempting to win its first three consecutive tournaments following the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games, is considered the strongest candidate for the championship.
Led by captain Baek Seung-ho, the national team was made up of players who had been on the adult national team, including Seol Young-woo, Song Min-gyu, Eom Won-sang, Hong Hyun-seok, Park Gyu-hyun, and Jung Woo-young. Players playing in Europe, including Jung Woo-young, Hong Hyun-seok, and Park Gyu-hyeon, came together and Lee Kang-in, a key member of the A national team, joined. A power comparable to that of the adult national team was created. Many say that it is the strongest of all time, as good as the last tournament where Son Heung-min and Hwang Ui-jo played as wild cards.
China, whose quarterfinals at the Asian Games were its best ever, prepared enthusiastically for this tournament to be held in its country.
By handing over the baton to coach Dejan Durdevic, who had a long career as a coach in Serbia’s national and professional teams, in February, he showed his determination to enter the medal league for the first time in history.
Coach Durjevic said ahead of the tournament, “We have already completed the preparation period of over 6 months,” and added, “We are aiming to play all 7 games.” The group stage consists of three games, with the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals being held sequentially. If you make it to the semifinals, you will have to play 7 games because there will be a medal match even if you lose. In other words, they are saying that they will advance to the semifinals.
However, the enthusiasm of Chinese fans cheering for Kuwait quickly subsided. Starting with Cho Young-wook’s first goal in the 2nd minute of the first half, Korea scored 4 goals in the first half and added 5 goals in the second half to make it 9-0.
When the first half ended, some Chinese fans left, and the voices of Korean fans rang out in the stadium instead of the “Jjayo” that rang out in the first half.
Korean soccer reached the top at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games.
If we win this tournament, we will become the first country in Asian Games history to win three consecutive championships.