Kim Eun-joong, who is challenging the best ever at the 2023 FIFA U-20 (under 20 years old) World Cup, received a good grouping result in the group stage.
The Korean U-20 soccer team, led by coach Kim Eun-joong, was included in Group F along with Gambia, France and Honduras in the 2023 Argentina U-20 World Cup group draw held in Zurich, Switzerland on the 21st (local time).
Korea, which won the best ever runner-up in the previous tournament held in Poland with Lee Kang-in (Mallorca) at the forefront, was assigned to the second pot based on its performance in the previous five tournaments. The three South American teams, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, were the same as Korea in pot 2, so according to the continental distribution principle, Korea had a 67% chance of being in a group with the hosts Argentina or Uruguay in pot 1. However, Korea avoided both Argentina and Uruguay and joined France. Korea will play the first group match against France on the 22nd of next month, the second match against Honduras on the 25th, and the third match against Gambia on the 28th.
France is far ahead of Korea with 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss, and is a strong team that won the 2013 tournament. Korea faced France twice in the U-20 World Cup in 1997 and 2011, and lost both by two goals. However, Kim Eun-joong accepted it as a fortunate result because he avoided the intense cheering of Argentine and Uruguay fans.
Honduras and Gambia are relatively easy opponents. South Korea has won both matches against Honduras so far, and has also won one match against Gambia. In other words, Korea’s chances of advancing to the round of 16 have increased.
However, as both Honduras and Gambia performed well in the continental U-20 competitions, it is not recommended to be vigilant. Honduras reached the semifinals at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, and Gambia finished runners-up at the CAF U-20 Nations Cup. 먹튀검증
Coach Kim Eun-joong said, “All teams participating in the World Cup are not easy opponents, so I think we need to prepare well from now on.” “The first goal is to advance to the round of 16. If you go to the tournament, it will be a battle of conditions, preparation, and atmosphere that day, without a strong team or a weak team.”
After training at the Paju NFC from the 24th to the 26th, Kim Eun-joong will be convened again two weeks before the tournament early next month and will begin his final training.