South Korea was officially “knocked-out” of the World Cup by Brazil in a 4-1 defeat. Nevertheless, I have never been so proud to be South Korean. The skill and effort the Korean National Football Team brought to the game was truly unforgettable. From the unbelievable victory against Portugal to the emotional loss against Brazil, here’s a brief rundown of Korea’s journey through the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
November 20, 2022: The Opening Ceremony
To start off, even before the games had begun, Korea was already showcasing its talent, as 정국 (Jung Kook) of BTS performed “Dreamers” in the Opening Ceremony along with Fahad Al Kubaisi. This performance was one to remember, as everything from the vocals to choreography were meticulously planned and executed. It was the perfect way to set the mood and ignite the passion of the audience for the upcoming matches.
November 24, 2022: Uruguay vs. Korea Republic (0-0)
In their first Group H match at Education City Stadium, South Korea tied with Uruguay in a 0-0 draw. A key player of the game includes Son Heung-min, who is the captain of the South Korean National Team (#7/Forward) and who plays as a Forward for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (#7/Forward). Additionally, In-Beom Hwang, who plays as a midfielder for the South Korean National Team (#6/Midfielder) and as a midfielder for Olympiacos F.C. (#33/Midfielder) was another star player. Since there were no goals, the top moments of these two players included 1 S and 17 passes for Son and 3 S and 42 passes for Hwang. It should be noted that Son was playing with a fracture on his left eye-socket, which he sustained in a Nov. 2 Hotspurs game. This is the reason for the mask he was wearing throughout the match.
November 28, 2022: South Korea vs. Ghana (2-3)
South Korea suffered their first loss in a 2-3 defeat against Ghana. However, this game was an incredible nail-biter, as Cho Gue-Sung, a 24 year-old Forward for the South Korean National Team (#9/Forward) and a Forward for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (#10 Forward), scored an impressive two goals within a 3 minute timeframe. In the first half of the game, South Korea was losing 0-1, but things took a turn after half-time. At 58’ Cho scored his first goal, and three minutes later, he scored a second, changing the scoreboard to 2-2. Unfortunately, even with those two goals, SK eventually lost to Ghana 2-3. However, regardless of the result, this game showed the skill of the South Korean team, and their ability to turn games around in the second half, a promising hint for their next game.
December 2, 2022: South Korea vs. Portugal (2-1)
As a South Korean, this was the game to watch. Before the match, the odds were in favor of Portugal, but South Korea managed to pull a stunning victory.
Five minutes into the game, R. Horta scored a goal for Portugal, and the score was 0-1. The odds seemed to be in Portugal’s favor, until at 27’, K. Young-gwon scored a goal, and the teams were tied 1-1. At 66’, Hwang Hee-chan, who plays as a Forward for the South Korean National Team (#11/Forward) and as a Forward for the Wolverhamptom Wanderers F.C. (#11/Forward), substituted in for J. Lee. At 90+1’, H. Hee-chan scored a goal, assisted by Son Heung-min. The game ended in a wave of emotion for the South Koreans, as players could be seen shedding tears and rallying together to celebrate their momentous victory. Simultaneously, the Group H match between Uruguay and Ghana was working in South Korea’s favor. Uruguay had won their match against Ghana 2-0, but due to South Korea’s victory and their larger number of goals, South Korea, along with Group H winner Portugal, would be advancing to the next round.
December 5, 2022: Brazil vs. South Korea (4-1)
After their stunning victory against Portugal, South Korea suffered a crushing defeat against Brazil. In this match, South Korean captain Son Heung-min’s Tottenham Hotspur teammate, Richarlison de Andrade (#7), was actually his opponent, as Richarlison played Forward for the Brazilian National Team. While the match ended in defeat, the first half of the game was especially rough for the South Koreans. At the 7’, 13’, 29’, and 36’ marks, Brazil managed to score goals, which solidified the victory for the Brazilians. At 65’ Paik Seung-Ho substituted in for I. Hwang, and at 76’, Paik scored the first and only goal for the South Korean team. While they were only able to score 1 goal, there were amazing moments in the game that showcased the skills of the team. For example, the Goalkeeper, Kim Seung-gyu (#1), who also plays as Goalkeeper for Al-Shabab F.C. (#18), managed to save South Korea from an even more excruciating defeat through his many saves.
Source: https://www.foxsports.com/