Can Korea win without Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham)? The delusion of Chinese football has gone too far. They declared an intention to defeat Korea without Son Heung-min.
The men's national football team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, will compete in the EAFF E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) scheduled to be held on July 7 at Yongin Miracle Stadium. The Hong Myung-bo squad will kick off the tournament with the opening match against China on July 7 at 8 p.m., followed by matches against Hong Kong at 8 p.m. on the 11th and Japan at 7 p.m. on the 15th.
The first match against China is crucial because it is the first game following their coaching change. The Chinese national team officially dismissed coach Branko Ivanković on the 27th and appointed Dejan Jurjević, the U20 coach, as the head coach of the senior team. Jurjević's debut match is coincidentally against Korea.
In the past, China was so weak against Korea that they referred to it as 'the cold sore.' They feared Korean football. Although there is a difference in degree now, Korea still boasts an overwhelming record against China. Historically, Korea leads with 23 wins, 13 draws, and 2 losses against China.
Korea's most recent loss to China was a 0-1 defeat in the final qualification round for the 2017 Russia World Cup. At that time, Korea, managed by Uli Stielike, lost 0-1 against China, managed by Marcello Lippi, during an away match in Changsha. It was such a shocking defeat that rumors of Stielike's dismissal circulated strongly.
Chinese football suddenly exudes confidence with just a change of one coach. They abruptly shook off the shock of being eliminated from the North and Central American World Cup. They believe that without Son Heung-min, they can have a fair fight against Korea.
This tournament is not held during the international match window set by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Therefore, it will be difficult to call up European players like Son Heung-min. The men's national team consists of players mainly from the K League, except for 3 J-League players out of a squad of 23. This is the reason China is feeling confident.
Sohu.com reported, "Japan, Korea, China, and Hong Kong participate in the East Asian Cup. If China can fully develop its strengths, it could beat both Korea and Japan to aim for victory."
It continued, "Korea has not a single player playing in Europe, which is good news for China. Although there is a significant gap between the two teams, if China's lineup is centered on domestic players, they might have a chance to win. The situation is similar for Japan, as they are expected to send their B team to this tournament."
This squad includes players like Jumin-kyu and Jeon Jin-woo, who demonstrate strong offensive skills in the K League. Goalkeeper Jo Hyun-woo is also solid. The thought of Korea losing to China is unimaginable. Korea must cut down Chinese football with a resounding victory on home soil.
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